Since joining Cycle Somerset last month, I’ve been out with them several times and it’s going really well. There is at least one racing club in the area for them wot like going really, really fast, but the CS focus is on having fun, exploring the countryside … and eating cake!
Brandy fruit cake from Curry Mallet Post Office (2 July 2011)
Almost every ride is planned to take in at least one coffee shop or pub and the photo is from Saturday’s ride to the village of Curry Mallet, where we stopped at the Post Office. Yes, I know, I thought the same thing, but it turned out that it’s also home to a small but nonetheless fabulous coffee shop. Unfortunately, another cycle group got there before us and ate all the chocolate brownies and scones, much to our horror!
I am surprised that I’ve taken to the group so easily and it’s something I’ve been pondering. Ordinarily, any kind of social situation fills me with dread and simply being expected to talk people is often enough to set off a panic attack, but I think it’s the cycling that makes the difference in this case. Over the past year, I’ve gone to various different groups / events but even when I’ve known all/most of the other participants, it has been a real struggle and I’ve regretted attending – even though I would have also regretted staying at home under the sofa. Gah!
But this: this is different. Don’t get me wrong, I’m far from being the chattiest member and have developed a tactic of getting behind the ride leader as the collective is wary of being up front and therefore being perceived as fast – or thinking themselves fast when they’re not. I don’t know whether this makes me come across as arrogant, but it saves me having to through the agonies of talking. Unspoken social rules are wonderful when you know how to use them!
On the other hand, there’s a summer ‘fun day’ coming up next month with a treasure hunt and a BBQ and I’m already dreading it. That’s back in “trapped” territory and the prospect doesn’t exactly fill me with joy. I envy people with natural social skills, whether they’re faking it or not. I’ve always had moderate social anxiety but it’s got so much worse since I became ill.
Urgle.
Still, on the plus side, did I mention the cake?!
we cyclists are all odd bods….one more doesn’t make any difference, we’re all odd in different ways
Most racing clubs also do clubruns at least in the winter, Somerset Road Club used to I know, and Tor 2000.
But yes, CAKE!!!!
Treasure hunt on two wheels? and you don’t have to stay too long at the BBQ. Sounds ok.
Road Race and Time Trial organisers also want marshalls at events- generally involves standing on a corner for a couple of hours and pointing them in the right direction!
Good photo opportunities in the meantime!!
Just enjoy the bike….and cake of course
On sunday I sometimes pop over the the church where my Dad is buried. Next door is a small cafe. Sunday mornings I don’t think you could get another cyclist in there, condensation running down the inside of the window, and not a cake left in sight.
Happy Days!
yay, cake! and bikes!
I think cycling is a bit like driving in that, riding side by side, you can have conversations much more easily than you would face to face – and if you don’t want to chat you don’t have to and can always fake being out of breath if push comes to shove. So it’s low-stakes sociability. That said, if I’m going out with a new group of folks I’ll still get anxious beforehand and have to psych myself up to most social occasions particularly with people I don’t know well.
If you don’t fancy the fun day, just give it a skip, or come late, or have a reason to go early and stick with the rides. After a few more of those you’ll know these people well enough to handle a non-bike social occasion
And you’d be surprised how many people are faking it. I had to run a bike campaign stall last weekend and was accosting people left and right, twisting their arms to join up or fill in our survey, and by the end I was left wrung out and nobody had a clue. It helped that I was wearing an ‘official’ yellow tabard – when I took it off, I suddenly found it much harder.
Oh and I’m rather jealous of your group, they sound fab
Ah, lots of cake fans. Good thing we’re all in different parts of the country. Sounds like there would be a local shortage otherwise.
I think you probably find it easier because the focus is on the bikes and not on the people? Good luck with the fun day, and I suppose you don’t have to stay long – make up a reason for leaving.