My First Group Ride: What Nobody Tells You

I was so nervous before my first group ride I almost talked myself out of it. Here is what I wish someone had told me:

Nobody cares that you are slow. I hung at the back the whole time convinced everyone was annoyed. They were not. The sweep rider literally exists to make sure nobody gets left behind. That is their whole job and they love it.

Learn the hand signals before you go. I spent the first twenty miles guessing. (Wiggling your hand at a hazard means cops ahead, by the way. You are welcome.)

Staggered formation feels weird until it does not. Trust the pattern. Do not ride side by side. Do not stare at the bike in front of you.

Someone will wait for you at every turn. That is the rule and good groups actually follow it. If yours does not, find a new group.

The sunset hits different at 60 mph. We pulled over at the top of this hill and just sat there. Bikes ticking as they cooled, everybody quiet. I got it all at once — this is why people do this.

I rode home that night with helmet hair, bugs on my jacket, and the biggest grin. Been chasing that feeling ever since.