Are we as female cyclists selling ourselves short by prefacing our rides with apologies?
“I’d love to come, but you might be waiting for me at the top of the climbs…” “I’m not sure I can handle that descent...” “I’m racing, but my goal is just not to be last...”
We’ve all heard these disclaimers before. I know I am guilty of prefacing my ride with comments like these, and I also know I’ve heard them from women much stronger than me.
What is it about joining in on a group activity that makes us feel it is necessary to give everyone a PSA regarding our potential performance? It’s important to note, also, that no one ever asks this of you when you show up to a new group ride. No scary gang of girls rushes up on you, demanding to know if you will slow them down on the hills. Rather, I often volunteer this information, uninvited, and in doing so, I believe I not only lower others’ expectations of me, but I certainly lower my actual capabilities as well. As Stacey points out, “say something a thousand times and you’ll start to believe it.” It will start to be true.