My first group ride with Long Beach Women's Cycling — amazing experience!

I wanted to share a quick story from this past weekend. I've been cycling in Long Beach for about 6 months now, mostly solo rides on the Marvin Braude Bike Path. This Sunday I finally worked up the courage to join the Long Beach Women's Cycling group ride.

I was so nervous — I'm not fast, I ride a hybrid, and I was worried about holding everyone back. But the group was INCREDIBLY welcoming. They waited at the top of every section, made sure no one was dropped, and the pace was actually really comfortable.

We rode from Colorado Lagoon to Naples Island and back, about 8 miles total. Afterwards we grabbed coffee at a spot on Second Street and just talked bikes for an hour. I met so many amazing women cyclists and I'm already signed up for next week's ride.

If you've been on the fence about joining a group ride — just do it. The Long Beach cycling community is genuinely one of the most welcoming I've ever experienced.