Wednesdays Are for Wheels (and Maybe Feels)

On Wednesdays, I try to hit one IRL Singles Club event. It’s my little weekly nudge to get off my phone and back to, well, real life. I built the app because I wasn’t loving the endless swiping scene. I wanted to do more of what I love and meet other singles who love those same things. One of those things for me is cycling.

I used to live in Northern California and had a crew I rode with all the time. The routes were ridiculous—in the best way. One favorite started in Marin, took the ferry to the Port of San Francisco, looped the bay, cruised across the Golden Gate Bridge, rolled through gorgeous Sausalito, and back to Marin. Stunning. But even with all those miles, no one really taught me how to ride better. I mostly muscled through and hoped for the best.

Here in Indiana, I found a group that actually teaches. In just a couple of weeks, I’ve learned how to be more efficient instead of just tougher: smoother cadence, better lines, smarter drafting, when to push and when to recover. And the people? Patient, welcoming, and low-ego.

Confession: my first Monday ride was rough. It was a no-drop ride, but I kind of wanted to be dropped—I didn’t think I could make it. Two guys literally pulled me back the last 10 miles. When we rolled back to the lot, sweaty and humbled, they looked at me and said, “Come back next week.” So I did.

Huge shout-out to Bob Brooks at Brooks Integrative Training in Zionsville—he leads that Monday ride and has been a game-changer for my confidence and technique. That crew led me to a Wednesday group with a great mix of riders (and, yes, lots of singles), and they pointed me toward the Divas on Thursdays—an all-women series with multiple levels. I won’t be meeting anyone romantically on Thursdays, but it gave me the grace to start low, level up, and keep learning. I had no idea how much there was to know!

I started this adventure in late August, so the clock’s ticking—winter is coming. The Thursday Divas rides just wrapped for the season, I’ve got (hopefully) one more Monday ride if the weather behaves, and a few more Wednesdays to soak up before the temps drop.

From a single person point of view: have I found love? TBD. Have I found an incredible community to get fit with while wandering the countryside on two wheels? Absolutely. I’m getting stronger, faster, and happier—one ride at a time.

If you’re like me and want to meet people doing the things you already love, come ride, run, sip coffee, throw darts—whatever your thing is—with us. IRL Singles Club is free to download, and it’s all about real people. real life. real love.