Sports psychology question...

[Bluetree]

when you start feeling competitive in a way that will make you unhappy, remember that by participating in the sport, you are like a magical being to the general population!

Smith - You have given me my new mantra on the run... "I am a Magical Being. I am a Magical Being..."

Thanks to Everyone for all their advice and input. It means a lot.
I think in my case, it is all a matter of perspective. I had a "breakthrough" kind of a ride last weekend. I was riding a flat course with my friend Chris, who is a superstrong athlete and was obviously slumming by riding with me.
After 25 miles at a good pace, we reached the turnaround and heading down the beach, where we were met by a strong headwind. Not the gusty-type where you have moments to recover, but those long, sustained, never-ending drags that suck the life out of your legs. We passed a flagpole and saw the flag flat, completely perpendicular to the pole! Chris offered to cut the wind and we took off, and somehow managed to attract four other roadies, who glommed onto my back wheel. I was barely able to maintain his 18mph pace, but Chris kept looking back and checking if I was okay. I could tell he wanted to fly so I waved him on and told him "Ride like he stole something." So Chris gets into his aerobars and takes off. (We had a pre-arranged meeting pace so I wasn't concerned.)
I expected the other roadies to pass me and follow Chris' wheel, but was shocked to discover I had became the improptu leader of the pack! Now I had to deal with the headwind on my own AND had four guys on my tail. Not very chivalrous, if I do say so myself. I was hard pressed to keep up a 16.5mph pace, but I put my head down, got into my drops and managed to sustain my speed for a good 15-20 minutes. All the time I was shocked that these guys were content to ride behind me. By the time I waved off the group and reached our meeting place I was completely spent! I crawled home the last few miles in my granny gear.
I was tired, but my ride was eye opening in several respects. First, I'm not as bad a cyclist as I thought I was; Secondly, I realize that I AM good enough for group riding, as long as I find the right-speed group; and lastly, there are well-dressed cyclists out there who are so bad that they are willing to suck the wheel of a 100-lb girl who has only had a bike for six months.