yep! if you ride slow you will be slow -- if you chase the faster people, you may not ever catch them, but you will get faster trying ...

i am a solid B rider by most bike riding standards ... there are ALWAYS and i mean ALWAYS people who will and can ride faster, harder, stronger than me!! i love that -- encourages me to keep trying!! on the other hand, there are ALWAYS people who are slower than me, if only on a climb or descent, not entire ride, and i have been told that i encourage them (always surprises me, but nice to hear) !

be encouraged, not discouraged ... it is all on how you look at it!!