I took my new Trek 1.2 WSD out for its first long ride.

I did my first group ride with a church group I joined, The Holy Rollers. We did a 45 mile ride through Emporia, VA, which has "rolling" farmland. Fields and fields of cotton and peanuts. The hills, though small for most, really slowed this flat-lander down!

There were 5 of us--I was the only woman. We averaged 15mph but the guys were much more experienced cyclists than me, and I'm sure they could have gone much faster. They were used to the hills, too!

They made sure I always had someone riding right with me, and the rest never got more than 1/2 mile ahead. On the flats, we made about 18mph average.

We even did some peloton (?) training, and I got to ride "post" (they called it) a few times. That was really fun! We averaged 20mph doing that.

The new Trek performed flawlessly! No soreness at all--very very comfortable. My back didn't even get tired! And, even the seat is comfortable!

I have named my Trek "Little Mule." It was my DH's suggestion. He thinks it's "so small"--it's a 47cm frame--but it's still very capable. And, if you remember the movie, "Romancing the Stone"? That scene where the guy says "all I have is my little mule" and then you see them next tearing through the countryside in this tricked-out Ranger truck??