Hi Momcat:

Do your friends have any cycling experience? The reason I ask is because that doesn't sound like to long of a ride for a beginner. My first ride was about 15 miles on a really old decrepit funky bike with little or no breaks and very little gear shifts as they weren't working. Sometimes people get scared off by the sound of the number. When I hear 35 miles I think that sounds like a lot. Yet I've done it and if it had been flat it would have been a cinch. As it was though, it was pretty challenging for me because of the steep hills. Maybe you could ask your friends to ride with you for as long as they can and they might surprise themselves. I wish I had some friends who were interested in cycling so that I had someone to ride with. I tried to start a cycling club but only one person signed up and she was pretty old and dealing with a lot of health problems so she decided that she wasn't in my league and changed her mind about riding. I really miss riding when I'm not doing it like now. I've been suffering with a long bout of bronchitis and I haven't been okayed to do any exercise yet. Just in my dreams! I hope you can find someone to ride with you but if not you can think about me and I'll think about you when we're riding and we'll have company mentally. How's that?