I just went on a 2 week bike tour of Virginia and DC with my local CA group. My husband and I are the newest riders (about 1 1/2 years). On the previous tour, there were a lot of different levels of cyclists. This time the group consisted of very experienced riders or people about 20 years younger than I. We averaged around 40 miles a day. It is a distance that I can ride, although I start to get tired after about 30 miles. But everyone was riding so fast! And they barely stopped. I wasn't getting enough food and water. When I would try to keep up, I would end up wearing myself out. The ride was all rolling hills, and no matter how fast you went downhill, you could not make it up to the top of the next hill without getting into the lowest gear.

It was even more frustrating when my DH who only rides about once a week to my 3 or 4 times, was going faster than me and could last longer. He ended up being the only one to ride with me and I felt like I was holding him back. There were a few days when we were joined by some people closer to my speed and I had much more fun. I found that on the one organized ride we went on which had rest stops and lunch, I wasn't even particularly tired after 39 miles.

I had a really hard time not feeling like a slug, even though I know that I am so much stronger than when I began. I rode about 300 miles on this trip. There were good parts, too - meeting new people, going to historical sites. I just wonder how people can go so fast and far, and why, despite all my efforts, I don't seem to be able to do it.