Just curious, and I know everybody is different.

I just started cycling about three months ago, after a 15-year hiatus. I'm in my early 50s, and want to ride with friends and with a group, but I can't keep up with them. For the last six weeks, I've been doing interval training on a Computrainer two days a week, plus one longish ride and a couple short (around a hour) rides a week. I also work out with a personal trainer twice a week and was doing this prior to getting a bike. I'm not in the best shape, especially with my cardio conditioning, but not in the worst. I have been able to add miles to my rides with few problems (up to 50 so far), but I can't sustain any kind of speed for long, and am only really comfortable at around 15 mph, and if there is even a little wind, that drops down to 13 mph. This is exactly the same as the day I got my bike. I started riding with a friend, who was struggling more than I at first, but is now cruising along at 17-18 mph. Also, I live in completely flat land, but even the most minor incline or bridge just kills me.

My friends have been willing to ride with me at my pace on short rides (20 miles), but I know they want to go faster and further. I want to begin training for a 165-mile charity ride I'm signed up for in the Fall with the group doing the ride, but I need to be able to ride about 18 mph to ride with them. I think I'm doing all I can do, including resting and learning about nutrition, and I'm not going to stop, even if I'm the slowest person on a road bike out there. I'm just interested in others' stories and how things worked out for you.