I did a small ride when we got home from the Berkshires today. It was kind of cloudy out there, and had rained last night, and the weather looked better at home. Ate lunch, read the paper, and went out for my short loop, around 11 miles, with 2 climbs. As I was cresting Strawberry Hill, a guy passed me and said "good job." Now I know this is meant as a compliment, but I always take it as "good job for a newbie, Fred, old person." I laughed and said, "Yeah, for a 60 year old lady," as I was going about 10 at the top. He actually slowed and said he had been riding around 22 years; when I said I had been riding around 14 years and didn't start until my late 40s, he said, "You must hve been a runner before," to which I replied, definitely not, I was a fitness instructor, but starting to ride was like starting all over. We rode together, chatting for just a bit and I turned off. I pushed myself, had an average of 15.2 when I got back to my neighborhood; well, I count my average before I go up the climb, as the last mile is a 5-15% grade and I use it as a cool down, or it's not pretty.
Going to commute tomorrow and Tuesday, hopefully.