Nafula, hey, wherever you're at for speed, if you're on your bike, it's all good.

I would like to get a little faster because (1) there is no club here, and the cyclists I know who are really nice are just WAY faster than me right now. Someday, I'd like to be able to ride with them for fun. And, (2) I aspire to doing some organized rides that have time cut-offs that I just currently can't make, so my desire for speed is just a desire to do some certain rides without getting swept up off the road by organizers.

Other than that, my 12 mph rides are super fun, and my being a little slower doesn't change the beauty of the eagles, deer, bear, elk or mountains. My slower speed doesn't reduce my feeling of peaceful well-being when I'm done, or my sense of independence and strength after time on the bike.

My biggest goal is to keep riding into my 80's or beyond. There is a lady I see around here on an old-style bike, with wrinkles & gray hair (the lady, not the bike!), and she bikes EVERYWHERE. She is always smiling. What a role model!