I am one of those in-between people. I gained a lot of fitness and speed the first couple of years I rode. In the last year I have slowed down, for various reasons. I have pretty much stopped going on group rides, except for the ones I lead, or with my Wednesday Wheeler group, where the average age is older than me (55). I can even keep up with the guys there, except for a couple of them and then, only on long climbs. I don't do charity rides, except for one local one. I mostly ride alone, with my DH, or with a couple of friends. I am way too fast for the slow group in my club, but I can't hang with the fast ones, either. I can climb just about anything, mostly because I have to on every ride from my house. I live on a 10-15% grade hill. But, I don't like long climbs. Give me steep and short.
I ditched my HRM a few years ago. I was obsessing on it instead of enjoying my ride. I won't ditch my computer, though. I like knowing my distance, speed, cadence. But, I am about to drag my Bike Journal icon into the trash... I found myself wanting to lie about my average speed and that's not good. I will keep a journal on my own.
Like Limewave, I enjoy riding my Jamis Coda for errands, going to the Farmer's Market, or riding with my less fit friends a lot more sometime. It makes me feel like a kid. Sure, I have a light carbon road bike and I appreciate it. But, I don't want to ride it 7 days a week.
At this point, after almost 9 years of riding, it's an established part of my life. But, I have made it a point to do other sports, especially in the winter. I also just started running. I don't want to burn out like I did with aerobics.
Ah, just don't go hiking with Jolt. She just about ran me and Deb W. into the ground on a little local hike last year!