Back to winter, as it was 26 degrees at the start of our ride! Kind of makes me wonder about my poor bloomin' daffodils and the cherries along the tidal basin that they say are supposed to bloom early this year -- peak in another 2 weeks!

DH and I did the N2 group ride. About 30 to start, but not for long.
I've come to the conclusion that if a significant portion of the group is heading up to Sugarloaf (a local "mountain climb" that will give them about 85 miles for the ride), then I can almost hang with them to the first re-group point, as they are pacing themselves and going at a more sedate speed....meaning I can keep contact with the group ). Today, however, a few were going to Poolesville, which is an easy 55 mile ride for them, but many were not, so we were not even off Tuckerman Rd. before they threw the hammer down and I got popped off the back. Fortunately, traffic lights will always keep a few in sight, and I rode with 3 others who also got dropped. By the time we hit Glen, there were 6 of us. By the time we got to River and Falls Road in Potomac, it was up to a dozen or so, and we stayed together for the remainder of the ride.

Since DH was part of the hammer-fest that went on to Poolesville, I rode back to the LBS with another guy to schmooze. We got off our bikes and walked into the shop, and my companion remarked...."That ride is like banging your head against a wall. It feels soooo good when you stop!"

47 miles....