Hi DG from another Qlder! Very nice looking new bike you got yourself - no wonder you are enjoying it.

I understand your concerns with the riding on the roads with the traffic - especially in smalltown FNQ where the roads aren't always the best. Sometimes it's just hard to find a decent (and connected enough) stretch of road with a good shoulder to get a ride of decent length.

And that is your best bet, take a drive around and see where the best wide roads are with a decent shoulder to ride on and then try to join them up into some kind of loop, which you may need to ride twice or more once you get your distance up.

I think that travelling in a pack does give you are few more options because as a pack you can "take the road" a little more and have a bit more visible presence than a lone or pair of riders. This allows you to use the yuckier roads with a bit more safety. So in the end you might want to work yourself up to being able to go on the shop rides to take advantage of the group protection?

Perhaps you could talk to somebody at the LBS who runs the group rides and see what routes they take? That way you can ride part or all of them yourself in preparation, or even just get some ideas about some good routes to use? They will also be able to advise which are the safest sections or where you need to take extra care.

Just remember, it is easy for us to feel intimidated and slow and wonder if we could keep up with group rides. I even looked in awe at some of the posts on this site about going on group rides and thought - wow, I'd never be able to do that! But then eventually somebody would post their average speed for one of these rides and I'd be surprised to find that I regularly average those speeds on my rides. We under-sell ourselves all the time.

So work on your distances to increase them gradually (like everybody was saying, at maybe 10% at a time) until you are making the sort of distances required. Then start working individual sections of your rides to increase your strength, speed and stamina. Before you know it you will be able to go on a few group rides. Going on them increases your "cycling friends" network and gives you other options for riding outside of the group rides that may be really beneficial for you.

Btw I hear you on the hydration issues. Even down here in the big smokier part of Qld it is still hot and humid for much of the summer. I have also been mountain biking in addition to my roadie riding and have adapted a few useful mtb habits to road biking. In particular the bandanna or buff under helmet to prevent sweat in the eyes, and the use of a camelbak (so NOT the done thing for roadies) when I go out for a really long ride.

I am shocking about drinking enough on the roadie - and I only have one bottle cage because that is all that will fit in my small frame - only took one bottle this morning and didn't even come close to drinking it while I was out for an hour and a half! But I always leave a full bottle of gatorade made up in the fridge before I go and force myself to drink it as soon as I get back.

I find I am a lot more careful about drinking if I have a camelbak on - usually get through1.5 - 2litres on a long hot ride.

If you guys are ever down BrisVegas way with bike(s) in tow, give us a yell and we'll take you out for a nice cruisy ride - was just beautiful along the beach at Sandgate this morning!