I'm a newbie, so don't have past experiences to share. But I think your experience articulates for me a fear that I have that I haven't been able to put my finger on until just now. I know I don't want to do competitive biking. I'm not a competitive person and don't really think I am or ever will be a strong enough athlete to do so. However I do want to get better...I want to be fast/good enough not to hold the people around me back. I'm not sure how to reconcile the two. I'm in it for the joy of riding, and for the scenery. One of many reasons I've chosen this sport is because I want to be able to see things that I can't see in a gym, and don't have the range to see while walking/running. I'm already enjoying the things I see right around my neighborhood by bike that I've never seen in my car, even though I've lived here 15 years. Roads I don't (or can't) drive on. Smells in the air. The sound of the wind blowing in the trees (however few and far between they are...ha!). Cycling is just fast enough to get somewhere, yet slow enough to enjoy the journey. I love it (so far). But I do fear that as I try to get better/faster, somewhere along the way it won't be fun anymore.

I like the ideas of taking off the cyclometer, and enjoying the ride for what it is. I guess it's a metaphor for life...aren't we supposed to be enjoying the ride, certainly not seeing how quickly we can get to the end?