Thanks, Crankin. Your words hit home.
I've struggled with gaining some weight (and not being able to get it off despite riding 5 days a week and counting calories), and getting slower on the bike while everyone else I know is speeding up. I've been feeling very incompetent and inadequate. I quit doing tris because I feel so slow and out of shape. So I ride alone. I go my own speed. I took the computer off. I stop to take pictures and look around more.
I just got a job 2 miles from home (as opposed to 26), so now I can ride to work and the grocery store on the way home. I'm looking forward to being a utilitarian bicyclist- not just a speed demon.