I did my first organized ride yesterday and it was a blast!
My friend Donna and I met up with Tprevost from the forums here and together we set off to do the 25 mile part of the Riverbank (California) Wine and Cheese Centrury ride sponsored by the Stanislaus County Bicycle Club.
For Donna and myself, it was our first organized ride, and one of 2 times all year Donna has been on a bike. She didn't have one of her own so she borrowed my old MTB and bravely went forth on the route...and made it halfway before "technical difficulties" kept her from continuing. Tprevost and I went on and even though we went on an unplanned side adventure (lost track of the route for about 5 miles but I got in some much needed hill practice in the meantime) made it all the way. The weather was fantastic, the company was awesome,the host club was acceptionally helpful and the location was beautiful...it was everything I imagined a ride in the country would be. It was great fun and as a bonus, despite the difficulties she endured, my friend Donna is totally bitten by the biking bug and wants to go shopping for a entry level road bike soon!
I have to thank Tprevost for all her words of wisdom and encouragement on the way and can't wait til we do it all again, even further next time! Onward!!