Take rest breaks. Stop and smell the flowers - or at least take pictures of them, or the scenery. We want to see pictures from the ride!

A 30 mile ride can be a series of 10 mile rides. The pace can either be a 30 miles in the shortest time possible, or it can be a leisure ride, with stops along the way for coffee, photos of the scenery.

And somewhere along the way, if you're drinking enough, you WILL need a bathroom break. Do your ride mates know where there's a bathroom? Or is there a remote enough spot for a "nature break?"

Check the weather before you go. Will you need rain gear? Since you have paniers, you might want to stuff a jacket in there. Put the sunscreen on before you ride. Avoid early season sunburn.