Quote Originally Posted by westtexas View Post
So it went really well!! The two LBS guys were super nice and they definitely made me feel very comfortable about my level of riding. At first I had a hard time keeping up and I thought I was going to stroke out, but we all seemed to even out after the first couple of miles. They taught me how to ride in the draft depending on the wind direction and that helped a lot. We were shooting for a 30 mile ride but we only did about 15 because I had to turn around. During the long stretch of the ride we were going straight into 30 mph winds and although I could maintain a 10 mph speed I was having a hard time. And I was running out of water and so incredibly dehydrated. Luckily, they switched turns putting a hand on my back and giving me a break. After that, they invited me to dinner and we all went out in all our spandex glory.

I definitely recommend it to anyone who might be like me and a little shy to ride with more advanced riders. It's certainly great motivation to get stronger and faster. Next time I hope to get to the second turn around point instead of the first, and then after that the third and so on until I can make it the whole distance. I thought I would be dying this morning with muscle aches and dehydration, but I went for another 15 mile ride and was perfectly fine and faster than ever.

Sooo glad to have made some friends in this faraway place where I don't know a single soul!!
What I love about cycling is that recovery is fast! What I really love is that these guys were supportive all the way. Too many times they *intend* to be supportive, but think they're not "really going that fast" -- or, they *say* they won't leave you but really they're of the "hey, that's how you learn, dudes, you get dropped" school (which I don't mind *if* you are honest about it!).
Keep getting stronger!