I didn't mean it to come across that my friend was discouraging. So just for the record, the opposite is true. She's helped me many a time to get up some really steep climbs. She's just unwilling to switch bikes with me. This whole thing comes down to a struggle with my own ego. Even the ladies with their newer bikes would wait for me at the top of the hills & some even hung back with me to keep me company. I came to the conclusion yesterday that quite frankly, I am not willing to put in the work required to keep up with these other ladies on their newer bikes & that's purely my decision & has nothing to do with them. So if it's not fun for me to keep up with them, i just won't ride with them. No big deal. Or I'll just bring my iPod next time! I do love my S.O.B. (Sweet Old Bianchi) & enjoy riding her very much and the only person that can make you happy is yourself

So that's it, I'm done whining now