Today I went on my first group ride since December 27th . I did do 2 hikes with the group in January/February.
The ride started in Concord center, so I rode to the start. This group is a moderately paced, social group. They use human arrowing for turns, which is somewhat weird for newcomers. A lot of the people who were active when I started with them in 2005 no longer ride with the group (it's an older crowd), and now there's usually always a faster group that does the same route plus more miles at a faster pace. I'm always on the edge of thinking I can hang with the faster group, but today was definitely a no-go... they were doing 44 miles at a 16 mph average, up significant hills that I am familiar with. And it was hot.
We rode to the MIT observatory in Groton, which is very near where I lived when i first moved back to MA. In fact, the faster group went right by my old house. It felt weird. I was riding on roads I used to drive on all of the time, but there were times I was not quite sure of what street I was on. The regular group has also picked up its pace, too. After the first 4 miles, I got up near the front and stayed there, except for falling back a bit, so I wouldn't have to arrow! The group was really big and it would have taken me awhile to catch up.
The hill up to the observatory was challenging, but I've done much worse. It's funny to watch some of the guys. They start out fast, stay in a hard gear and then poof! I pass them and leave them in the dust in my granniest of granny. No shade on the climb, either.
I peeled off to go home before they got back to Concord center and headed to lunch. I didn't have enough to eat and I was on the edge of bonking. When I got to the street that intersects with my street, I stopped, poured my water over my head and down my jersey and ate a shot block, to get up my hill.
I feel like I worked hard, but I'm not "exhausted," either. I rode 40 miles, no idea what the average was, as I didn't check it after I started the climb to the observatory.
I need to go on more of these rides...