Thanks again, everybody.

I've been thinking about this, and I think I need to address the little snitty blow out. As follows: I recognize that we had a clash this morning. I think it's because I'm frustrated and you're frustrated, for our own reasons. We're closing in on the end of the riding season, and while I've really appreciated your company, I think I need to focus on getting as much hard riding in as I can before winter. I'd love to have coffee, though.

I think I can't pretend the clash didn't happen. I'm sure she feels bad about slowing me down. Honestly, SO wants me to do Dairyland Dare with him next summer. The 100k route has 6,663 feet of climbing and the 150k route has 10,340!!! And I want to do it. I thought I could do "recovery rides" with the neighbor. But there aren't enough nice days left. So... hard rides on the nice days, recovery "rides" doing housework!

Oh, and to respond to Shooting Star: I push myself really hard when I go out alone. It's me and the clock and the speedometer. I stick with the routes I know fairly well that don't take me so far from home that I could get really stranded (weekday rides are loops between 20 and 30 miles, rarely out-and-backs). I've only lived in this state 18 months. I've only been road cycling since last Christmas. I'd love to have someone to show me more areas, who is close enough to my skill level that we could push each other and support each other as needed, and generally help me feel like it's not ALL about training. I love being on my bike. LOVE it. SO and I have 3 kids (1 mine, 2 his part-time). I just want someone to share this activity with me more than the twice a month weekend rides SO and I squeeze in together.