group cycling?

[marni]

after years of not being able to find a group that did a somewhat slower but longer ride (ie 40-60 iles over 4+hours as opposed to 20 miles in an hour) I have become resigned to riding alone and doing my own thing. In an abstract sort of way it makes me feel much more self confident and self reliant to know that I can do that distance out in the country and handle whatever comes my way as far as loose animals, dogs, road trash, flats, etc. I have found one woman who rides with me once a month whose pace matches mine, but for the rest of the time I ride solo or do charity rides for group riding .

Maybe you should consider doing a solo regimented training program for a while working on speed and endurance while riding so you can take your own pace to build up to the speed that the group rides and then rejoin the group.