One more thing, Crankin. Your comment about a flat road.

Living in Kansas, you think that you live in a flat state--and we really do but the road I chose, had some little hills that added some dimension to the challenge.

I haven't really figured out how I'm going to handle this. My community is in a little valley (not anything like Denver but a little valley nonetheless). So anything I do to leave the community involves hills. It may be a case of what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

So in your riding, do you do intervals several days each week? Not sure I can be that dedicated. But I read that even some intervals will increase your speed.