How am I supposed to go as fast as my friends?

[kajero]

I am the one that the yellow arrow points to! I don't ride with groups anymore. When I have, it seems to have resulted in an accident because I am too incompetent to ride with them. That's why I only do the tours with them. There is always a potluck after and they don't care what time I get there. :-) Sometimes I leave an hour early so I can meet them for lunch. Still, I think it's kind of like my grandson. He can't keep up with me on my bicycle because he is too little!

[azfiddle]

That sounds very familiar (except for the accident part). I pretty much ride by myself these days because most groups are too fast and the ones that aren't are too slow. Or I ride with my husband or son, who will wait for me after they want to go fast for a while. It doesn't seem to matter what I try, even training with a coach didn't help. I have one friend who will ride my pace.

I have no advice or suggestions... but I do have lots of empathy for you