Quote Originally Posted by Dianyla
Your legs will get stronger as long as you're spinning high cadence and pushing enough resistance to keep your heartrate up. Doing intervals where you push a harder gear and then rest in a lighter one will also help.

Maybe in the meantime you can find a slower paced group that either matches your current abilities or only slightly exceeds it? That way you can still enjoy group riding but not feel pathetic, trust me I can empathize.

I ride alone most of the time, which always builds strength because I have to break my own wind all the time. Then when I do get to go ride with a group I can enjoy taking turns pulling (which is just like riding by myself in the wind) and also enjoy drafting for once.
I volunteered to lead the Sat. morning beginner ride...figured that way I could set the pace and choose the route. I've given up riding the Thur. night group ride until I feel I can keep up better. When doing the intervals is it just one gear harder and does the cadence matter or is it just a matter of pushing a harder gear?