I did TOMRV with a faster rider, who wanted to ride with me to make sure she didn't go out too fast.

So, on the second day, she knew she was going to make it, and we jumped onto a group. Within five minutes, I was wondering whether *I* was going to be able to finish. I held on... then dropped back, and two guys dropped back with me. We went a few more miles, and then they pulled off and called for the sag wagon! In those few miles going at *my* speed, though, I had recovered.

I caught up at the next rest stop, and my friend said "You should have stayed with us, we weren't going that fast!" I answered, "No, you were going *exactly* that fast." Maybe (but I don't really think so) it's psychological - but sustaining that speed was breaking me down, yet one mph slower and I was fine... oh, and FEELING GOOD instead of feeling crappy. No pain, no problem!

THe one time I've ever bonked was when I went off with a group taht was also just that bit too fast. I kept up... until I just couldn't go at all. They stayed with me those last few miles, but it was not fun. I vividly remember how hard it was to put my pedal forward just to get started at a stop light.

It's tough being "between groups."