For those of you feeling that you can't keep up with your partners, just remember that is is not all about fitness. It can just be about the way that you like to ride. I enjoy cycling not only to improve my fitness and feel the wind in my hair, but to see the beautiful countryside. I can't really see or explore if I go too fast. My occasional riding partner wants to go faster than me, but most of the time he will just settle down and see the world. We generally cycle at a pace where we can chat while we cycle, so on the flat we don't tend to cycle faster than about 13-15 miles per hour.

So, don't just put it down to lower fitness levels, think about how you want to ride as well. There is no shame in wanting to have fun (and in my case, I am an explorerer as well - how cool does that sound!)