Barb, I think that if possible, you should relocate to Gainesville, Florida. You would fit right in with the group I ride with!
I tried another group first- they advertise their average speed as 16. Fine! That's my average speed! But what that really means is they go 18-20 or faster on the flats, and slower on the hills. I kept up, but was the most sore the next day that I have ever been. Never rode with them again. I like my nice relaxed group that stops to take pictures, and waits for slower riders, and takes breaks every 10 miles.
That's too bad you can't find a jersey that fits- cotton t-shirts are _so_ horrible.
If you want people to wave, go sit on your bike up on a freeway overpass! I was waiting for people to catch up Sunday, and _all_ the truck drivers were waving and honking, and a lot of the cars, too. I felt famous!
Nanci
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"...I'm like the cycling version of the guy in Flowers for Algernon." Mike Magnuson