LI10UP ... thank you so much for your observations. I went out for a ride this morning by myself. I set out on the same roads I went last time, except this time I just went to have a nice relaxing time and putz around. I rode for an hour - no idea how far or how fast ... kept it in really easy gear and just didn't push myself too hard.

And guess what? It was really great!!!

When I think back to my first ever ride, which was just earlier this year, I started out with two of my guy buddies - one navy, the other a marine, and both motorcycle racers. I did a few rides with them, so no wonder my reference point for cycling is to go "balls-out" and not be last back to the truck!! Then of course I've done my two sprint tri's, which I pushed hard in (and of course would expect to, being a race and all), a couple of rides by myself, and that's been about it.

I think I might start trying to do some longer rides and treat them more as recreation - at least that way I'll be building my aerobic base on the bike and having a better time in the process!!

Nicola