See, in Corpus Christi there is just one group of about 30-50 riders who ride on Wednesdays & Saturdays.

Tom wanted me to go to Wednesday night rides to get to know a group of 5 chicks who go about my speed, in hopes that they'd call me up when they did daily rides. The issue is that I can't go on Wednesdays to meet them, and they don't really 'invite' people they don't know to their smaller rides.

As for the hear rate monitor, I do think that is a great idea & since my b-day is in July, I'm hoping someone gives me one (specifically the Nike Imara Monitor/Watch)