finding where i fit

Normally I'd go out with Tom H, but he was leading his annual Lying Bastard ride around Lake Nockamixon, with about 3000 feet of climb in the 50+ miles. I'd had a problem overdoing it on my last hilly ride. (I didn't make it clear in that post, but things felt spinny at the end of that ride. I think it's due to a new blood-pressure medication, and I don't want to risk such a demanding ride until I'm sure I can handle it.) So I figured I'd go out on the B ride in Cranbury today. I figured a flat B pace was within my capability.

I found it curious when Jud H, whom I know has done long-distance riding, headed off with Ira's C+ group instead of the B group.

We went out pretty fast and got faster. At Dey Grove Road, the order was given that people could sprint to the end, and I was immediately dropped. I rode at a pace to get to the end and was dead last, and still had an average speed of 18.1 when I pulled up to the group. I told them to go on without me; nobody likes to be the one holding the group back.

Alone, I proceeded back along Dey Grove... and came up on Ira's C+ ride coming the way I'd just gone. Among them were a number of people I knew. So I joined that ride, with Ira's permission.

It was a friendly group. At one point I zipped ahead to get some pictures.

We stopped at Roys.

...and of COURSE I got bike pics:

Now, we all know riders who have been used to riding at a certain level in the past, but their abilities are perhaps fading with time. Nobody likes to tell anyone that they can't ride the way they used to. The Excellent Wife (TEW) has made it abundantly clear that she's worried that I won't be able to let go, and I'll put demands on myself riding that I won't be able to meet. Perhaps today's ride is a sign. I'm sure once I get used to the meds, I'll be able to go do hilly rides again. But as for speed and pacing, perhaps it's time to admit I can't be a fast boy anymore... if I ever was.

It's humble pie. But if it means I get to ride with folks I like, and converse while I'm pedaling... well, perhaps the humble pie has an aftertaste of honey.

Ride page. (If you play it in the player, you can see where I did the back-and-forth as I'm heading toward Manalapan. Play it at 200x; it's deadly boring otherwise.)