I ride a Specialized Sectuer triple also. I have been riding about a year and I was able to stay with a 15mph club ride almost from the first time I rode. My wife started riding about 6 months ago and she was in the 10 to 12 mph range. We are in a group and we would ride with the group who were going 15 to 16 mph. I stayed back with her when she started to get dropped by the group. We would catch up to the group at reststops and so forth. Recently my wife has gotten stonger and faster and is able to stay with the group at 15 to 18mph. See if there is someone in your group who will stay back with you until you can buile up strength and stamina to stay with the group. Our group has a "no-rider left behind" policy, so someone is always willing to stay back with a beginning rider. Good luck to you, an be assured that you can achieve your goal, my wife and I are both 54 yrs old and we did it.