Guys like gsteinb live for the competition and the sport of racing. If I was as talented as some of these guys, I'd be the same way. But I'm not. I can race, I can hang with the pack, and if I train and train and train and train I might even help the team sometimes. But I'll always be pack fodder. 10+ years ago I occasionally got in the break and got a result. But I'm slower now. I'm a 22-23 mph guy in a world of 35+ guys who can ride 25+ mph. I'm tired of banging my head against that wall, particularly when it involves getting up at 3AM and driving 125 miles or more. That winds up costing $60+ in gas, tolls, etc. And all that would be fine if it was more fun. But it's not. It has become a drag, particularly when you do all that and you have a bad day or a puncture and you get spit out. That really blows.

So it goes. Nyack Ride and some fast group rides for me, I still like doing some TTs, but I really do enjoy riding alone most of the time, long rides, lots of climbing some days, some fast pack or paceline riding mixed in.

The Schwag Procurement, Hand Wringing, BF Pissing Contests and the Posing remain the funnest part of this idiot sport. And make no mistake, it is profoundly idiotic. As I get more experienced in it (and after about 140,000 road bicycle miles, I have some time in the saddle) it's not getting less dumb. It has only gotten dumberer.