AzTallRider, Congrats on your longest ride to date. From your comments and explanations I think you are on the way to faster riding. On flattish roads and riding with good cyclists, 20 mph is not that hard to maintain for the ride. Throw in some town line sprints followed by some recovery/regrouping and hills and maintaining 20 mph takes more work to overcome the periods when the ride is slower. Group riding takes some learning as well as relaxing while riding. When I first started to ride with groups I was very nervous and anxious that I couldn't keep up and was concerned with my group skills. At first my only goal was not to get dropped by the group. At some point your fitness and skills will enable you to fit right into the group, at that point the group ride has a whole new dynamic that includes the friendships developed as you all work together.