I know what you mean. I hired a coach and we worked together for 3 years. One of my "goals" as non-specific as it was, was to be able to hang with some of the local group on the Tuesday night ride. Try as I might after three years of doing everything I was asked to do for workouts I still got dropped, at the same place on the ride. I really envy those riders here, one's that I know personally or secondhand, that can put the screws to a group of riders and make it stick. I think, though I'm not sure I've come to accept it yet, that I'll never be one of those riders. It pains me to think that at all because I've put so much effort into trying to do so.

Genetics plays such a huge role in cycling performance. Can I get better than I am now? Sure! Will I be the one out there crushing souls as they say? I'm beginning to think not. I enjoy riding though and feel the challenge of longer or more epic rides seems to be where I'm heading. I'm not slow, just not as fast as the guys I would like to hang with. It can be frustrating.