Welcome Formula4speed! Good to have you in the club. I had a similar story - started riding to work (about 5 miles to the subway station, then another 3 miles from the station to work), about 4 years ago. The first time I cycled home from the subway, I had to stop in the park and lay down in the grass for a half hour because I was so gassed! It does get easier, and contrary to what Lance says, sometimes, it is about the bike. Upgraded from a hybrid to a Specialized Tricross Comp about 2 years ago, and boy, what a difference. The difference in speed and comfort is really quite amazing.

Another funny story. I work at a large university in Southern California, and like you, had stopped to chat with a fellow rider on the bike lane on the way home from work one afternoon. Turns out he worked at the same university, just on a different campus in another part of the city. Now, we meet up about once a week, (schedules permitting), and bike door to door to our respective offices, (about 22 miles one way). We call it "The Thursday Morning, No Excuses - Take No Prisoners" ride - care to take a guess at how frequently we're able to pull that one off?!!