Maybe I'm just wimpy, LOL. Everyone complains of dead legs, sore legs, feeling exhausted after a long hard ride --- but I want to prevent or overcome that by doing things differently -- base training, warming up, etc. I've been hanging out in these forums for so long that I've read and learned these things many many times.... maybe I'm suffering from TooMuchInformationitis.
You may be on to something. While I do try to be smart about my riding and conditioning, I try my best not to let it stand in the way of enjoying the simple joy of riding a bicycle and the social aspect of hanging out with friends, whether before, during or after riding.