superdex, great attitude and outlook on your ride; this will help you in spades.

"Now, the question is, do I go back out there next Wednesday, see if I can last 9 miles? "

DEFINITELY! Ask any of those guys on that group ride about their first couple of times out and they'll tell you the exact same story; that they got dropped big time too! The more you go out there, the faster you'll get and the longer you'll hang. Within 2-3 months, you'll be able to finish the entire ride with them and will be duking it out for the finish as well!

Here's what you gotta do, incorporate that ride into the middle of your weekly microcycle in terms of intensity AND distance. That means on one of your training rides, you gotta do more intensity than them. So one day, do a 10-15mile ride with 5 all-out 100% effort sprints, then go home. Another day, like on a weekend, do a longer ride than that group ride at an endurance 65-75% pace for 3-4 hours.

Within 2-3 months, you'll be completely amazed at how fast you'll improve.