At age 44, I'm never going to get onto the pro anything tour. At 6'3" and 270lbs, I sniff at the designation of "mere" 200 pounders as clydesdales. :-)

I haven't done that many group rides yet, but the ones I have done, with upwards of 20 non-pro riders, I was right up there at the head of the pack, and took my turn pulling, etc. Sure, in a pack of hard core hammerers I'd get left in the dust. But amongst the "normal people" riders, I hold my own just fine. I'm still losing weight (used to be 380), but with my body type, I'll never be below, say, 225 lbs or so. If I got exceedingly tenacious I might see 215 lbs someday. When I was in my late teens I was in the low 190s for a short time and had a measured bodyfat % in the single digits. Those days aren't coming back. I fully realize I don't have, and never will have, a "cyclist's body". Oh well.