Hi texbiker, I've seen a lot of your posts. Riding is my favorite past time and I do it almost every day except I think I should rest a day every 6 to 7 days and I don't ride when it rains. I do see a huge difference in my health. Greatest thing I ever started. My brother in Austin told me that I might be getting to a point to where I could possibly consider riding in an organized group. I've never done that for I've been only riding for around 10 months and not sure if I'm really physically ready. I do ride really about 16 to 18 miles/day during the week and longer on the weekends BUT I do stop and rest for 3 to 5 minutes every 5 to 8 miles then start up again. Some of the organized rides I see have rest stops every 10 miles which makes me think that everyone's going at least 10 miles before they stop. I can do that but probably not at the speeds they're riding. I generally ride between 13 and 14 mph. on a fairly flat road with not much of a head wind. I ride a Trek7.1 Hybrid which I understand is more of a "fitness bike". I really love this bike though. The tail winds are great and I do 15 to 17 mph. and I say this trying to keep a cadence of 70 to 85. I try to keep a cadence to where I'm "spinning" without pushing too much to where I kill myself. I have to keep reminding myself that I'm not in my 30s or 40s anymore. Most of the pictures I see on the organized rides show people riding road bikes. I was talking to a girl at the Bike Barn last week and she thought my ride speeds are kinda an in between speed and might have troubles in an organized ride. I don't know except I do know I'm having a blast and can't wait for my next ride. My bike is only 3 months old and bought it from Bike Barn.