Hi, I'm a young man of 19 who recently got into cycling (been planning on a long tour this summer). I recently moved, and decided to ride with the local cycling club. Not one of them but has a carbon or aluminum-and-carbon road bike, while I have a steel touring bike with fenders, a rear rack, and a Brooks saddle. Before we even started riding, I got the feeling that I was "not wanted." Sure, I've just moved with a 5000ft elevation increase, and I've slacked off in the winter so I'm not in shape yet, but if I were, wouldn't I be able to keep up with the rest of them? It's not a race after all. So what's to be hostile about?

And just in case it will help--how much of a speed difference would it make to remove my fenders and rear rack? I like my fenders because it keeps grit out of my drive train, and it would be a real drag to remove that stuff every week end, so I'd only do so if it were to make a difference.