Finished my first group ride. Lets just say, the group I rode with this evening, well they were all leg shavers. I rode at the back and played around with taking a wheel and letting others take my wheel. Learned some hand signs for things such as "WATCH OUT POTHOLE!" Which is probably the most used one here in Chicago Also learned to let others know that a car is coming up and then letting everyone know you are clear of an intersection. I found myself at times watching the tire in front of me, but I quickly corrected and started looking over the shoulders in front of me. For my first time, I don't know if I should be happy or upset with my results. I went about 7 miles with the group before I knew it, they were gone. I was happy that I kept anywhere between 20 and 25mph for those 7 miles, even on some of the hills. I hit that 7 miles and it was like my lungs slipped down into my bibs. I will still go out with this group since they start out just a mile from the house on Tuesdays and Thursdays and work my way up every week. There is great motivation there and I need that, otherwise I will sit in the saddle for 30+ miles looking at the scenery instead of really working it. It was a drop group, which I had no problem with and let them know not to worry about me as I knew the route. On Mondays I will get with the slower group and ride with them as well.

So, for my first ride, it was so much fun. It was funny, after I was dropped, I wanted to keep my pace at 15+ mph and I did well there. The last 2 miles of the ride I dropped down in speed to chill my legs and gain some composure and still ended up with a 15mph avg. At 15 mph on this route, not only did I get passed by 1 other local cycling team, but 2 others I kind of chuckled as they passed me by