Originally Posted by
chipcom
Stand your ground, Wolfie...part of the joy of touring is doing things at your own pace and not rushing around trying to keep to some schedule...especially someone else's schedule. So what if you don't get to where you originally wanted to get to, so what if you end up in places you never planned on going, so what if you gotta do a little stealth camping rather than make it to the place you planned on staying for the night. Hold your ground, darlin,
show Airwick that we alleged roadies know how to relax and have a good time! 
i do know how to do that.
just because i grew up (the last 4-5yrs) as a roadie, doesn't mean diddle-squat. do you know what it's like riding in a paceline of 15-20ppl or in a huge group (40+), following the Cane River in western NC, but you're rolling at 28+mph and have no chance in hell of seeing
anything along the route except the butt & legs of the cyclist in front of you??? no way are you going to take your eyes off the person(s) in front of you or even attempt to sit up, no hands on bars, fish around in your jersey pocket for a camera to take pictures - just a recipe for someone getting hurt. been there, done that twice for the Burnsville Metric. it's a beautiful route for the first 45mi, but i have no pictures and i can't tell you anything about that part of the route.
would i like to take it easier and be able to see the scenery? hell yes. but, i've never been given that opportunity because i chose to do these organized rides and they all end up being races. *shrugs shoulders* i think i'm being given an opportunity to see another side to cycling and i'm excited & scared about it all at the same time. i just need to be given a chance to try - who knows, maybe Airwick will convert me.
also, these preconceived notions that Airwick seems to have about me being a roadie and not liking the touring aspect of cycling need to be dispelled. i aim to do this (or at least give it my best shot).