I'm 59 and it was a challenge. But the 26 miles was the easy part.
Rain all the way through was the hard part, but it didn't seem that cold, not as cold as I thought it would be. Fortunately, no wind.
This was my first of any tour, group ride, etc. I do 5 or 10 miles on the streets regularly, and I was in training a bit so it was easy.
A lot of people did not follow the rules, so it surprises me there weren't more accidents.
A lot of racers came flying up past me without any warning. If they were such racers how did they get behind me?
I took 2:27.
And of course 2 accidents on the 110 south on leaving.
I guess I feel lucky I came out without a scratch or an ache.
dc

Well congratulations on your first group ride.

David, I'm in the same boat - I ride pretty regularly but have never done much of a group ride. I just registered for the 2010 pasadena bike tour. How did they start the race last year? In one big group or in small waves?

In one big group, all 3000. In the dark. And it immediately started to rain.
Get there early. Get set up, find a spot near the start. And be careful. Turn your head and watch behind you. They will come flying up from behind, passing within inches. And as you pass the slow ones in front, they will swerve all around.
But it thins out as you go so then you can find you own space and pace.
dc