I went with a buddy to my first group ride in Orlando, FL and to my shock there are about 100 people out there......after some jealous perusing of other people's awesomely expensive bikes I ask around enough to find out that there is a 25mile ride at about 18-20mph and 3-41mile rides at speeds from 20 to 25+

it is very obvious to me which one I belong in

so the ringleader calls everyone around and explains the different rides for the newbies and then says that the 25's will take off and the 41's will go right after them....he yells here we go and a bunch of people roll to edge of the parking lot......i just follow the first few guys I see and we're cruising through a neighborhood at what I thought was a decent speed (I ride a 15year old panasonic road bike that I got at a garage sale for 80bucks and I do not have clipless pedals or a bike computer to tell me speed or cadence) and as we're riding I'm marvelling at these great bikes these people are riding.......3 miles later we come to an intersection to get on some real size roads......and god in heaven.......it felt like we were running from the cops......they sure seemed to be moving pretty quick......but I am prideful so I hung on.......another 4-5 miles down the road we come to foot of a long steep overpass and.....they....never.....slowed.....down.....at.....all.....we had to be doing 24mph uphill it was ridiculous......and by "we", I mean them......becuase I wasn't......I got dropped like leo in titanic (i'll never let you go.....I'll never let you go.....I'll never {lets him go})

I tried to follow them through the next neighborhood but only succeeded in trailing them long enough to get lost in the neighborhood, and my buddy never said a word to me......i didn't even see him go by

so, I ride the lone 8-10 miles back to the parking lot cursing my weakness and wait for almost 45 minutes before anyone shows up.....when they do.....it's just my buddy and 3 other dudes and they are laughing at me

now at this point I am completely proud of my buddy for being the lead pack and wanting to congratulate him for being some tough but his laughing makes me mad so I refuse to be proud of him..."dude, I just didn't have it.....i couldn't keep up.....oh yeah and thanks for not saying anything"

his response.....but dude you were so far away by the time I saw you

my response.....but dude you passed me on the hill

his response......what hill

my response......exactly thanks for looking out for me

his response......no moron, what hill.......I went to the right out of the parking lot with the slow 25milers......you went to the left with the fastest 41miles.....you rode out with the A group, dummy

(shocked silence from me..........uproars of laughter from the other guys)

my friend admitted to me that he saw me about 50 yards away but didn't want to yell out for me and make himself stick out on his first day there

he didn't want to stick out

so he let me, in running shoes and a longsleeve cotton shirt from old navy on an 80 dollar road bike, ride out with the a group

awesome bro

but at least i got dropped by the fast ones and not the slow ones......silver lining huh?