So, I haven't talked about my biking much, but I'm still at it. Twice a week, every week, rain or shine, I'll put on the silly outfit and the sillier shoes, and go riding with a local club group. The group keeps a fast pace, but in the last few weeks it's gotten easier and easier to keep up with them.

And then there was our last ride.

When I met everyone at the starting point, a small park about a mile from my house, the group's leader (organizer, really) asked if we wanted to race. Most everyone agreed, and we sat down to decide on a course. We ended up agreeing on a 15 mile route along some of the main streets through town. Along most of the way, there are bike paths or bike lanes, but for at least six miles, we'd be riding in the streets. With the days getting shorter now, everyone was careful to check the reflectors and warning lights on the bikes. We started riding in a pack, turned the corner, and entered the route....

I had thought that this group kept a quick pace, but I was wrong. They kicked it up a few notches for this impromptu race. After the first four miles, I was having trouble keeping up.

I wasn't the only one falling back, though. A few other riders, also newcomers and casual riders like myself, faded back, too, and, without stopping, we had a quick discussion about what we'd do.

We all decided to keep on the route, and to keep as a fast a pace as we could. We'd sprint each other in the last mile, to see who still has any juice left.

It was the best ride I've had all season. I even won the sprint with the little sub-group I was riding with. I'll pay for it later, though: my legs are killing me!