It
was early April when Thomas, Larry, and myself met up for our first group
ride together. I had got in contact
with Larry through a well known Cycling magazine. He was at the time distributing
a well known sports product in the area, which had been tested in the magazine
that month and was highly recommended. So being quite new to cycling at the
time, I felt that I wanted some more information on the product before a
purchase
was to be made.
I
decided to give Larry a call, to my surprise, it turned out that he lived
only a few miles away in a nearby town, and we arranged to meet on the Thursday
of that week. Little did we know what horrendous weather Thursday was to
bring.
We seemed to have had all four seasons in one day Wind, Rain, Snow and a
little
Sunshine, very little as it happened, not enough for Larry and myself to
venture
out. So we decide to meet up on the Saturday afternoon and Larry would introduce
me to his training partner Thomas.
The
Saturday afternoon came; we had arranged to meet at 2pm. I had mixed feelings
as I prepared myself and my bike for the ride ahead, as I had never ridden
with anybody else before. I could not help but worry about how I would
perform. Would they ride on ahead? Would I make myself look foolish and die
in a heap
at the sight of the first hill (lump)? Would I just not be fast enough
or fit enough to keep up? Would I enjoy it?
I
could not believe just how close Thomas actually lived to my house, When
Larry
came to meet me, we could see Thomas's house from the end of the street.
I
have sometimes wondered since that day, how in the two years that I had been
riding previously, that I had neither seen or met Thomas before. We rode
over
to Thomas's house; who was already waiting for us outside his home. It seemed
quite apparent to me that Thomas was a little younger than Larry and
myself,
and certainly looked a lot fitter than myself. Perhaps the fears I had previously,
were about to come true? We
introduced ourselves and set off, at a leisurely pace much to my relief. I
kept thinking to myself, if it stays at this pace it will be easy, no problem
at all. Perhaps I need not have worried after all, I felt more relaxed now,
and was actually beginning to enjoy the ride, When!!, for some unknown reason,
Larry and Thomas seemed to be getting further and further away. My body seemed
to be telling me the end was nigh and if they had kept up this pace I would
be riding home on my own, but that wasn't possible I didn't even know where
we were I had never been this way before. My mind was put at ease straight
away when Thomas and Larry could both see I was starting to struggle and came
back to give me some support, which was very much appreciated I can tell you!!.
I
will never forget how tired I felt, by the time we returned to Thomas's house;
but I also had a feeling of satisfaction, that I had completed the course
in one piece.
That
was not the last time we all went out together, and there have been many other
tiring and harder rides, but also a lot of enjoyable rides too, but that was
the make or break ride for me and I have learned a great deal from Thomas
and Larry since that first ride. Riding with others is fun.
