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.
