Deja vu all over again

Headed to Roanoke early Sunday for a breakfast ride. Fog encountered on Bent Mountain Saturday morning led me to choose an alternate route -- Virginia 8 to Christiansburg, then U.S. 11 to Salem where we gathered at Chip & Joe's Restaurant for artery-hardening fare before deciding on a ride into Southwestern Virginia that began -- you guessed it -- back up U.S. 11 to Christiansburg.

I have mixed emotions about group rides. I like the camaraderie but riding in a group where riding skills vary can lead to ebbs and flows that can destroy the rhythm of riding. I'm still getting up to speed after too many years off bikes and I'm sure that some find my skills lacking as well. Virginia requires staggered riding on public roads but you often have long lines that break into groups as some ride at a faster pace than others.

Some rides ignore speed limits and that bothers me. One member of a recent group I rode with bragged about running more than 100 miles per hour on the Blue Ridge Parkway, where the speed limit is 45. I find that neither amusing or smart.

Which is why I enjoy riding alone or with one or two others that I know. Larger groups can -- and do -- scare the hell out of me.