Around the bay, a follow up

So I bit the bullet and called my mate to see if i could join them at the start of the around the bay. Turns out he had other stuff on so wasnt going anymore, but i met up with his friends and rode till about brighton with them, when something fell off my bike and i needed to fix so i let them haed off without me (i was already falling behind them at this point anyway).

I didnt end up doing the entire thing (I was too tired and too slow). But at least I did a bit. The people on the ride, a couple complimented me on trying to do it on a mountainbike. At the start one lady said I was doing well keeping up with them all, later one lady said i would fly along if i had a proper bike. Some people made fun of me, one guy asked if it was my knees or my bike creaking like that. But it was all in good jest.

I dont really feel like i failed, since its just the start of my training to do the Great Vic Bike ride, but it would have been nice to get the whole thing done. Next year.

Also when i was chatting to my mum, i mentioned i didnt want to ask if i could join in, and she more or less told me off. She said i had to get over fears of being rejected or looking silly, since everyone has them if they are honest with themselves, or i will miss out on life. V. annoying lifetime channel stuff imho. Although i did meet a 50yo who seemed to have body image issues, and i was like, damn! if im that old and still concerned about that sort of immature stuff, imagine how limited my life would be, how long i have spent in first gear... horrible.