Original plan to ride w/ Henry & David to Paint Bank from the lime plant. Radar looked far worse & faster this AM compared to bedtime. But still hoped we could complete it & did it anyway, even being delayed by trying to load Holly's heavy cruiser bike into the back of the SUV b4 leaving, (didn't know that was part of Holly's birthday trip planned to Blacksburg, but it made sense, just not @ 8:55AM), to drop off @ East Coasters after the ride, to have the handgrip shifter be made to finally work. NRVBA group ride day, so lots of bikes zipping along. Got left in the dust 1st by David who took off after a layer-shed stop & high-tailed it to the divide on the way out. Felt better into Swinging Bridge, after Kevin & Bob, who joined up with us after the Divide, helped push us. Then stopped for a snack break, clouds darkening back towards 460. Didn't even get to eat my usual Buffalo Burger. Hooked 'm up, but legs then were flat, uninspired & irascible, w/ mini-cramps & fasciculations. Few raindrops, I was @ the back of the pace line, slowed to put the Edge in the bike bag top pouch, w/o dropping it, looked up & was 50 yards off the pace. Tried to catch & merely closed the gap briefly, even holding 17mph on 2% climb, then 100 yds behind, then out-of-sight for the remaining ride, (till "caught them" @ the vehicles, they were getting warm & dry till I pulled up @ some point). Gave up. Rained hard & cold & several lightning bolt strikes @ < 2 seconds away coming down the Divide after abysmal climb. At least I passed 100 miles for 2021. Way behind the rest nearing 1000. Just need more rides. So Paint Bank in freezing cold & pitch black, in daylight but misty steamy heat, & now in cold wet T/L, all less fun than planned adventures. (But a rain ride is still better than a dry Sat. in the clinic. Time to semi-retire.) How about warm, dry & still for a change? Hate flying by early spring scenery w/ wet cold racing descent. Best part? Red Lobby car picnic dinner & hot tub @ home.