Hey, guys, thanks for the input. I appreciate it. I figured none of this is rocket science, mostly common sense - train right and train enough. I did 25 on Sunday and 15 this morning before work. I felt like **** this morning for some reason, so 15 was all I had in me. I'm going out again in an hour or so and planning on another 15-20. Yes, the Tour de Cure at Brighton. My average speed right now is about 15.5 to 16 most rides, although I am up and down. I Do know when the original tire blew out last year on my Crosstrail, the replacement Michelins with deeper tread cut my average about 1 mph. I am going to switch to a smoother tread tire in a few weeks after danger of ice is over,