There have been times when I had a bad feeling about going for a ride. Or I'd be sitting at our usual meeting point and just looking around, I felt uneasy.

When I stepped back and thought about it logically, most of the time it was because I was riding when I was tired, dehydrated, hungover or had something else on my mind. Other times, I was looking at the people that had showed up and their collective egos and mentally playing out the ride in my head.

Never once did I let a bad feeling like that keep me from riding...I'd just be more careful, drink plenty of water and go give 'the speech' to the new guys. I'd explain how there would be no trophies issued out at the end and just generally explain how we conduct ourselves on a group ride. More than once, they ended up thanking me and telling me that no one had ever talked to them about the ride before taking off.

So, yes I listen to my inner voice, but not quite the same way you do.

Jeff.