my first training ride

i finally went on my first official AIDSlifecycle training ride. i was a little intimidated, but that's a really big reason i'm doing this whole crazy adventure: to try new things that are way beyond my comfort level. so here i am about to ride 25 miles on the triple town tour ride: los feliz, atwater, and glendale. it was fun and not too hard for me, and i met some really nice people.
i was the only person wearing jeans and i totally got busted for it. this woman rode up next to me and asked me about my bike (which is awesome and i love it, so i was totally like oh yeah blah blah my bike blah blah..) and i tell her that i just got it and i'm new to biking and she kinda laughs at me and points down and goes "i know. you're wearing jeans" wow. its so funny because i did buy some of those extrememly dorky padded cycling pants (mine are capri-length. like leggings. so hot right now) but i didnt know if i should wear them. (plus they aren't exactly the most flattering item i own)
i thought maybe they were overkill for a 25 mile ride, but how wrong i was. everyone else was all decked out in full-bike regalia. i think bike shops must see the ALC people coming from a mile away and think "cha-ching!" there is so much you are required to buy, and then so much more that everyone else seems to have. a bike computer? do i need that? i probably do, but not right now. sure, there is a big part of me that is like "cool! i'm into this just for the shopping", but i also dont want to buy a bunch of junk i don't need just because i am new to a sport.
i had to wear my goofy helmet (its required on all the ALC training rides) and i had to get up early, but i did it. sure, i got a little lost at one point along the route and had to backtrack, but it all worked out in the end.