Originally Posted by
The Weak Link
So I guess one of the keys is to either go out fast with a lead group, or go out very slowly and hope to survive the harsh Darwinian process of group riding dynamics.
I prefer a third option between those two. Let the fast bunch leave ahead of you so you don't get tempted to ride over your head. Then I go at my pace ahead of most of the moving road hazards. You will still have to pass a few slower wobbly riders who took off with the lead group and quickly got dropped and there will be some fast pacelines who started late. Watch out for the ones who are too cool to call out "on your left".