I frequently am the group leader for beginner group rides and encourage beginners to move to the front. I try to stay up with them out to the left and encourage them tpp draft and move forward. I find the biggest problem is they want to accelerate the pace and then stay at the front too long. I hope that by the end of their first group ride that they can get an understanding of drafting , moving forward, riding at the front and dropping back, calling out hazards and holding a line.We do this at speeds between 16 to 18 mph in groups of 8 to 12.

Now if a begginer was to join the A or even B group I would tell them to sit back and hang on. Most beginners who do end up riding with my group after a few miles because they have been dropped .