One of the bigger LBS's in the area has a full slate of rides every Saturday morning. I decided to give them a go a few weeks ago. I am not hard-charger and didn't want a very long ride so my options were 2: the "Beginner" ride (10 miles, no-drop, slow pace--10 mph average) or the "Donut" ride (20 miles, no-drop, 12-14 mph pace). I chose the "Donut" ride (at the turn around there is a short break at a donut shop). There were about 30 folks at the start.

After a couple of stoplights we were pretty much splintered beyond hope. I was in a group of about 5. By the 5 mile point I was at the very back "sweeping" with a lady who was having a tough time of it. The leader was nowhere to be seen after about 2 miles in. The two of us maintained a 16-18 mph pace when we weren't being stopped by the stoplights. (The uphill sections were giving her fits.) We finally made it to the turn around point, she was getting close to popping and needed a break. Literally as we rode into the parking lot, the leader said "Let's go" and they all saddled up and headed out. I didn't even get turned around before the first of the group were back out on the street--forget about ANY BREAK AT ALL. I looked at my computer and it said average speed was right at 16mph.

Fast forward over the rest of the ride. The lady I was 'sweeping' finally had to give it up and the beginner ride leader called a van to come pick her up. I never did see the rest of my ride. I rode back in by myself and vowed to never go on any of their rides again. (Maybe a calmer head will prevail at some point.) As I pulled in I saw a couple of the people on my ride had already loaded their bikes and were about to drive off. I checked my final average and it was over 16mph. I was 4mph over the stated pace and finished at least 5-10 minutes behind the lead group.

So, what do I look for in a good leader?
If it is a no-drop ride, the leader should AT A VERY MINIMUM check on those at the back once in a while--not stay out front with those pushing the pace WAY beyond what the stated pace is.
Realize that the ones at the back are probably going to need SOME BREAK at the turn around.
Make DARN sure that no-one on your ride gets in a situation where they need to SAG and find that you are nowhere around.
Maintain the stated pace. Encourage those who are well past the level of the ride you are on to move on up to a faster/longer ride or slow down to the stated pace. (I was told there is a group on this "Donut" ride that like to push the pace but don't want to move up to the next level ride for fear of not being a "big fish" anymore.)

Being in a position of leader means you are responsible for how the ride happens. It is more than logistics. It is more than riding at the front. It is about being INTENTIONAL about what happens during YOUR ride. If you are going to stop it's because it fits into your overall plan. If you are going to pick up the pace it's because YOU decided to make that happen. Whatever the ride becomes, it's because you, as the leader, decided that is what you wanted to happen. Otherwise you are not the ride leader, you are just at the front of the pack.