Originally Posted by
Brando_T.
I just have an image of everyone racing to the top of the first hill and stopping to look back at me and point.
Nobody will bother with the pointing. You'll be lucky if they bother to look back. LOL
Seriously, you might be surprised by how much easier it is to maintain a good pace in a bunch than when riding solo. And a good tactic for a beginner who fears they might struggle in the hills is to work their way to the front of the group as the hill approaches. Then if they drift back through the group during the climb, they have a good chance of still being in touch at the top. If they start the climb at the back, they'll get detached.