I wouldn't get too worked up about the friend getting dropped. There are plenty of no-drop rides that have a cue sheet, an agreed-upon pace, and regroup spots. And there are plenty of rides where it's just "as soon as we get out of town someone's gonna drill it, hold on if you can, and if not make sure you have a flat kit and know your way home." The key is to make sure you know which kind you're on when you leave the shop.