Originally Posted by caloso

To quote Smashmouth, you'll never know if you don't go.

My advice is to show up with a cellphone and a map or GPS and all the stuff you'd need for a solo ride (food, water, tube, pump, etc.). When you get to the start, try to find someone who looks like the ride leader or an experienced rider and ask whether there are any parts of the ride you should be aware of: sprint lines, hills, crosswind sections, bad pavement sections, regroup points, etc. Every ride is different.