Originally Posted by
Carbonfiberboy
Group rides are high stakes games. A few milliseconds of inattention can take you or someone else down. You shouldn't be allowing more than a wheel width gap to open. If you're having bike lengths open, you aren't paying anything like enough attention. You can't do that. If you were in the middle of the line, you'd be splitting the group. Keep your cadence up so you can respond, and watch what's happening.
I've never thought of them as such, really. If you're part of a racing club and going on a training ride, then sure. But to many people, there's nothing enjoyable about a normal recreational club ride that has a "high stakes game." Heck, we don't even have that much in the NYC area unless you want to do the all out races at Floyd Bennett Field or something similar.