Paying attention to a safety discussion is not enough. The skills of longer road rides is only learned by participating in shorter routes and riding in relatively close proximity to other cyclists. But I do agree that the Mother was technically correct, I did not spell out a requirement for a progression of rides. Now I do. If the inexperience of one person had caused serious injury to others boys then I would have had a hard time continuing as a Scout counselor, especially when I knew better but allowed myself to be over-ruled.