I'm a huge fan of the HOP rides - it's the group ride I do most often. Great practice for picking wheels, working on group riding skills, pacelining down N Livermore, when to conserve, when to dig deep etc. The medium ride is a great pace for 4's RR's. I do need to do more of the HOP regular next year - invariably get my ass handed to me between the Highland rollers and N Livermore.