I love group rides, I have gone from someone who had not been on a bike 20+ years in May, to helping run a club now... I got lucky though, and found a club that catered to new riders and was full of riders just like me.. either new to it, or slow for whatever reason. Some on Road Bikes, Some on Hybrids, even a few on MTB's... Look up cycling on meetup or some other website like that, Im sure you find a groups nearby that does lower level rides.
BTW.... Of course I do want a road bike whenever I can afford one... cant help wanting one of those when you spend as much time road riding as I do.