Originally Posted by jefnvk

OK, simple question: what is proper etiquette when being swallowed by a group on a ride?

The girlfriend and I were out riding this morning, when a group of about a dozen and a half caught up to us. I figured they would just blow past, as I was on a mountain bike on a long pavement trail and she on a city bike with a backpack, fairly obviously not dedicated bikers that weren't moving fast, but somehow, we wound up tangled with them for a few miles. Am I correct in assuming that the onus is on them to go around us, not on us to extricate ourselves from their group? What is a polite way to tell them you aren't comfortable being around so many people, especially after two side by side passing too close to the girlfriend caused her to panic and swerve off the trail onto the dirt? We finally got away by hanging back at a street crossing, but it took us some time, especially since we got separated by the group. What is the safest way to just get out of such a situation, especially when traveling with someone far less comfortable on a bike around others?

On an unrelated note, I finally understand this draft thing. Amazing how much faster one can find themselves going in a large group!