Group rides are learning experiences. I am new to group riding, so I dont have all the rules figured out.

Take this example. We ride out of town together then the hammer drops. There is a fast group, who you ride with until you are dead, then fall back, and a few minutes later, fall in with other riders who were dropped before you. There is some always some sweeper riders, who will let no one drop behind them.

Now, I have noticed, when in the fast group (for the short times i can hang with them) someone has a mechanical, they all stop. Now, take me, going over tracks, my bottle popped out, they knew, because there was about 5 riders behind me, so I had to stop, go get it, and when I coninued, I was caught up at an intersection. The fast group was gone for good.

Was I expected to grab bottle and catch up?
Is a dropped bottle the same as a mechanical
Was I too new so no one cared to wait for me
Was it assumed I would just hook up with other riders as they dropped or th eones already dropped.
The other riders knew I know the course, been with them 4 or 5 times. Was a n00bs bottle coming out just like a n00bs legs giving out?

Sometimes, experienced people assume the n00bs know what to do all the time, or what constitutes a reason to stop the pack, or what is under the category of "better luck next time."
Sometimes the n00bs assume too much without asking the questions. To our fault, I have never once asked any of the riders what to do in any situation. How can we know what is expected from the group, if we do not know what is expected of us?

Btw, Of course, up at a place where riders split off, some resting to return, some choosing to return another route, there were riders waiting to make sure I was cool.