[QUOTE=BluesDawg]Have fun and keep to the agreed pace unless everyone says different. Nothing runs folks away from group rides better than riding faster than expected. QUOTE]

+1

I lived in a community with a very successful bike club. One reason is that all the rides were rated for speed, and the leaders stuck to the ratings. Hence, everyone from hard-core hammerheads to ice-cream social riders were happy.

Later, I moved to a much larger community with a much smaller bike club. Every ride was a hammerfest, where slower riders were dropped like an ugly date. When I asked if they might consider social rides, I was told, "Nobody is interested." A true case of self-fulfilling prophesy.