expending 30% less energy is always nice. plus, it's safer. yeah, some cyclists are schmucks. there are bad apples in every single group on the planet. where i am, the group ride is great. there are some of the "hardcore" types who look down their nose at you, but i honestly could not possibly care less what they think about me. who is more pathetic, the rider on the steel frame schwinn trying to get into the sport or the carbon-fibered self-appointed uber-cyclist who demeans the first one? anyone who votes the former should go play in traffic. where i am, there are plenty of guys and gals who make a group ride worth doing. i'm sure it's the same where you are.