Originally Posted by H_Roark
There is a contrast between the racing community(cars), the mountain bike community, and the road community. The danger a newbie poses in a pack is a legitimate concern, although I don't have much interest in the "serious" training rides.
Been thinking about the track/bike comparison, as I'm new to road bikes but have been doing track events & auto races for a few years. Track events (lapping days, driver's ed, etc) are carefully segregated by driver ability - not $$$ of the car. At least all the ones I go to & know of locally. Racing, you definitely have newbies mixed with experts, but the intimidation factor for newbies is really high in racing, and those who aren't smart are easily dealt w. via playground rules.
If high speed driver's ed events were a free-for-all of newbies & good drivers all out together at 60-160 mph, you'd see a lot more complaints of snobbery, elitism, hostility, whatever.
Just a thought...
Come to think of it, I wonder how the fatality rates compare between amateur autosports & biking? They each have very different, but very real threats (squished by a car versus extreme sudden decelleration or burning).