I'm very wary on large group event rides. There are too many inexperienced cyclists on those type rides and more often than not someone goes down. So I usually off and hang a few meters of the back. Sure it costs me some extra effort but I'll trade that for safety any day. So if I can't be right on the front I hang off the back. But I also get to ride with some former pro riders. They like to ride with their elbow touching mine as we ride side by side. At first I was near panic being so close but now I trust them and I guess they trust me so there is some comfort in knowing where the other rider is. Both those guys have way more 1000 mile weeks on the bike than I have months so they are rock solid and give me the confidence to ride like that. But put me in a chaotic group of weekend warriors and I'm out of there.