Good thing the hemline was cut shorter. It might have got caught in the chain. Plus, you can show off your massive guads. Win-win.

Right? It’s like a wet, hyperactive Labrador Retriever crashing someone’s dinner party. It just wants to join the fun and doesn’t understand that it’s wrecking things.

Then it takes a descending turn too fast, flies over its handlebar, and goes home wondering why everyone yelled at it. But it will probably still show up at the next party, maybe this time after rolling around with a dead skunk.

OK didn't read all the posts but in replying to your first question I ride with a group. The only rules are you HAVE to wear a helmet. This is because the bike store we start at would have its insurance pulled if it did not require it. The other rule is you do not ride like an idiot, cutting in front of others or hotdogging resulting in someone else losing control and crashing. I imagine they also want you to show up in something visible aka a brightly colored vest.
Its all for safety. Riding bikes is dangerous, and its easy enough to get hurt. From what I read I'm not sure you would be invited in our group either. Throw a helmet on, keep what brains you have IN your head.

There was a brief moment in the nineties when it seemed like every grunge band was wearing sundresses. I think there's even a photo out there of Beto O'Rourke in one. Is that coming back?

HA! I have that problem figured out already. I don't ride in groups larger than 1.

David Bowie beat that by a good 20 years, during his 'androgynous' phase. When asked why he was wearing a woman's dress, he replied, "This isn't a woman's dress. This is a man's dress."

No.No. Larry needs a form-fitting stretch dress, not a mumu. Shows the muscles more as a contrast to the outfit.

I ride with 3 of my closest friends. Me, myself and I.

Indeed. The great thing is, they never half-wheel you, you don't have to wait for them at the top of a climb, and they never drop you.

You've never dropped yourself? Wow.

Every time I look, I'm still right there.

That wasn't my thread, but I've personally witnessed something very similar to it. It's very humbling being dropped by a lumberjack.

signed waiver and a helmet are pretty standard.

The OP is that person who has those open ended, bent pipes protruding from the front of their bike. Helmet and matching kit seem like they should have been the least of the group's liability concerns.

I’m thinking they had a pretty long list of concerns.

I'd attend or chip in if someone would promote/organize a cycling event that featured Sup Larry, Cheez, Alo (the pole man) and that other guy who can't be named. Epic fun!

Was this riding shirtless, or riding with the wrong shirt?

I do a good portion of my riding wearing jeans, and I'd much rather crash wearing jeans than lycra.

I now wear high-vis shirts, vests, and coats, but rarely a jersey.

Just get a helmet and save the noggin. Also, keep in mind that a crash like the TDF crash may be a single person going down taking down a hundred behind him. Group dynamics can be very different than individual dynamics.

If you ride with a group ride unpaid, uninvited, without permission, and without signing the waiver... and take down the group... you won't be protected from liability. Nor would you have much of a liability claim against the group.

And perhaps headphones to complete the picture!

Isn't the OP the pole guy with the open ended steel tubing aerobars? Or is there another pole guy?

Another one. Poles on my bike

Many group rides publish the route. And there is nothing that prevents a person from doing the route on a different day, or perhaps doing the the route backwards.

The number of times I've signed a waiver to d oa group ride is zero. I've done a lot of group rides. However, none of them were considered "club" rides. Maybe that's the difference.

I think this was a club ride, as opposed to the Wild Wild West race rides.

It is perfectly reasonable for a club to require helmets and waivers to be signed on the other hand I would not want to do business with a club whose leaders are so incompetent that they failed to notify you of such requirements before you show up for the ride