How are you going to get taller? I could really use that information.

good point, I could work on get fatter though!

Who the **** gets ready to go ride and sweat their ass off and decides I feel like wasting my money by pointlessly putting cologne on? Although money has already been wasted by purchasing old spice but thats something completely different.

Point well made. I was so surprised by the comment I didn't ask the obvious "why?" I will if I join the group this weekend.

Thanks for the pointers- nothing like experience.

Just wear a really big helmet.

+1, following the right people will force good habits and can be critical to staying with a group. When I first started doing faster group rides, I would kill myself trying to chase every attack and always end up off the back from the surges. After riding with a particular group on and off for a year, I know the people that I should let go and I also know the guys that never get dropped (don't let those guys go).

Also, don't wait for people to give you advice, make people aware that you are looking for it. Depending on your group, you'll likely find someone happy to provide pointers to less experienced riders, but not unless you ask. Otherwise, you'll probably only get advice (like getting yelled at) when doing really stupid stuff that endangers others.

People who race hate my draft. at 25-30 mph, my 5'6" 135 lb cross section is small enough when i'm in the drops that the second person, especially if they are taller, gets very little benifit. It was great for me during sprints because it made it easier to get away.

I still find myself ending up pulling groups during centurys though...

The worst drafts besides the un-safe ones are the ones with terirble BO like they dont wash their bibs

IMO a dab of deoder stick is o.k., however, the wash of cologne(stink) is yuck in general, and there are several that cause throat swelling, eye watering, nose running, etc for some, me included.

Clean and clean are good!