just wondering how to structure groups rides into training?

I'm going to follow a program as soon as I'm healed up in order to get in better shape and race but I alos want to still ride with friends

What kind of training program are you getting on? That should help you determine when you do group rides, right? Are your group rides fast paced and actually good training rides, or are they slow rides that aren't that taxing? If they are slow you could still do some intervals, single leg training, high cadence stuff etc. You should have some training point of most rides that you do, unless it is just a casual ride. If its casual use that as a recovery ride.

That's a tough thing to figure. If you really want to race and have limited time, group rides really don't fit in. You'll be often be blowing your high end allotment during races, so the rest of your riding time would be taken up by various specific drills, strict recovery rides, and again strict endurance rides.

If you have more time you can always fit in some casual training rides of various sorts. They'll help you develop a deeper base. More miles is better as long as you don't overtire yourself.

Every group ride has a hammer. Try to be a bigger hammer. Don't be an ass about it. Makes for great training rides.

Dont be "that guy" that shows up to a no drop 17mph group ride and shreds the pack. Make sure its a training ride where folks want to be pushed... But yeah... .what he said.

Pick group rides that fit in with your training plan and schedule. If you need a hard workout, pick one with people stronger than yourself. For example, I have two rides on Saturday I select between depending on whether I a long tempo workout or a shorter intervals.

A group ride is a form of training. Ride how you feel in the group. If you want to take the lead and pull the group then do it. Other times it is better to sit in the middle and back and just enjoy the ride. I would not attempt to do intervals or hill repeats in a group ride. You can focus on pedal stroke and cadence. Most of the time the group ride is simply about having fun and riding with a group. Interval and repeats are best done solo or with someone that is doing the same training as you. Happy Riding!!!

Remember any part of training should involve recovery, if not than it's a no good training programe. Depending on who's going out I could have either a hammer group ride or a recovery ride. I love doing my recovery rides with a group and one of the local ones is perfect nice easy 22-25km/h group.