hmm, still not happy.
The said rider followed up this ride at the end by telling everyone how crap one of the other riders was. This 'crap' rider has been riding for 6 months and done 2000 miles. The week before he was being really supportive of the crap rider.

Don't bother with people like that :(

Joe...Let it go..the fast guy sounds a w*nker! It is definitely true that if you are at the back of the bunch, generally you need to be a faster rider. This is because so often the riders in front of you will make a manouvre,overtake or take a bend way before you get there and so the situation can change a lot. This might mean you have to wait to make your own manouvre as they blissfully go blasting off in to the distance.

I like the very sensible "PACE" way of doing things. Deciding on the route, even exchanging mobile numbers in case someone misses a turn etc.

I like the idea also of rotating within the group i.e. first rider makes a turn and when rider two arrives he stays to allow the other riders in the bunch see what is going on. Rider two remains until the designated back marker is within view and then he moves of again. This way you always have the same lead and tail rider but everyone else in the group rotates within the group. Makes a lot of sense and keeps things interesting I think.
However this only works if you are riding with adults and not grown up kids wishing only to show off! :? 8)

:lol:

At the end of the day the faster riders have to decide what's important - riding in the group of going off for a blast on their own. Can't always have both.

Maybe find some routes where the slower ones can take a short cut/the faster ones can go round a longer route and meet up further along... then the fast ones can sate their need for speed and catch up with the others when they've had their fill.