From the Road Bike Rider newsletter: http://www.roadbikerider.com/#TRY

7. TRY THIS ON YOUR NEXT GROUP RIDE

Pick the Proper Pack

Early-season group rides are already taking place in the Sunbelt states, and the rest of us won’t be too far behind. These rides are where we meet friends, do some miles and test our sprint for road signs. They’re the basis of roadie culture.

There’s one catch: To enjoy a group ride, you need to have a good group.

It’s no fun to hang on for 30 minutes only to get shelled on the first hill and spend the rest of the miles alone. But if you’re a stronger rider it’s tedious to pedal slowly just to keep everyone together.

Here are 5 pointers for group rides, the goals being (a) no one gets dropped, and (b) everyone has fun.

—Find the right group. Ideally, it won’t be more than 15% too fast or too slow for the members’ fitness. A big bunch may need to be split into 2 or 3 smaller ones to accommodate everyone. Pro teams routinely do this in early-season training. The faster group contains riders targeting the spring classics; the slower one is looking at races later in the season.

—Follow the leader. Every pack needs a rider who sets the rules and politely sees that they’re followed. Here’s a key one: “No one will be dropped except on hills, and then we’ll ride easy till everyone is back on.”

—Designate the tow trucks. The strongest riders should pull the group together if it splits. For instance, after rounding a bend there’s a headwind and eventually 3 riders are dangling at 50 meters. The group slows and 2 strong guys drop back to pace the dropped riders into contact.

—Do more work. If you’re a relatively strong rider, get a better workout and give others a helpful draft by spending more time at the front setting a manageable pace. Or, ride to the side of the pack in the wind instead of drafting. Assist weaker riders up a tough hill with a hand on the small of their back — if you have the skill and they acknowledge they’d like your help.

—Do less work. If you’re concerned about your ability to handle the ride’s speed or distance, don’t pull at the front. Or if you do, take very short turns and return to the draft. Climb at your own pace on hills. You don’t have to go to your redline trying to stay in contact when you can trust the group to slow after the crest or provide a tow.