Gabriellesca, the rally ride does not have a sag. There is a sweep. Frankly, I would not recommend doing the 50... last year they set a pretty brisk pace from the beginning... it's hilly, very hilly. I ride this route a few times during the summer, so I don't feel the need to go on the ride anymore. I would recommend the 27 mile route. There is a very challenging climb right when you start (maybe a mile from the start), but the rest is rolling, with a few small climbs.
Hope to see you Saturday. You don't need to be using your clipless pedals. In fact, the leader of the slowest group does not use clipless and she has been riding for 20 years and has done numerous bike tours this way. From what you said in your PM, you probably would be fine with the group DH and I are leading. We tend to average about 14.5 on this ride; as the sweep, I often end up with an average in the high 13's. As you can see, there's a wide range of variation. If you are not comfortable with this, you can always stop and wait for the next group to come by. This is what I tell people every year. Unlike other rides, this one has the exact same route for each group.
