Thanks for the great advice! I think attitude is (almost) everything when it comes to group rides. I think it was a combination of things. Mostly going in thinking I was going to be smokin' and then getting spanked.

It will be a great help to just focus on my own performance and goals instead of worrying about who is passing me on what and then determining halfway through that I suck and turn whiney . Thanks also bloomer for suggesting riding with a group slightly less than my ablility or at least equal (that might be more possible ). It's all good though! I am not giving up on group rides just yet but if it turns out not to be for me there are lots of other niches that I can fit into. Thanks again for the encouragement and advice!