"Wow. Hope you can change a flat really fast, and never, ever have an off day or bonk - or at the very least hope you can find more tolerant riding companions. Or ride alone so no one else can inconvenience you."

No, my experience was hiking. On a climb, folks who were told they had to complete the training hikes or they would not make summit. They did less than half the training hikes, didn't complete the most difficult final training hike and went on the climb anyway. They had to stop frequently on exposed areas and it was difficult at best to stop and wait with them (very cold, you end up shivering a LOT). It was frustrating that some of us who'd worked hard for the climb were the ones freezing our buns off only because those folks were not considerate and didn't do the work for the climb.

I don't want to be that "guy" on the bike, but sounds like this is very different. Not like you have to stop and change a shoe or anything while hiking. I would hope others would just TELL me if I'm not at the level yet, but I'm not sure how it works with cycling...it would suck if EVERYONE had to wait for me only because I'm not in condition for the ride, do you understand?