Road biking rules?

[Fredwina]

I'm planning on doing this, too. It'll be my first, and hopefully I won't wind up with another fractured humerus!
I started a thread in the southwest section:
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...211#post127211

[Geonz]

Based on what everybody has said, I would absolutely, no way, never, NOT make this even an *early* experience with pacelines. I'm in a different part of the country, but it's a timed race and people will be trying to go as fast as they can, and willing to take some risks. How badly would I want to get injured, as so many people seem to do?
Of course, I am the antithesis of an adrenaline junkie. I'll work my tail off for endorphins, and I *do* enjoy a paceline... but actually, I'm not sure I'd hop onto a strange one...
I reckon another quesiton is: how fast do you go? If you're not fast enough, then the pacelines will stream by you. If you are fast enough... do everybody including yourself a favor and practice in a lower-stakes situation first!
But what the heck, it's only your bones... well, and everybody elses', and unfortunately the one in front making that braking mistake *isn't* the one to go down... and if you really liked risking them, I'd have thunk you'd be mountain biking