It is true that riding with guys will push you and make you faster. Its worked for me. However, it can be down right depressing and discouraging if the men you are trying to ride with are significantly faster. I have a friend I ride with and on his "recovery" days he still wants to average between 18-19mph. Which for quite a few women that is still fast (oh we usually ride side by side so no draft, you pull yourself). On his high intesity days I stay with him for the first five minuets, then I see him again at the end of the ride after I pull in 15min to 30min behind him. The scary part is he isn't even the fastest in the group.