Why is it so hard to find a group ride that averages 16 MPH?

[Geonz]

I found the cure - or at least the treatment - for wanting the 16 mph ride was to keep riding until I found other people wanting the 16 mph ride. Most of them didn't go to the faster rides because the rides were too fast. As long as only one person is "trying" a ride then you don't know the others exist if you don't go back.
A big challenge is all those people who are *sure* that yea, they're going to ride at 16 mph - until "shrinking butt syndrome" kicks in (you know, when somebody's butt is getting smaller in front of them because it's getting further away, and it activates the "pedal faster!" button).
Menin their 50's, 60's and 70's are in my experience the most likely to be genuine 16-ers and they often have good endurance too.
When we have big get-togethers it's hard for the 16's because they don't often feel ready to "lead" a subgroup of their own, so they end up cruising at 14 or 11.
One solution is to find the other genuine 16-ers and then send emails and make calls and get together whenever.