Group Ride Etiquette Dilemma

[OakLeaf]

You should be able to go very slow without falling over. (unless it is really windy...)

I'm not going to disagree in general, but I don't think a steep hill on a group ride in heavy traffic is the place to learn new handling skills.

Personally, there is no way I could stay upright below about 2.5 mph, below about 40 rpm, above maybe a 12% grade. It's the strength input and the unfamiliar slope of the frame, rather than the speed per se, that makes it very difficult to stay upright under those conditions.