The benefits of riding with a group

[7rider]

I wasn't sure if I should start a "Sunday ride" thread or just post my own random thought about today's ride.
I opted for the latter, but feel free to chime in with your own thoughts on today's ride if you are so inclined.
Anyway.
I did the shop ride today, with DH and about 120 others.
It was a hot, sticky, morning. My legs were still rubber from yesterday's N2 ride out to Poolesville (57 rolling miles chasing a bunch of hammerheads). And...to top it off, yesterday, I was re-fit to my bike, which had been bothering my lower back some. So I have a new saddle, new stem, new handlebars, and a pretty radically different ride position (better, actually). And new shorts...which I shouldn't have worn, given the new saddle.
Generally, I can divide the ride into 3 segments: The Intro - where the ride takes off as if shot from a cannon. The Hill - which is a 1 mile climb up Old Angler's Hill - and I only mark it b/c I hit the Lap button on my Garmin to track progress (or lack thereof) from week to week in that same location. And The Cruise Home - from the top of Old Anglers back to the shop. The Into and the Cruise Home are roughly the same distance: 16-17 miles.
Today, I hung at the back of the pack - per usual - with some folks, but generally kept contact with the group (when not separated by traffic lights). I averaged 19 mph for that leg, pushing it (and getting used to my new position on the bike).
On the Cruise Home, I ran across a friend who broke his chain. I had no chain tool, but someone did, but I stayed with them for moral support. Since the crew that stayed were all the C riders, we cruised slowly home, chatting, catching up, whatever. Smaller group. Different ride dynamics. And I averaged 16 mph for that leg (and most of that speed was probably on the ride BEFORE I came across my friend. After that, we probably averaged 12!).
Much less sweaty on that leg!
So, I don't know. I guess the lesson learned is: riding with a group encourages you (or forces you) to push yourself. And if you want to go faster, that's definitely the way to do it.
Oh...and the other lesson? I should really get a chain tool and learn how to use it.

[buffybike]

Sounds like you got the best of both worlds--a hard ride AND a social one.

And I wouldn't know how to fix a broken chain, either. Guess I should learn...