Interesting to read everyone else's experiences re: speeds of group rides and getting grief for not being fast. I have found that there aren't many slower group rides around here but there are a few (there's one club in the Portland area whose rides seem to be a little slower than the other area clubs), though they are not as close to where I live as I would prefer. That said, when I showed up to a ride where the group turned out to be too fast for me, people were friendly, supportive and didn't give me a hard time. It's too bad others here have had to deal with rudeness and being looked down upon...we all have different strengths, and for some of us speed just isn't one of them but we may have more endurance, and we enjoy riding just as much as the "speed demons" do.

PS: Blue_Pearl, what is the D2R2? Sounds interesting...I like riding dirt roads!