Originally Posted by
Hermes
IMO, the basic premise of group training by male cyclists is to beat the crap out of each other and demonstrate how strong they are to determine the alpha male. That is our fate. And group rides and participating in faster group rides to get fast dominate discussions among men.
I have observed in women’s groups that they are more programmatic and willing to stick with a plan / program
This. And the alpha male, whether by experience, brute strength, or combination of both pretty much gets to decide if it's a "beat the crap out of each other" day or tempo day -- which is pretty much determined by whim.