Originally Posted by
ancker
Here in Illinois everything is on a grid. So it's pretty easy to just turn back whenever you feel like it. Our rides are never lollipop or out/back, always a big loop to keep it interesting.
Also, almost all of our rides are flat. (Again, Illinois) So speeds at the pointy end are very fast. The 'way out' is usually 19-20mph since we enforce no-drop. But after the 'turn' it's 25-30mph.
Part of why change is difficult is this ride has been around for 20+ years and is the longest standing hard ride in the area. So people are reluctant to chance the 'iconic' Wednesday Night Ride....
I went to school there and I'm very familiar with the pan flat grids (I rode a bunch then, but wasn't racing at the time). What you didn't mention is there is usually a steady 10-20 mph wind. I'm sure that makes the group ride interesting.