Originally Posted by
kosmo886
Sounds like I will be fine in most except for the whole learning how to ride in a group thing which is clearly important.
This can be less straightforward than you might imagine.
Basic problem is that people who are any good often avoid riding near those without group skills -- effectively putting the cyclists who are hardest to ride with safely together. You can mitigate risk considerably by choosing partners with level heads -- neither overly confident nor fearful, good self awareness, and willing to take time to figure things out.