Personally why should a rider new or otherwise be “forced to fit” the group?
A good group ride should have a good assessment of everyones skills and bike capabilities before departing so that the lead bike ( veteran rider) can allow for adjustments and eye problems for the lower skilled and steer the group away from them. The tail rider should be as equally skilled as the lead to help spot trouble from the lesser experienced ( positioned in between) and be able to communicate that to the lead so no one gets pushed or lost, and ultimately endangered.
As many have stated on this wonderful site… go sit on a bike…. then another one…..then on to another dealership of different manufacture…. sit on theirs…. find what fits YOU ….not your friends… not us…. but your comfort.
Yesterday is a memory, tomorrow is a prediction, but today…… is a Bi**h