If you have agreed to ride together and have come up with acceptible stop distances…I have only done one of these rides, where the expectation was that everyone stayed together…no one is left behind…but I find that those rides, if they are longer, are not as enjoyable…some want to stop more often, others get impatient and want to “get going”…the best rides I have been involved with are destination rides…you agree to meet at the destination at a certain time…this way you can either ride alone if that is more comfortable for you, or in smaller groups or couples…as long at you get to the destination at the agreed time, all is good…if you are going to be late, I would call one of the riders and let them know so that no one is worried…obviously you would need to get a couple of contact numbers for the just in case…this way everyone goes at their own pace and has a better time…good stories over the dinner/lunch/or just a coffee stop…
I would say the way you did it would be my preference…I’m not really a large group kinda guy…and like Munch said, have the hand signal thing going…hazards, stops, signal still on, need gas..etc…
One of the guys in my group likes to see how fast he can get his bike up to, and always tries to get others to go on a “how fast can we go” ride…not for me, I just let him have his fun being a squid and go my own way…hopefully he doesn’t have to learn the hard way to make better choices, but hey, I’m not his Dad…?? I guess he is still invincable, I’m not.
As for your question, if you are part of a group that will start and end up at the same destination and have a get together…it’s a group ride…just kinda spread out…
Later.