I did somewhat the same on Tuesday night's REI west route... About 35 of us were packed in pretty tight heading south on Luna into the wind, and I was hanging in back, out of the way... but it felt "slow" to me... So I asked the guy beside me, "should I swoop up to the front?" He laughed, and said, "Now would be the time!" And as I went past, I heard, "Let him go....!!!" I just smiled and waved...
But, it got lonely up there after a couple miles, so I backed off and rejoined the lead group (or vice versa)... Granted, ten miles later, a group of six sprinted off and left me chasing...
Which prompted me to come up with the "Three Dozen Excuses" -- I believe that I could have kept up with them if I:
a) Was 12 years younger;
b) Was 12 pounds lighter;
and
c) Had a $12,000 bike (that also weighed 12 pounds less)