I've done a few rides with a Solstice group and the front and rear persons have a walkie talkie which they stay in contact should the group get cut off. The tail guy usually knows the route as well.
Certainly plenty of right ways to lead a ride. Ya Matt, that's a perfect idea with the radios for sure. We should have been told the location of the first stop, that would have helped. But really, it was a small group, shouldnt have had that happen. Perhaps the leaders machine didn't have mirrors!!
I'd rather think that, more than he just didn't care!! Oh well, like I said, it still turned out great for us. So it's all good!