well, i can only speak from my personal experience and i think women apologize way more than i've ever heard men do it... and i do hear newbies apologizing more than experienced riders... but i know i apologize when there's no need to. i just worry that i'm inconveniencing the group when, in fact, i've never been on a ride where people were actually pissed i was slow. it's a mental thing i guess.
like one time i was at one of ben's clinics and it was just me and one other guy. we did the skills and the ride afterwards and on the way back to the parking lot, the other guy sped off saying he was running late. i actually said "sorry" feeling like i made him late. but ben said not to apologize. it's not my fault he double-booked... and i was like: YEAH! why did i just apologize?! i'm here for the same reason he was and i left enough time for the clinic!
like one time i was at one of ben's clinics and it was just me and one other guy. we did the skills and the ride afterwards and on the way back to the parking lot, the other guy sped off saying he was running late. i actually said "sorry" feeling like i made him late. but ben said not to apologize. it's not my fault he double-booked... and i was like: YEAH! why did i just apologize?! i'm here for the same reason he was and i left enough time for the clinic!