Join a freewheeling ride that starts at ten, stops to admire the views and spends an hour in a pub for lunch. Much more attractive than getting up at the crack of dawn to ride quickly looking mainly at someone's back tyre IMO.
This sounds perfect, not that i ride road unless commuting but if i wanted that push i would just pop along and enjoy it!
i myself have had the same problem as you, weekends i love to get out in the forest and ride the MTB it's far and above my favourite time on a bike, but due to being busy and friends not being around it's been crap. In 2014 we did tons of riding 2015 awful, 2016 i shall make sure i get out, mostly as i have a new bike and she needs her maiden voyage