Group Dynamics

[li10up]

I've read a lot of posts from people with questions/concerns about riding in a group. I thought we could start this thread for newbies that give some insight into riding in a group. These unwritten rules aren't often spoken...I guess they just expect you to learn them on your own. Anyhow I thought this might help new riders feel comfortable joining a group.

So I'll start with the first tip:

When riding in a group try to hold your line as best as possible. Avoid weaving back and forth.

Ok, your turn to leave a tip.

[Tri Girl]

Don't stare at the wheel of the person in front of you when in a pace line. (I learned the hard way-that's how I fell) Just keep your eyes looking ahead, while keeping the person in front of you in your peripheral field.

And when it's your turn to pull, make sure to point out flaws in the road to alert the riders behind you of any dangers.

[Eden]

Use your brakes sparingly if at all - try to anticipate slowing in the pack due to hills and turns, soft pedal and nose out into the wind before braking and feather the brakes if you need to use them at all - and be sure to alert the riders behind, by saying slowing or stopping when appropriate.

[Grog]

... but do not point obstacles if you don't feel comfortable enough to do it without swerving;
also warn before standing up on a hill (or even on the flats), as this will slightly jerk your bike backwards;
same when you sit back down


Personally I disagree on the brakes thing. I'd rather have the person in the front slightly feathering the brakes (really subtly) to slow down while pedalling at a much slowlier cadence, than stopping pedalling altogether, which really makes a big, instant difference in speed and also sends my brain a confusing message, for some reason. I often ride a paceline on rolling hills so speed variation is an issue, and if people keep moving a bit to the side in the wind to slow down it is really disturbing too. Your mileage may vary I guess!

[Susie]

And don't overlap your front tire with the rear tire of the person in front of you. If they move at all (to go around an obstacle, for example), you could easily bump tires and then someone usually hits the pavement.

Susie

[Eden]

Personally I disagree on the brakes thing. I'd rather have the person in the front slightly feathering the brakes (really subtly) to slow down while pedalling at a much slowlier cadence, than stopping pedalling altogether, which really makes a big, instant difference in speed and also sends my brain a confusing message, for some reason.

I should have been more clear -definitely- you should try to not stop pedaling and coast (btw for those who may not know, soft pedaling is turning the pedals without using enough pressure to affect your forward momentum so we are not speaking of entirely different things, just using different terminology)- not only because it can cause person behind you to panic brake, but so that you can react to changes in the pace easier and quicker as well. The whole idea is to ,as much as possible, eliminate the accordian effect, where people are constantly either speeding up or slowing down. Its not only dangerous, but tiring as well for the poor people on the back.

[Grog]

I should have been more clear -definitely- you should try to not stop pedaling and coast (btw for those who may not know, soft pedaling is turning the pedals without using enough pressure to affect your forward momentum so we are not speaking of entirely different things, just using different terminology)- not only because it can cause person behind you to panic brake, but so that you can react to changes in the pace easier and quicker as well. The whole idea is to ,as much as possible, eliminate the accordian effect, where people are constantly either speeding up or slowing down. Its not only dangerous, but tiring as well for the poor people on the back.

Totally agree!!

[CR400]

When it is your turn to pull the group maintain the same speed that the person ahead of you was going. Suddenly speeding up on your pull causes gaps to form as those behind you try to catch up.

Usually the first few people do fine keeping up but the farther back you go the more of a chance this will create a gap.

If you are not fast enough to maintain group speed at the front don't pull. Just sit in the back out of the rotation close enough to still draft but far enough away they can still get in line ahead of you. It is wise to let others know that this is your intent.

Don't be afraide, fear in a group can cause accidents.

Also learn how to recover if you ever do overlap the wheel ahead and get bummped. I've had this happen best way to handle it is steer in to the wheel slightly, then pull the wheel back away in a smoothe motion. Don't jerk the wheel back right away or you WILL go down and maybe take others with you.

[li10up]

Don't yell out car back, etc. Just say it loud enough for the person in front of you to hear. Then they should pass it forward. You don't need to yell loud enough for the whole pack to hear.

Also, those in the middle of the pack you need to keep passing the word and pointing out hazards. I've noticed that sometimes those in front point it out but it doesn't get passed along to the back of the pack.

You can just point at a pothole, debris on the road, etc instead of calling it out. Moving your hand off the bar and pointing is enough for the person behind you to see...no need to call everything out.

[Geonz]

OH, and not all groups are intensely focused pacelines... but you still want to call out the hazards and not do things suddenly - and on our rural roads, don't become a huge amoeba of bikes!

But in that line... if somebody drops something - a light breaks off the bike, a water bottle falls -panic braking is almost *certain* to cause a crash, while riding over whatever it is (especially since it might not be in your way) only *might*.