Road Etiquette

If two cyclists are riding side-by-side down a road, is there a set rule perhaps for which one slows/speeds so the other can get over when there's a car behind? Should the one closer to the side of the road drop back and let the other rider get in front, or speed up so the other rider can get behind?

You can guess, I had some confusion today. The car came up on us really quickly, and my friend and I kept doing the same thing (I'd speed up and so did he, we'd both see what the other did and hit the brake) so he didn't get over - the car went fully into the other lane, glad the driver wasn't an arse or anything but it skeered me some anyway. :eek: Surely there is a guideline so this doesn't happen?

I don't know if there is a set rule. But if the person I'm riding with sprints to get in front, I soft pedal just a revolution or two to make it a bit easier for him.

Veronica

I would follow the general traffic principle that slower stays to the right and passing occurs on the left, not the right. So, the biker on the left should speed up and go around the one on the right. The one on the right should slow a bit to let him in.

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Originally Posted by goldfinch

i would follow the general traffic principle that slower stays to the right and passing occurs on the left, not the right. So, the biker on the left should speed up and go around the one on the right. The one on the right should slow a bit to let him in.

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+1.

That would make sense, but sometimes the person on the outside doesn't have the legs to sprint to the front at that particular moment. That's why we're a little more flexible about who goes to the front. :D

Veronica

I'll generally say something to my riding partner, "I'll go ahead" or "You go ahead." It doesn't matter who goes ahead, the trick is communicating. I don't think there's any set way of doing it otherwise.

Here's what I found, from a cycling club site:

Car Approaching from the Rear:

Two Riders Side-By-Side:
Cyclist on the left accelerates past the cyclist on the right and moves over to the right-hand side of the lane. The cyclist on the right slows slightly to let the fellow cyclists get by.

Multiple Groups of Side-By-Side Cyclist:
Each cyclist on the left accelerates past the cyclist on the right and moves to the right hand side of the lane. The cyclist on the right slows slightly to allow the passing cyclists to get by.

Group of Three Cyclist, two side-by-side with a third cyclist in the center behind the other two cyclists forming a triangle.
Cyclist on the left accelerates past the cyclist on the right and moves over to the right-hand side of the lane. The cyclists on the right slows slightly to let the fellow cyclists get by. The third cyclist in the triangle drops back behind the second cyclist.

.... except in an ordinary situation, the rider would be on the left because they're dropping back to the end of the paceline, and already going slower than the rider(s) on the right ...

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Originally Posted by roadie gal

I'll generally say something to my riding partner, "I'll go ahead" or "You go ahead." It doesn't matter who goes ahead, the trick is communicating. I don't think there's any set way of doing it otherwise.

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That's what DH and I do. Depends on who is feeling stronger that day and/or carrying the heavier load of groceries. I usually only go ahead if he has a load; otherwise, he's stronger and I drop back.

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Originally Posted by roadie gal

I'll generally say something to my riding partner, "I'll go ahead" or "You go ahead." It doesn't matter who goes ahead, the trick is communicating. I don't think there's any set way of doing it otherwise.

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+1 - verbal communication takes the guess work out of it. The other option might be to agree on who does what at the start of your ride.

That's why I'm afraid to ride with others. I only ride with DH and I prefer him in front. Or I'll say "you go in front" or some communication. We're usually riding single file in a bike lane. It's good to have this thought out ahead of time though.

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Originally Posted by Velocivixen

That's why I'm afraid to ride with others. I only ride with DH and I prefer him in front. Or I'll say "you go in front" or some communication. We're usually riding single file in a bike lane. It's good to have this thought out ahead of time though.

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I don't usually ride with others, but I've a couple of friends I do ride with from time to time and we are usually riding single file with some distance between us.

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

.... except in an ordinary situation, the rider would be on the left because they're dropping back to the end of the paceline, and already going slower than the rider(s) on the right ...

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Even though I don't have a lot of experience riding in a paceline, every time I ride with someone else, it's typically been our practice to have whomever is on the outside drop back. But they usually announce that they're doing this as well.

I have only ridden with the hubby so far. We decide who does what when we start the ride tho, so it is clear ahead of time. We have done it both ways tho and I doubt there are any particular rules out there which stipulate one way or the other. I do like the logic of the rider on the right dropping back and therefore being passed on the left only.:cool: