giving up the lead

When you are the leader in a single pace line format... what do you need to do to give up the lead? i.e. vocal / hand signals, movement etc.:confused:

OK... Btw, I did find some old threads and links to this subject, but I still didn't know what to do recently. Here's the deal that has happened to me on my last two rides...

Even though the ride plan is to not be in an official pace line, I somehow ended up being the strongest on the front. Which I'm OK holding that steady for a while. But then start feeling like I don't want to do it forever (I want a drink, recover for a few seconds, etc.). BUT the cyclist behind me is 2" off my wheel... and so forth. And, big guys we are talking here too.

Situaiton #1

At my recent club ride. I'm only been to a few of these that my new ride partner has helped me venture out to. 2nd time meeting this guy. I must have looked steady and predictable for him to decide to suck my wheel. But, then I wanted a rest. I tried to verge off a bit. But, he stuck with me. Finally that day I crossed over to the center line to get a break.

Situation #2

Last night alone on my training ride prep-ing for my century event. My plan was to ride brisk (for me) and climb more. I pick up this couple along the way. Seemed like nice peeps. Chat as I pass etc.

Then, the guy is 2" off my wheel... his woman behind him. Again, I must have looked steady enough for him to choose to follow me that close. But... I was really riding harder than normal to do my "brisk pace" to train. Then... I needed a break.

Finally, at the next stop sign I just unclipped and let them go. He asked "do you want us to wait for you?". Which was nice to offer company... but I really needed to recover after pulling hard for that long & on a hill. I sent them on.

I think it's pretty brave of these peeps to suck wheel that close not really knowing me (riding habits etc.)???:eek::confused:... BUT, then am I to also assume that their defensive riding skills are also good enough to not crash into me if I slow down, or what?:confused:

I can't say I've really been in that situation - (too slow and short for anyone to seek out my wheel :rolleyes:) - but I think I'd act as though it was supposed to be a paceline. Which part of that is not taking a super-long pull. Pull for two or three minutes tops. Then give whatever signal you normally do in a paceline in your area, whether it's verbal or a hand signal; check your blind spot obviously, knowing that unlike a real paceline, you're not going to be able to count on the people behind you to let you know when it's safe to peel off; and pull sharply to the left without slowing down until you're clear. Rotate behind them to give them the message, whether or not you decide to stay on their wheel after they figure it out.

Talk to them and say something like, "let's do 2-minute pulls." Then after two minutes, pull off. Perhaps they really don't know how to ride a paceline and don't know that the pulling is supposed to be shared.

Perhaps this is a teachable moment.

Typical signals that I know of are a flick of the left elbow, or point down and out to the left, or shout out, "pulling off."

In our Florida clubs, it's smacking your hip with your hand. Never seen that anywhere else, though.

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In our Florida clubs, it's smacking your hip with your hand. Never seen that anywhere else, though.

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Since I have only ridden in Florida, I thought that was the accepted signal. Thanks for the heads up that it isn't universal.

Look left to make sure no cars coming, then pull off to the left a little while waving your right hand where they can see it in a sort of "come on forward" wave. The elbow flick is a little subtle unless you are racing or otherwise know to look for it. Slow down enough so that they can go by you without increasing their speed. If they don't get it you can call out "Rotating!"

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

In our Florida clubs, it's smacking your hip with your hand. Never seen that anywhere else, though.

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That's the signal we use in Indiana. I don't know that I would use it with strangers who just happen to get on my wheel though as it's not universally understood.

I'm not a fan of people I don't know getting on my wheel. If someone does, however, and I don't ask them to back off, then I do what I need to do to keep us all safe. That means pointing out road hazards and maintaining a steady pace. To get off the front in that situation, I would yell behind me that I'm coming off the front. Presumably, they'll be willing to pull at that point. But since I'm also not a fan of being on a stranger's wheel, I'd probably just let them go on without me or keep what felt like a safe distance.

:)Thx for those responses.

In just a general net article from a link I found here on TE, the "flick of the left elbow" was the sign to get off the front. Check traffic, then move over left, soft pedal to float back.

That is very interesting about the state specific signals. Next club ride, I will ask around to our leaders if there is something for our area that most peeps should know. Or, if the wind is not so strong that you can hear... "pulling off!" is pretty obvious I would think. Or, stating, "let's pull for 2mins" is good. I somehow had this feeling that they might not have really understood about rotating too.

I kinda felt the same way as to what IndySteel was saying. Being cautious when you don't know the peeps.

Point in case of knowing your partners...

The gal that has become my regular riding partner apart from club rides, is not really "interested in learning / doing a full pace line rotation" she's told me (doesn't want to ride that effort, etc.). Which is ok with me when I'm with her. But, still the less... we end up taking turns riding off each other's wheel with traffic and the need to be single file etc.

I *know* from riding with her enough, that she is a "pedal, pedal, X # strokes then *coast X sec*... resume pedal". Thus, I stay slightly further back, and anticipate that she has not had a *coast* stroke in a while & prepare to re-act.

One of my super strong guy buddies... is 90rpm cadence consistently come he$$ or high H2O until there is a hand signal to slow. Him... I follow much closer than my gal friend.

I should go to bed. I thought that said "giving up the dead"

Bring out your dead! Bring out your dead!

I'm not dead yet!

LOL... you guys are crackin me up.:p

Well... after pulling that hard without a break, I did feel like I was going to die:eek:. So I suppose death is applicable to this thread as well;).

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Originally Posted by Miranda

:)Thx for those responses.

In just a general net article from a link I found here on TE, the "flick of the left elbow" was the sign to get off the front. Check traffic, then move over left, soft pedal to float back.

That is very interesting about the state specific signals. Next club ride, I will ask around to our leaders if there is something for our area that most peeps should know. Or, if the wind is not so strong that you can hear... "pulling off!" is pretty obvious I would think. Or, stating, "let's pull for 2mins" is good. I somehow had this feeling that they might not have really understood about rotating too.

I kinda felt the same way as to what IndySteel was saying. Being cautious when you don't know the peeps.

Point in case of knowing your partners...

The gal that has become my regular riding partner apart from club rides, is not really "interested in learning / doing a full pace line rotation" she's told me (doesn't want to ride that effort, etc.). Which is ok with me when I'm with her. But, still the less... we end up taking turns riding off each other's wheel with traffic and the need to be single file etc.

I *know* from riding with her enough, that she is a "pedal, pedal, X # strokes then *coast X sec*... resume pedal". Thus, I stay slightly further back, and anticipate that she has not had a *coast* stroke in a while & prepare to re-act.

One of my super strong guy buddies... is 90rpm cadence consistently come he$$ or high H2O until there is a hand signal to slow. Him... I follow much closer than my gal friend.

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You're definitely more patient than I am. I hate riding behind people who don't maintain a steady cadence. I'd either have to say something or not ride with them. I'm a big beliver in tough love when it comes to group riding. If someone can't appreciate the value of constructive criticism or think they don't have anything to learn, then I don't care to ride with them. Pride has no place when it comes to bike safety.

D*H is always talking about his cadence. As a fairly new rider, I only know a little bit about that. I know if I were riding in a group, I'd probably be paying more attention to the people in front of me than the number on my handlebar computer.

I can't imagine staying 2" off someone's wheel. Geez.

I think I'd drive most of you crazy if you tried to follow me. This thread has made me really consider my riding cadence, holding a line, and not flapping my elbows about if I'm in front of someone. Ha!

Roxy

hmmmm patting your hip (or butt or waving your hand around your back) around here means there is an obstacle coming up on that side- like a curb that sticks out or a parked car. Do that here and everyone might move over, but its unlikely anyone would come around :p If you want someone to come around either flick your elbow, but like Oak says a lot of people miss this one, or wave them through with forward motion of your hand.

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Originally Posted by channlluv

D*H is always talking about his cadence. As a fairly new rider, I only know a little bit about that. I know if I were riding in a group, I'd probably be paying more attention to the people in front of me than the number on my handlebar computer.

I can't imagine staying 2" off someone's wheel. Geez.

I think I'd drive most of you crazy if you tried to follow me. This thread has made me really consider my riding cadence, holding a line, and not flapping my elbows about if I'm in front of someone. Ha!

Roxy

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Pacelining is an intermediate to advanced skill. If you want to learn, there'll be plenty of time.

Work on holding your line (that's important regardless; you want to be predictable to other users of whatever road/trail you're on); work on pedaling steadily rather than pedal/coast/pedal/coast. Get comfortable with glancing down at your computer to see your speed and elapsed time, without taking your attention off the road. When you feel like you have those three things down, then it's time to think about joining a paceline.

If you do get too close and touch tires with the person in front of you, you (the person in back) will be the one to go down and it will not be pretty. Trust me, I've done it, and the result was that I got to ride in a helicopter to the hospital. Keep your distance if the person in front of you is squirrelly or if you are not comfortable riding so close.

:)Thx for those thoughts!

Besides my the gal friend that pedal & coasts... her DH does this too. That almost shocks me because he's very performance oriented in his riding. Vs. more fitness like my GF. I almost wonder if this is part of the reason why he doesn't have more hook-ups from the club rides?

Hmmm... makes me wonder if *I* do this? My gutt tells me "no", though. I'm going to ask my rock-steady cadence guy buddy this next time we ride.

I knew part of my responsibility on the front was to be steady & communicate hazards. It's really challenging to do! Thus, part of why I was tired and ready for a break.

Plus, something else that I would assume helps my cadence is Spinning. Meaning, the indoors. I was a Spinner first, before re-finding my love for outside riding, and now I teach class. That is the first thing I tell my new students "this red dial is your bike brake... the fly-wheel has 42#s of momentum that WILL keep turning, even if you want your legs not to... it's like an outside fixed gear bike... no coasting allowed!".

The only time I consciously put a foot down to coast is when approaching a stop sign. Then I usually call back that the stop is coming up before I do it. Otherwise, coasting just seems 'un-natural'. If that makes sense.

My hope would be to find some guys from the club that might perform a mercy:o training mission and teach me. But, they are down the road first chance like bats outta he$$ lol. Gotta keep hoping though:).

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Originally Posted by tulip

If you do get too close and touch tires with the person in front of you, you (the person in back) will be the one to go down and it will not be pretty. Trust me, I've done it, and the result was that I got to ride in a helicopter to the hospital. Keep your distance if the person in front of you is squirrelly or if you are not comfortable riding so close.

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Tulip... that is one of the very things that kept me away from club rides for a long time. I didn't want to do anything to cause an accident (like even falling over clipped in getting used to my pedals etc.). So, I'm really conscious about holding my line in terms of safety. For me, and others.

I think that aided to my tiredness on the pull... the responsibility is huge... riding like a perfect role model is also mentally exhausting--if you are not used to doing it all the time. Practice makes perfect they say. I need to find some seasoned peeps to help me:(*sigh*.