General principles of group riding include:
- Group takes precedence.
- Know group objectives.
- Know group etiquette.
- Observe, listen, emulate.
- Be predictable.
- Be prepared to contribute.
Applying these principles, here are tactics for group riding:
Group takes precedence
- The safety and well-being of the group is paramount. Either adhere to all of the group’s practices or don’t ride with the group.
- Don’t do anything that may jeopardize anyone in the group.
- The head of the group has responsibility: maintain speed and smoothness; call out hazards; anticipate problems; and to make moves that everyone can follow safely.
Know group objectives
- If new to the group, ask others before the ride what to expect with the group.
- Ask about length, route and speed of the ride.
- Ask whether it’s a rotating paceline or a more causal changing of the lead.
Know group etiquette
- Ask about group hand and voice signals: flick of an elbow to come off the lead or a pat on the hip? Calling out or signaling turns, or both?
- Single or double pacelines?
Observe, listen, emulate
- First ride with a group isn’t the time to show how strong you are.
- At first, ride off the back to watch how the group operates.
- Listen to the signals and plan to emulate them when needed.
- Point out potholes, gravel, water, glass, road kill and anything else that could be a hazard. If the hazard is a major one—call it out, too.
- Let other riders know when you’re dropping off or going to the back to recover.
- When crossing an intersecting street that has no stop sign, call out “Clear.” If you suddenly see a vehicle as you go through, call “Car left” or “Car right.” Wait for everyone to re-group.
- Let the group know of other hazards, such as “Walker (or rider or car) up” or when an obstacle is ahead.
- “Car back” lets everyone know that a car is behind the group.
- Call out a lowering in speed with “Stopping” or “Slowing.”
- Learn to “soft pedal” to maintain a constant speed. Decreasing the pressure with which you’re turning the crank can mitigate slight changes in pace without exacerbating them by braking.
- Avoid using your brakes in a tight group.
- Don’t pull out of group without announcing your intention or pointing where you want to go.
- Don’t stare at the wheel in front of you. Look ahead one or two riders. When they slow down, soft pedal.
- Don’t overlap wheels with rider in front as it could cause an accident if front rider has to move laterally suddenly.
- Keep your line through corners.
- If on the front, don’t rapidly accelerate out of corners or after stops. Keep group together.
Be prepared to contribute
- Large groups do not require everyone to pull. In small groups, be prepared to take at least a short turn at the front (10-20 seconds).
- Don’t create gaps. If you can’t maintain the pace, move to the left and out of the paceline, then rotate to the back of the group.
- When joining a moving group, come in from the left, match speed and signal if desired to enter paceline or move to the back of the group.
- Maintain safe distance from rider in front but avoid accelerating to close a gap and then slowing down. This causes an “accordion” effect behind you. Attempt to ride a steady pace.
- Don’t ask to “get in” the middle of a rotating paceline; it creates gaps, confusion, anxiety. Go to the back of the line and rotate through.
- Keep fingers on the brake levers so you can stop quickly if necessary.