If you're like us, you love reading about cycling as much as riding your bike! Here's some information that we think you'll find interesting if you're thinking about joining the Club!
RIDING IN A GROUP OR PELOTON
Riding in a group is not as easy as it looks, particularly when you realise that there seem to be a great many unwritten ‘rules’. Not just rules or etiquette but ‘do’s and ‘don’t’s that contribute enormously to the safety and the enjoyment of a group ride.
This is not a complete list but a guide for anyone wanting to join a group ride for the first time. Strangely, we recommend reviewing the guidelines from time to time as it is easy to mess up other people’s enjoyment of a group ride if the points below are not kept firmly in mind.
RIDE FORMAT - Check what sort of ride is planned and try to determine whether you can comfortably match the speed, distance and climbing content planned. If in doubt aim a little lower on your first time out and talk to the ride organisers who will in part accommodate your ability and help you into the right group.
STAY TOGETHER - When riding in pairs (two abreast) try to keep exactly in line with your partner and no more than 30 cm from their handlebars, less when you feel comfortable. Leave 50 cm to 1.0 metre between your front wheel and the back wheel of the bike in front – more if you are not confident – but aim to ride directly alongside your partner.
The riders at the head of the peloton actually do up to 30% more work on the front than the following riders, that is, provided the group stays together. For everyone to enjoy the ride the aim is to keep the peloton together and not allow gaps to develop. A tidy peloton is a thing of beauty but more importantly, it is very clear to motorists that it is a group (obeying the road rules) and needs to be treated with respect. Disorganised groups and even gaps in the peloton lead to confusion by other road users and worse.
LOOK AHEAD - It is easy to find yourself looking at the rear light or brand of rear brake on the bike ahead. This ultimately leads to a fall. Instead, try to keep your focus both between the rider ahead and the rider 3 – 4 ahead. Also scan the road ahead for lights, road conditions, changing positions of riders and any of their hand signals. This allows you to anticipate problems and take corrective action early.
GETTING OUT OF THE SADDLE - Even experienced riders end up momentarily pushing the bike backward when they stand to put more pressure on the pedals (to help on a steeper climb). The sensation of having the wheel of the rider ahead suddenly coming back at you is very disconcerting and has led to many accidents in the past. For the rider getting out of the saddle – try to come up slowly and maintain pressure on the pedals to eliminate/diminish the backward movement of your back wheel. For the following rider – make sure you leave sufficient room between you and the rider ahead to accommodate them if/when they ‘get out of the saddle’. This applies particularly when there is a climb approaching.
NO HALF-WHEELING - Half-wheeling is the practice of having your front wheel overlap with the rear wheel of the rider ahead. Don’t let it happen – EVER. It is very dangerous as you will be the one to crash if you connect with the wheel in front. Worse still you will end up bringing the riders behind you down as well. Worse again; you won’t be invited back for next week’s ride!
PEDALLING - If you’re new to a group ride there is a great deal to learn from other riders in the group. Look at their cadence – their pedaling rate – and try to match it. In general road riding involves a 90 – 120 rpm cadence on the flat and perhaps 60 - 80 on hills (although everyone is different and most of us have a lower cadence than we would like)! With experience you’ll find gear selection comes naturally. However, in a group ride, it is important to KEEP PEDALLING, particularly on the front of the group. The lead riders face more wind resistance than those following and the following riders will overrun them unless the leaders keep pedalling.
BRAKING - In a group do it carefully. Don’t grab a big handful of both brakes when the pace eases. Try to feather the brakes so you maintain your position in the group.
WARNING CALLS - It is important, particularly when leading, to call and point out holes gravel, glass and other obstacles on the road. The simple call of ‘glass’ or ‘hole’ while pointing at them can save a great deal of stoppage time and help avoid accidents. Some groups call approaching riders, runners, walkers, parked cars and anything else of note. Other groups restrict their calls to specific ride hazards. Watch and listen to the approach taken in the specific group and ask what they generally call.
STOPPING AT LIGHTS - It is vitally important for the leading riders to anticipate a lights change and judge how to bring the group to a safe stop at a red light. This involves two steps: 1. Stop on the amber light, don’t assume the whole peloton can get through. 2. Call the stop ‘lights’ or ‘stopping – lights’ (loud enough for everyone to hear) and then, and only then commence braking.
When the lights change be ready to start riding again – one pedal clipped in, crank forward. There is a temptation for the leading riders to quickly accelerate to cruising speed – whatever that might be. Good lead riders keep the peloton together by slowly coming up to cruising speed.
ROTATING - Almost every group has a slightly different approach to rotating through the peloton. When you join a group ask how they do it.
Group rides can be ‘single file’ known as ‘paceline’ or ‘two abreast’ sometimes known as ‘in pairs’ or ‘two up’.
Paceline - To rotate off the front the lead rider generally wiggles their right elbow and moves slightly to the left to allow the other riders to move ahead. As the lead rider falls back to the point where they are abreast the last rider that person says ‘last wheel’ which provides the clue for the rotating rider to speed up to re-join the rear of the paceline.
There are many ways to decide how often to change lead riders. Talk to the other riders about how the group plans to rotate.
Two abreast –
1. If there is plenty of room (and it is agreed) some groups swap the two leading riders at the same time, that is, the lead rider on the left moves to the left and drops back to the back while the lead rider on the right moves to the right and falls back to the rear before re-joining the group. (Good etiquette requires that following riders compliment the leaders for their hard work on the front. These compliments take many different forms!)
2. A safer way to rotate, particularly when there is less room and more traffic involves a ‘rolling peloton’. The change is initiated by the lead rider on the right. They signal their intention to ‘roll over’ by sticking their left index finger in the air and drawing an imaginary circle and yelling ‘changing’. Next, they accelerate slightly and move ahead and in front of the lead rider on the left. As the changing rider, it is vital for you to allow sufficient room so there is no risk of connecting with the other lead rider’s front wheel. All the following riders on the right side of the group then move up not one but two positions so that everyone is two abreast again.
Good etiquette requires that the lead is changed regularly and because it is harder work on the front it is important to change before you are too worn out to complete your remaining work as the left-hand leader.
ON THE FRONT - Leading the ride requires a good deal of concentration and care. Not only do you need to keep abreast of your fellow leader, obey the road rules, call the holes and obstacles and watch for traffic light changes, but between the two leaders is the responsibility to maintain a good even pace – the pace that has been agreed for the particular ride – and make sure the group stays together. Clearly, the pace will be a bit slower uphill and a bit faster downhill so it is not simply a case of looking at the bike computer. The idea is to make sure that you maintain approximately the same effort without allowing the group to develop into a race with the peloton splitting or for the ride to become a dawdle and the following riders quietly grumbling to each other.
A common fault of novice and inexperienced riders is to stay on the front too long. Change early: 1 -2 minutes on the front is adequate if you are new to the group or not feeling confident.
SINGLE UP - From time to time the road conditions can become tricky and traffic can make it unwise to ride two abreast. The lead riders need to anticipate this and call ‘single’ or single up’. This requires the lead riders to slightly increase speed while the last riders slow to allow sufficient gaps for those on the right to join the left line of riders and become a single file or ‘paceline’.
MORE HAND SIGNALS AND CALLS - As well as calling holes and glass (with hand signals) it is helpful for those following to have the benefit of your hand signals and calls to point out other matters.
SLOWING – Put your hand (left or right) either down near your seat palm facing backward to warn following riders that the group is slowing. If the ride slows quickly call ‘SLOWING’ loudly so following riders get the message quickly.
TURNING
Left – when a group ride turns left the lead riders generally indicate by extending their left arms and call ‘stopping’ if there is traffic approaching from the right or ‘clear’ if it is actually clear.
Right – same deal. The lead riders give a right-turning hand signal and call ‘stopping’ or ‘clear’ depending on the traffic.
Changing lanes to the right – a right-hand turn is often preceded by a move from the left-hand side of the road to a turning lane. This can be particularly fraught but if well anticipated and planned is simple. In plenty of time the lead riders need to determine a suitable gap in the traffic. Riders at the rear of the group can assist by calling ‘CLEAR BACK’ or ‘CLEAR’ when it is safe for the entire group to change lanes. The lead riders often call ‘OVER’ to start the lane change.
Larger obstacles – riders generally indicate larger obstacles such as parked cars and traffic islands by extending their index finger behind their back to warn following riders. So, a parked car on the left of the group would be indicated by first pointing to it and then moving your finger back, behind you to indicate the following riders need to move to the right to avoid a collision.
CAR UP, CAR BACK– Some groups call ‘CAR BACK’ or ‘CAR UP’ to warn the other riders of cars approaching from the back or front of the group respectively. Most groups are inconsistent about calling cars. However, the call can be useful on country roads or when the road is narrow and cars are likely to have difficulties passing or overtaking the peloton.
PASSING ON THE LEFT - It is extremely unsafe, bad etiquette and foolhardy to pass the peloton on the left. Please don’t do it! Are there exceptions? No. Simply overtake on the right.
STAYING TOGETHER - Sometimes the group will agree to ride as individuals as different riders travel at different speeds when climbing and on larger hills it can be agreed to each adopt their own comfortable climbing gear and cadence and to re-group at the top. For everyone’s enjoyment stop at a safe and convenient spot at the top of the hill, not 500 metres further on. After a big climb allow a little time for the last riders to collect themselves before taking off.
MAINTAIN YOUR EQUIPMENT - Always carry a spare tube and puncture repair kit. Group etiquette is to wait as a group while a puncture or other mechanical is repaired. There is almost always someone in the group who thinks they can repair a puncture quicker than you. Let them, but be sure you have the equipment and spares yourself. It is also important to have a well-maintained bike that is properly serviced to minimise stoppages. Replace your tyres well before they wear down and lead to punctures. Maintain proper tyre pressures (tyres have a maximum pressure printed on the sidewall) and regularly inspect them for splits or bubbles. Keep the chain lubricated and derailleur adjusted. A clean well-maintained bike always attracts compliments!
ROAD RULES The Queensland road rules as they apply to cyclists can be found here
The rules are well worth a read or re-read as there are some poorly understood responsibilities for cyclists including a responsibility to avoid becoming a hazard.
In relation to group rides they state (s129, s131, s141, s151)
’You must not ride more than two abreast unless overtaking’ and
‘You must ride within 1.5 m of the other rider if riding two abreast.’
Ideally, any group ride will see riders much closer together (10 – 50 cm glove to glove). In short, bicycles are considered vehicles under the Queensland Road Rules and must obey the general road rules as well as those specifically applicable to bicycles.
RIDE LEADER(S) All group rides will have a ride leader and sometimes 2-3 people who coordinate the ride. They might not be the fastest or loudest person in the group but they determine the route, the speed, the stops and their care and consideration will have a huge effect on everyone’s enjoyment of the ride. We all have slightly different aims from riding – fitness, camaraderie, ‘the coffee’, time out. Whatever your specific goals or aspirations it is vital to relax, enjoy, and remember to comply with the directions of the ride leaders.