30/12/2016
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There are a basic rules every cyclist should follow in order to ride properly in a group. It will keep you safer and help you to have more fun out on the road. The problem is that few cyclists know and follow these simple rules.
Whether you're new to the sport or a veteran on the bike, these 10 rules and refreshers will help you on your next group ride.
Rule 1: It's Not a Race
A group ride is NOT a race. You are not to "attack" off the front or try to show everyone how strong you are. That's what races are for.
Rule 2: Bar-to-Bar
This is probably the most important rule. Whenever riding in a group, you should be riding two by two, side by side (with only a few centimeters between you, you should not be able to fit a bus between you and rider beside you) and be perfectly handlebar to handlebar.
Rule 3: Peeling Off
When you're tired of riding at the front and you feel it is time for you to go to the back, make sure the rider beside you knows you are tired and want to go back. Once you have both established that you are going back, check briefly that there isn't someone overlapping your back wheel, then both riders slowly and gradually move to the outside and let the group come through the middle. Do not suddenly veer off to the side; peel off in a steady and controlled manner.
Rule 4: Pulling Through
When the two riders ahead of you peel off, it's your job to come through to the front and pull the group along. If you do not want to ride at the front because you are tired or less fit than the rest of the group, it's too late to avoid it now. Once you are in second wheel, you must come through to the front.
Rule 5: Too Tired to Go to the Front
If you don't want to go to the front, sit at the back and let the riders coming back from the front of the group slot in ahead of you. It isn't acceptable to work your way up to the front of the group and then slow down because you don't feel strong enough to be at the front.
Rule 6: Gaps
There should be no gaps in a group ride. As soon as you see a gap, fill it by riding into the space in a steady and controlled manner. There is no need to sprint into the space and then slam on the brakes, just gradually fill in any gaps as soon as you see them.
Rule 7: Moving About in a Group
If you need to go to the back of the group, or need to move away from the side of road because the road is damaged or obstructed, just steadily move in whatever direction you want to go in. The key to all group riding is to do things gradually and steadily.
Even if there is a rider right next to you as you pull out to the side of the road, if you do it gradually, the other rider will naturally have time to move over with you. If you do anything sudden you will likely cause a crash. This is also very important when peeling off and filling a gap.
Rule 8: Obstacles and Hand Signals
All obstacles should be warned of by a simple hand signal. When you see an obstacle in the road ahead of you, put your hand down and give a signal that lets the riders behind you know in which direction they should go to avoid it. Traditionally a quick wave of the hand will suffice. Most of your riding partners won't hear you anyway, and if they are close enough to, you don't want to startle anyone taking a drink from their bottle and cause a crash.
Rule 9: Yelling
As I said above, yelling is a big no-no. You don't see the pros riding around Europe on their preseason training camps yelling at each other when they come upon a car, hole, gravel, or red light.
The problem is this: When you're more than two riders behind the person yelling, all you can actually hear is a general sound being yelled. So while everyone should be keeping their eyes peeled for general speed changes and obstacles, suddenly the majority of riders are looking around wondering what the obstacle is that has just been yelled out
Rule 10: Slowing and Adjusting Speed
This is probably the biggest crash causer on group rides. For some reason, when someone slows down ahead of them, a lot of riders jump for their brakes and yank the heck out of them, almost skidding and taking everyone down with them.
