Post by administrator on Jan 7, 2009 12:14:01 GMT -8
Group Riding 101
The group road ride has a unique social dynamic that many riders find exciting. Group rides are great because they can motivate you to ride distances or terrain that you otherwise wouldn't, and allow you to push yourself beyond the limits you'd be able to achieve on your own. Group rides can also be very relaxing and low stress if you're with a good group. Learning how to ride well with a group will improve everyone's experience.
1)Learn how to ride in a "pace line". In a pace line a group of rider's works together to take advantage of the slipstream effect, or drafting.
- The lead rider or riders cut threw the wind, while everyone else lines up behind them in "the draft", or "slipstream".
- Riders take turns, or rotate, threw the pace line, each person taking a brief "pull" in the front of the group.
- In a single pace line we have one line of riders. The lead rider should smoothly move off the front of the group, either to the left, or to the right depending on the wind direction and traffic. The lead riders should slow their cadence/speed very slightly in order to let other others pass.
-In a double pace line we have two lines of riders. The two lead riders smoothly rotate to the OUTSIDE of the lines. In other words, the rider in the left line moves to the left, and the rider in the right side moves to the right. The remaining riders in the double pace line move forward, between the two former leaders, while the leaders drop to the back of the line.
2) The goal is to be smooth and steady.
- Maintain your bike in a strait line. Try not to wander or sway into another rider. Think about maintaining your position in your small space of road within a group.
- The goal is for the pace line to maintain a constant pace, never varying by more than 1mph whether you're in front or back of the group.
- Maintain a safe distance between you and the rider in front of you. If you're following a very smooth rider, this distance will be closer than if you're following a squirrelly rider. DO NOT overlap wheels, or "half-wheel" the rider in front of you. If you bump a riders back wheel, chances are you'll fall.
3) Do not be a group-ride-hero!
- Do not speed up the pace when you're on front of the pace line. Maintain the exact same speed as when you were second in line.
- Do not take a longer pull than you can sustain. You don't want to get so tired on your pull that you fall of the pace of the back of the group when you're done with the pull.
- Do not worry about taking a shorter pull than everyone else if you're starting to feel tired. We would rather you sit in the draft and get an easy ride home than have you get dropped, get lost, and have to go back and look for you.
- This isn't a race*
4)* But, if the group is collectively feeling "competitive", it's okay to pick up the pace. It's okay to attack and go as fast as you can so long as everyone in the group wants to ride that way.
5) Know the vibe of the group you're joining. If you attack and ride away from the front of the group and no one follows you, there's a good chance that 1) this is not a competitive group ride, or 2) You're too fast for the group. Come back another day!
6) Obey traffic signs and signals and be aware of motor vehical traffic. Nothing is more dangerous and nothing irritates drivers more than a group of cyclists not obeying the traffic laws. Practice "vehicular cycling".
More to come...
MJS
The group road ride has a unique social dynamic that many riders find exciting. Group rides are great because they can motivate you to ride distances or terrain that you otherwise wouldn't, and allow you to push yourself beyond the limits you'd be able to achieve on your own. Group rides can also be very relaxing and low stress if you're with a good group. Learning how to ride well with a group will improve everyone's experience.
1)Learn how to ride in a "pace line". In a pace line a group of rider's works together to take advantage of the slipstream effect, or drafting.
- The lead rider or riders cut threw the wind, while everyone else lines up behind them in "the draft", or "slipstream".
- Riders take turns, or rotate, threw the pace line, each person taking a brief "pull" in the front of the group.
- In a single pace line we have one line of riders. The lead rider should smoothly move off the front of the group, either to the left, or to the right depending on the wind direction and traffic. The lead riders should slow their cadence/speed very slightly in order to let other others pass.
-In a double pace line we have two lines of riders. The two lead riders smoothly rotate to the OUTSIDE of the lines. In other words, the rider in the left line moves to the left, and the rider in the right side moves to the right. The remaining riders in the double pace line move forward, between the two former leaders, while the leaders drop to the back of the line.
2) The goal is to be smooth and steady.
- Maintain your bike in a strait line. Try not to wander or sway into another rider. Think about maintaining your position in your small space of road within a group.
- The goal is for the pace line to maintain a constant pace, never varying by more than 1mph whether you're in front or back of the group.
- Maintain a safe distance between you and the rider in front of you. If you're following a very smooth rider, this distance will be closer than if you're following a squirrelly rider. DO NOT overlap wheels, or "half-wheel" the rider in front of you. If you bump a riders back wheel, chances are you'll fall.
3) Do not be a group-ride-hero!
- Do not speed up the pace when you're on front of the pace line. Maintain the exact same speed as when you were second in line.
- Do not take a longer pull than you can sustain. You don't want to get so tired on your pull that you fall of the pace of the back of the group when you're done with the pull.
- Do not worry about taking a shorter pull than everyone else if you're starting to feel tired. We would rather you sit in the draft and get an easy ride home than have you get dropped, get lost, and have to go back and look for you.
- This isn't a race*
4)* But, if the group is collectively feeling "competitive", it's okay to pick up the pace. It's okay to attack and go as fast as you can so long as everyone in the group wants to ride that way.
5) Know the vibe of the group you're joining. If you attack and ride away from the front of the group and no one follows you, there's a good chance that 1) this is not a competitive group ride, or 2) You're too fast for the group. Come back another day!
6) Obey traffic signs and signals and be aware of motor vehical traffic. Nothing is more dangerous and nothing irritates drivers more than a group of cyclists not obeying the traffic laws. Practice "vehicular cycling".
More to come...
MJS
