SUGGESTIONS ON GROUP RIDING
THINK SAFETY!

Below is a practical guide to safe group riding from the Crescent City Cyclist, New Orleans, LA.:

• Be Predictable -

The rule for safe group cycling is "Be Predictable." Other riders expect you to continue straight ahead at a constant speed unless you indicate differently. This principle underlies all vehicular traffic maneuvers, but cycling in a group requires even more attention to predictability than solo cycling, since by choice we ride close together.

• Look Before You Make a Move -

A good cyclists always looks before making a maneuver; this is especially important when the cyclist rides as part of a group. Make your own decisions using the cues provided by others in the pace-line.

• Use Signals -

Cyclists use hand and verbal signals to communicate with members of the pace-line and with other traffic. The turn signals are the same as driving a car. Put your left arm out with the palm to the rear to signal slowing or stopping. For railroad crossings use the above signal, but wave it back and forth.

• Give Warnings -

Group rides require an awareness of others. When riding in a pace-line, each rider must feel a responsibility toward the riders behind and to the side. You must warn of road hazards and of changes in your direction or speed. To notify the group of a change in path, the lead rider will call out "left or right turn," along with the hand signal. The ride leader should announce the turn will in advance of an intersection, so that members of the pace-line have time to position themselves properly for the turn.

• Change Positions Correctly -

Often we change our position in the pace-line. Generally, slower traffic stays right, so when we pass say "on your left" to warn others ahead that you are coming by. Moving to the back of the line can be awkward when in a pace-line. Swing out far enough to the left to let the pace-line pass you safely. Continue to pedal slowly until you are at the end.

• Announce Hazards -

When riding in a pace-line, most of the group do not have a good view of the road surface ahead, so it is important to announce holes, glass, gravel, and other hazards. Pointing down to the left or right informs those behind to watch out for trouble. Shout "glass," "hole," "bump," etc. can help, but save the yelling for important road hazards, you will quickly learn when to yell and when to simply point at hazards.

• Watch for Traffic Coming from the Rear -

Riders in the front cannot see traffic approaching from the rear, so it is the responsibility of the rear riders to inform the others by saying "car back." At intersections anyone can yell "car left," or "car right," but it is not necessary to do this if there is no danger.

• Watch Out at Intersections -

When approaching intersections requiring vehicles to yield or stop, the lead riders should say "slowing" or "stopping" to alert those behind to the change of speed. Every cyclist is responsible for verifying that the way is clear through all intersections. Do not assume it is safe until you see for yourself.

• Stop at Stop Signs -

At stop signs we come to a complete foot-down stop or "rolling stop." Here, we look both ways while keeping one foot on a pedal. This will allow you to retain better control of your bicycles.

• Don’t Pass at Intersections -

Do not pass other cyclists at an intersection. Immature cyclists sometimes come from behind and ride through while other cyclists are taking their proper turn at the intersection. This is highly dangerous and discourteous, and any observers will mark your group as another bunch of crazy cyclists who should not be allowed on the roads.

• Warn of Foot Traffic -

Pedestrians, including joggers, travel on the left side of the road, so we often encounter them head on. Worse yet are pedestrians on the wrong side, moving with their backs to us. Since we travel fairly close to the edge of the road, it is important for cyclists in the front of the group to warn of foot traffic on our side saying, "runner right."

• Watch Out for Railroad Tracks -

Railroad tracks require special care. It is important that you cross perpendicular to the tracks to avoid having the track divert your wheel from under you. Many cyclists can testify to the dangers of violating this rule. Cyclists need ample warning in order to prepare to cross the tracks properly, so yell "tracks" in plenty of time. When crossing tracks watch carefully for traffic approaching from behind. Most motorists will not understand your problem when crossing tracks. So, plan ahead, position yourself properly, and give clear indications of what you are doing. Do not crowd or pass other cyclists during the crossing maneuver.

• Ride One or Two Across -

We ride single or double file as appropriate to the roadway and traffic conditions. Riding double file is fun, and on club rides we are eager to get out of town and into quiet roads where we can double up. Nevertheless, as a courtesy we should be quick to single up when this will permit faster traffic to bypass us more efficiently, Or when there are hazards ahead. "Car back" is the signal to get into single file. Riding more than two abreast is illegal.

• Move Off the Road when Regrouping -

When we stop to regroup, we should move completely off the roadway or bike path wherever possible, so that we do not interfere with traffic and can relax our attention to the road. When we start up again, each cyclist looks both ways then merge into the traffic.

• Drafting -

Experienced cyclists enjoy drafting, or riding close behind the wheel of the cycle in front because of the greatly decreased wind resistance experienced by the following cyclists. The effect is so pronounced that we try to draft whenever we can. Several cyclists may form a pace line in which each cyclist follows the preceding rider closely, separated by only a few inches. Each cyclist takes a short turn at the front breaking the wind. Drafting requires the ultimate in predictability, since even minor unannounced variations in the forward cyclist’s motion, such as shifting gears or rising out of the saddle, can cause the rear rider to crash. The rider in front is usually unaffected, but the following rider , whose front wheel has bumped the bike in front, takes a spill, usually hard. If you are learning to draft, pick a steady rider to follow.

Cyclists who wish to draft other riders should say " on your wheel" to let the forward rider know someone is close behind.

• Be Attentive - Conserve Energy -

Each of us has an occasional weak day when we become fatigued before the end of a ride. When this happens, our attention is decreased and our reactions are slowed, and we can become hazards to ourselves and others. Cyclists must make a special effort to remain attentive when fatigued. Drafting is an excellent way to conserve energy, even when a cyclist is tired, since the wind drag is reduced for several feet behind another cyclist. A fatigued cyclist can draft at a greater distance than usual, thereby recouping lost energy for the rest of the ride. Also, drink plenty of sports drink and eat an energy bar.

• Be Courteous -

As responsible cyclists, we care about our image, so we try to be courteous to others with whom we are sharing the road, whether they are motorists or other cyclists. When the group must stop at an intersection, avoid hogging the space that might be used by other vehicles taking different directions. For example, if we are going straight ahead we should try to stop in the middle or left of the lane so the right-turing cars can get around.

DO: Keep your riding steady and smooth

DO: Ride one to three feet behind the rider in front of you

Most crashes in packs or pairs happen when one rider overlaps a wheel with another. If the lead rider swerves or drifts, the trailing rider’s front wheel can get taken right our from under him. Ouch. So always protect your front wheel. Think of it as your most precious possession— fragile, golden. Nothing touches it. Nothing even comes close. Your front wheel should spin along as if in an invisible force field.

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DO: Keep your hands on the brake hoods, the drops or on top of the handlebar near the stem

DO: Look several riders up the road

When you’re going hard or when you’re tired, you may develop tunnel vision, staring at the spinning cogs of the rider directly ahead. But if there’s a crash in front or someone swerves, you won’t see it in time to react. Len Perryjohn, formerly the coach of the Coors Light Pro Cycling team, told his riders, "If you stare at the rear wheel of the rider in front of you, that’s the last thing you’ll see before you hit the pavement." The solution is simple. Keep your head up so you can scan the road ahead. Look through the riders directly ahead of you to spot potential danger well in advance, when there’s still plenty of time to do something about it.

Do: Stay on the wheel in front of you

Another simple but important paceline skill: Stick close to the wheel in front of you. If you’re in the middle of the line and you lose contact with the draft, you’ll waste substantial energy catching back up—and so will everyone behind you. If you fall too far behind, the riders following will have to jump past you and conduct their own chase. It’s better to expend a little energy to smoothly close a five-foot gap than to blow a lot of energy bridging a 20 or 30 feet chasm. Pay now or pay later.

Do: Look at the line where you want your bike to go

Have you ever seen a big boulder in the middle of the trail that you wanted to avoid—and then ran right into it? There’s a simple reason: The bike tends to go where you look. If you stare at the obstacle, that’s where your bike will track. Fighter pilots call it "target fixation"—they concentrate so intensely on the target that they fly right into the ground. The same thing happens on singlerrack or when glass litters the road. The solution is to focus ahead on the good line that cuts through the clutter. The bike will automatically follow your eye, just like magic.

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DON'T: Put your inside pedal down in corners

DO: Put your outside pedal down and weight it

True fright is watching a novice rider totter through a corner with the inside pedal just millimeters above the pavement. If it hits, the resulting shock will knock the rear wheel sideways, a sure crash. To corner safely, stop pedaling as you approach the turn. Put the outside pedal down (that’s the right pedal if you’re turning left, in other words). Shift your weight to that pedal by standing on it and rising slightly off the saddle. This assures that your inside pedal is up and out of harm’s way. It also lowers your center of gravity so you can carve the turn with safety and style. Practice your technique around traffic cones in an empty parking lot.

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DO: Relax the muscles of your hands, arms and face

You’ve probably ridden next to people who grasp the handlebars so tightly they exhibit the signs of rigor mortis: white knuckles, locked elbows, clenched teeth and protruding neck veins. If you’re one of these riders, relax. Literally. Think of your upper body as another form of suspension on your bike. Relaxed arms and shoulders absorb bumps on the trail and shoulder touches from your group companions. If your light touch on the bars tenses into a deathgrip, those shocks get transferred to the front wheel and you could crash.

DO: Maintain the group’s speed when you’re at the front

Pacelines work best when they proceed at a steady speed. But there’s something about being at the front that makes inexperienced riders want to hammer. Maybe it’s the chance to show everyone how strong they are, or maybe it’s the thrill of having a group strung out behind. In any case, resist the urge to increase the speed. Such yo-yoing makes gaps open farther back, exhausting riders who should be getting an easier ride in the paceline. A tip: When you’re second in line, check your cycle-computer to see how fast the group is going. Then when you hit the front, maintain the same speed.

DO: Be smarter and more patient than the worst gale

Many times of the year, if you don’t ride in the wind you won’t ride at all. Here’s how to buck the breeze:

· On out-and-back rides, head into the wind on the outward leg. You’ll do your hard work first, using the wind for resistance, then you can spin back and work on leg speed. It’s easier mentally, too, knowing that the return leg won’t be so hard.

· Don’t overgear. It’s tempting to push a big gear to keep the speed you normally maintain on a given stretch of road in calm conditions. It won’t happen. Gear down, keep your cadence up and you’ll not only be more efficient but you’ll also get better training.

· Get low. Present as little frontal area as possible to the gale. Get down in the drops or cup your hands over the tops of the brake hoods while resting your wrists on the bend of the bars. Use aero bars if you’re riding solo. Keep your back flat and your head up so you can see.

· Be strong mentally. Wind is demoralizing because it’s so relentless. So tell yourself how much stronger the wind is making you and how good you are in windy conditions.

DO: Pick a gear that lets you spin over obstacles

It’s tempting to bash through that tough section of singletrack in a big gear. After all, if you maintain momentum you can often float over rocks and roots that would stop you dead if you were going slower. That’s fine if you’re strong and skilled enough to pull it off, but once you bog down in an excessive gear, your dead in the water. So on most steep uphills, it’s better to pick a gear a bit smaller than you think you'll need. Then when you encounter roots, rocks or that six-inch ledge you didn’t expect, you can spin out of trouble rather than slogging to a stop.

DO: Learn some simple tricks for cornering on wet surfaces

If you watched the epic mountain stages in the ’98 Tour de France, you probably noticed that they were plagued with rainy conditions. How do the pros handle rainy descents and slimy corners, often at speeds in excess of 60 mph? We asked former Tour riders like Ron Kiefel and Davis Phinney.

· Go fast when you’re in the straights, brake before the corners, take the corners slowly and then accelerate once the bike is upright. Hitting the front brake while the bike is leaning over can result in a disaster.

· Wear eye protection. Clear lenses help keep grit our of your eyes. If you can’t see clearly, you simply can’t ride safely.

· Reduce tire pressure slightly and choose wider rubber. If you know it’s going to be wet, use tires made specifically for rain.

· Practice. Instead of pouting on the couch when it rains, practice cornering in a parking lot. Learn how much tire adhesion you have in varying conditions.

· Distribute your weight properly as you enter the turn. Keep your upper body low over the top tube, slide back slightly on the saddle and relax your arms and shoulders. If you tense up, you’re less likely to be able to control a skid.

· Ride a mountain bike in varying conditions to learn to feel comfortable and confident on the road when your tires start to squirm around on the wet.

DO: Get out of the saddle in one smooth motion

DO: Vary your position and stand occasionally

There’s a trick to handling long climbs with a minimum of effort. It’s simple and obvious—but for some reason many riders forget to do it. Simply alternate standing and sitting every minute or so. If you never vary your position, the same muscles will get fatigued and your efficiency (and your enjoyment) will vanish. So sit for several minutes, then shift to a slightly harder gear and stand up. Rock the bike back and forth gently, letting your weight push down on the pedals. After a minute or so, sit back down and shift to an easier gear. Repeat the process all the way to the top. You’ll be more relaxed and less tired.

Do: Use your gears to keep your effort level steady as you climb