Most road rides will involve a group or “bunch” of riders
whose levels of competency, both on the bike, and in
general understanding of the basic rules of riding
within a tight group of riders, can vary greatly.
Most seasoned road riders will already be well aware
of what is expected when riding in a group. But for
those new to the road riding scene, it can be a
little daunting until you really understand the
etiquette of it all. We’ve put together a list of
basic rules and etiquettes which hopefully will be a
good refresher for those with plenty of experience,
and a big help for those with limited experience.
1.
Obey The Road Rules
First and foremost, bicycles ridden on the road are legally
a vehicle, and as such must obey ALL
traffic rules. Even to the point of riders
losing points off their driver’s license for
committing traffic offences. Be considerate of
other road users and avoid creating dangerous
situations. Safety and good practice are the key
points.
2.
Look After Each Other
Good bunches look after their riders
Wait if the group is split up by traffic, stop for
mechanicals, regroup after hills and don’t leave
individuals on their own to fend for themselves.
It can be a different matter when the pace is
on. With everybody going full gas and the bunch
stretched out, it is impossible to know what’s
happening with each individual. However, the
bunch should still regroup and wait for
stragglers after they have had a good crack and
blown off some steam.
When rolling out, keep it smooth
Try to avoid wandering off your line while getting your feet
clipped in. If you miss on the first attempt,
don’t panic and baulk the rider behind by
waiting for the click or staring at your pedal.
Do a few revolutions with your foot resting on
top of the pedal to maintain momentum, and
finish clipping in once you’re up to speed.
Sudden movements create problems for everyone
around you
Keep an eye on conditions ahead. Don’t stare at the rear
wheel of the bike in front of you, but use the
back of the rider in front to gauge your
distance, while regularly glancing 3 – 5 riders
ahead and also further up the road to anticipate
problems before they occur. The riders on the
front have the responsibility of steering the
bunch and maintaining a smooth momentum. They
must be decisive, and anticipate conditions
ahead. It’s their responsibility to calculate
actions for the group as a whole. Especially
when arriving at round-a-bouts and traffic
lights where an orderly approach is preferred.
It is better to stop the whole group than split
the bunch at a red light. Jamming on the brakes
at the last moment shows a lack of awareness.
Stay Alert
When arriving at junctions all riders should be alert to
what is happening at the front of the bunch.
Though the lead riders are guiding the bunch,
the concept of the group is outweighed by the
need for individuals to take responsibility for
their own safety and make correct calls based on
this.
3.
Keep working on the front
Keep working when you’re on the front of the
bunch
Particularly through the rolling ups and downs.
Never freewheel while on the front
Never freewheel on the front unless the intention is to slow
the entire bunch. If you need to sit up after a
hard turn on the front, simply roll to the side
and off the front. Soft pedaling on the front
causes a concertina effect down the line and
breaks the rhythm of the bunch. The guys
immediately behind the lead pair should not have
to be on the brakes on the smaller down hills.
If you have pulled up the rise and the legs need
a rest, don’t soft pedal on the decline, roll
off the front and recover as you slide to the
back of the bunch or power down then roll off.
When Passing Other Packs
Keep it tidy. Be patient, and only overtake on an
appropriate section of road. DO NOT split the
bunch in an effort to get past quickly.
Sign or Call Road Hazards coming up
Point out or call hazards, preferably while there is still
sufficient time for the whole bunch to avoid the
hazard, don’t wait till the bunch is right on
top of it. By road hazards, I mean HAZARDS, not
every imperfection in the road surface. You need
only point out hazards that could potentially
bring down an unwary rider, or things such as
broken glass. Also, this does not abdicate the
responsibility of those at the back, to watch
the road.
4.
Pass Those Signals Down
Calling, or Signing, if not passed down quickly, only
confuses or gets lost in the wind. The situation
is usually passed by the time the message gets
to the back of the bunch. Hand signals are best
most of the time, as they communicate the
message in an instant.
Whatever you use, please make it clear and to the point.
Keep calls as short as possible, single words
are best. “stopping”, “left”, “right” etc. The
group does not need detailed instructions.
“Car Back” is suitable for vehicles approaching from the
rear, while “Car Up or Bike Up” is suitable for
vehicles approaching from the front. Remember,
calling or signing is not to be polite, it is
all about SAFETY.
5.
Change Early When The Road Turns Up
When the road starts to climb, it’s best to change gears
early, before you lose your momentum.
Take care not to drop kick the rider behind you when rising
out of the saddle. In a tight bunch, there is
the potential for a crash if you pull your bike
backwards as you lift off the saddle. So, as you
stand, make sure you pull your bike forwards
with you. You can do this either by pulling the
bike up underneath you, or changing up a gear
and powering down as you stand.
Fast Downhills
On faster downhills, if you are just coasting, move to the
left and let faster riders come through. If the
group is still all together as you approach the
bottom, those on the front should start driving
before momentum from the downhill is lost.
Slow Moving Traffic
When travelling on a single lane roadway, where it is
difficult to pass, try to ride on the shoulder,
but only where the surface is good and it is
safe to do so. If a lot of traffic is backed up
behind the bunch, it is usually best to move off
the road and stop until the traffic has passed.
6.
Pulling your weight in a pace line
Most of the time we will ride a steady tempo in a double
pace line. But, when the pace is on, this will
form into a single or rotating pace line. How
long each rider pulls at the front depends on
the pace and relative strength of the riders in
the bunch. In general it will be anywhere from
10-15 seconds to several minutes. Or, if you’re
a ride leader, it could be many, many kilometres.
Keep your front wheel close to the rider in front of you,
your nose out of the wind, your turns pulling on
the front smooth and your re-attachment at the
back of the bunch efficient,
When it’s your turn to pull, maintain the same speed as the
riders before you. As you pull off after your
turn on the front, simply pull to the side and
ease your speed so that the rider behind you
only has to maintain their speed come past.
If a rider rolls off the front and does not slow down, it
disrupts the pace and rhythm of the bunch and
forces the rider behind to almost have to sprint
to come past for their turn on the front. If
you’ve finished your pull, it’s over – ease up,
let the bunch come past and latch onto the back
as quickly and safely as possible.
The most difficult part for a large bunch is organizing the
groups efforts in a rotating pace line and
keeping it smooth. Staying smooth means
maintaining a consistent speed. Don’t speed up
as you take your turn on the front, don’t drop
back too quickly from the lead position, be sure
to hug the wheel in front of you while staying
close to the other line, maximize the draft so
the pace line stays compact and efficient.
7.
Last But Not Least
Enjoy your riding, and keep the rubber side down at all
cost.
Cheers
