THE IMPORTANT STUFF
Our Ride Etiquette…
Knowing how to ride can be taught but there’s a lot you can do to make sure you know the rules of the ride beforehand.
Do…
- COME PREPARED A well maintained bike & Helmet is essential!. A spare tube, pump & gas, another spare tube and, importantly, money for coffee & cake! Club kit at weekends is preferred
- KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT Before joining a specific group, ask other riders or do some research so you know the intended pace of the ride. Showing up to a ride looking for a social pace only for it to be a hammer session puts you in a difficult spot. Many group rides are “no drop rides”. This is a ride where no one gets left behind should a rider not be able to hold the pace or if they have a mechanical or flat tire. Chain gangs are more aggressive and most often forego the niceties of the more Social rides. Should you get dropped or get a flat, you are on your own so know the roads.
- RESPECT THOSE LEADING Looking after a group of riders and directing them is no easy task, so play your part and help where you can. Listen to what’s being asked of you and any directions called group rides usually have a plan and how you ride should follow what is expected.
- SPEAK UP The riders should let the group know when they are aware of hazards, punctures or we drop a rider “Car up!” or “Car down!” lets others know of coming vehicles. “Easy” if we need to slow down, stop or someone drops off for a pee. Call/Point out pot holes or objects in the road so that those riders behind you can also avoid the obstacle. Many riders also like to use a hand gesture to point in the direction of the obstacle … HOLD YOUR LINE Ride smoothly and follow the rider in front, hold the wheel don’t let gaps appear. Sudden deviations can cause major issues since you are so close to other riders. Be aware of those around you and how you ride affects them.
- STAY OFF THE BRAKES You’re going to need to make minor speed adjustments in a group ride, and you want to do this with air resistance rather than braking whenever possible. That means sitting up a bit and/or moving out into the wind a little to slow down, or tucking into the draft and pedalling a bit more to speed up. When you tap the brakes, you slow more abruptly and that can be dangerous to those in your wheel. Obviously there are times when you need to and should use the brakes, but try to make minor speed adjustments without braking to avoid a jerky riding experience for everyone around you.
- PULL LONGER, NOT HARDER If you’re feeling like superman or you’re the fast guy of the group, don’t ramp up the speed when you get to the front. It’s not nice and disrupts the group. Instead, ride the group’s pace and stay at the front longer.
- PULL SHORTER, NOT SLOWER If you don’t have the fitness to take a long pull at the group’s pace, you should still rotate through like everyone else, but just pull off quickly. There’s no rule that says you have to take a pull equal to the guy before you. For a smoother experience for everyone, keep it short, do your bit and pull off.
- PACE FOR ALL OF THE GROUP When the group hits a hill it can be hard to keep the group together, it’s important for the riders at the front to consider everyone when establishing the pace. On social group rides it’s typical to wait at the top of longer climbs, but to minimize the frequency of these soft pedal periods or stoppages, try to set a pace that’s comfortable for the entire group.
- RIDE SAFE No matter if the group ride is slow or fast, the rules of the road still apply.
Don’t…
- SHOW UP UN-PREPARED Be on time and be self-sufficient. This includes tools, food, and tubes. We’re all nice people and we’ll give you a tube, a bar, or a gel if you need it, but try not to need it.
- HALF-WHEEL The right way to ride in a paceline is handlebar-to-handlebar, not half a wheel ahead of the rider next to you. Half-wheeling pisses people off, especially when you accelerate to maintain the half-wheel advantage despite your partner’s attempt to pull even with you. Its also dangerous, so just don’t.
- DISOBEY TRAFFIC LAWS Drivers can be frustrating; they may put us at risk but let’s not retaliate. Obey the rules, don’t jump red lights. Besides being unsafe it’s damaging to our collective reputation.
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