Top 10 Rules For Riding In A Pack
If you have been riding a road bike for any length of time
, you know the joy of riding in a pack. There is something very cool about cruising at 20+ in that "sweet spot" where you are just kind of loafing along. I also love the sound of the peloton - the whir of the tires, the clicking of gears etc. However, there are obviously some rules to riding wheel to wheel and bar to bar that differ from riding by yourself. So, while this list isn't all inclusive I have tried to capture the most important points:
1. Be Steady! - consistency is the key to riding well in a peloton. Never forget that everyone behind you is depending on you for their safety. Last summer I was riding in a double paceline 6 deep. I had just taken a pull and moved to the back when the two front riders decided the pace was too fast and so they sat up. The next two riders didn't expect it so they touched wheels and the chaos ensued. The result? A broken pelvis, a broken arm, a broken collar bone, many stitches and a bunch of broken bike parts. Riding in a pack is serious business.
2. Be polite - if someone gets hung up outside the paceline and is pointing to ask to be let in then let them in. Eventually, you will be the one that needs a helping hand so remember that what goes around comes around. Also, be polite to drivers. It doesn't hurt to wave thanks to drivers who are courteous.
3. Pay attention - on long rides it's easy to "zone out" and start thinking about work or home or whatever, but bad stuff can happen really quickly in a peloton so keep your focus.
4. Take your turn at the front - nobody likes a perpetual wheel sucker so do your share. If you have the legs, by all means stay out front. However, even if you can only do 30 seconds take your turn!
5. Point out road hazards - this one probably goes without saying, but it's so important that it needs to be included. Pointing is essential but,
6. No Yelling! - this one may be a little controversial, but it can be dangerous when all of sudden someone in the pack screams "HOLE!". I had a chance recently to ride with a retired pro and he only used subtle hand gestures to point out road hazards or maybe a gentle hand on another rider's hip to let them know he was coming up on their side, but never did he yell.
7. Keep turning the cranks - it is very disconcerting to ride behind someone who does the "3 revolutions and coast" thing. Remember, you should ride for the person behind you and when you stop pedaling they are instantly on alert for trouble. If you keep doing it then the rider behind might stop paying attention and not react when they need to. So, see #1 above and keep turning those cranks. Of course, when the pack is descending then this rule can be temporarily ignored.
8. Ride with friends - so you probably won't always be able to choose the folks you ride with, but TRY REALLY HARD! You need to be able to trust that the riders around you are going to ride safely and that's kinda hard to do if you don't know them. So, even if you are doing an organized ride, avoid the temptation to jump on the back of a paceline as it goes by. I know it's tempting, but do you really want to trust your safety (and maybe your life) to a bunch of folks you don't know?
9. Snot Rockets - not the most pleasant subject but they happen. So, when you have to let fly pull out a little so you don't slime the riders behind you.
10. You are NOT a Tour rider - sorry if this bursts any bubbles, but unless you are Lance/Alberto/Cadel then you really aren't racing for the Yellow Jersey. You may very well be a racer and if you are training with your teammates then that's awesome. But, what I'm talking about is the guy that treats a charity ride like it's stage 7 of the Giro. There is no "winner" in a charity ride. So, match your pace to the group and have some fun.
Riding in a pack is the ultimate cycling experience and with a few rules and some thoughtfulness you can be an asset to the group and have a ball on your road bicycle at the same time.
by: Alan D Davis
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