Riding Etiquette
15/05/08 07:07 Filed In:Coaching
So lots of cyclist are starting there seasons now.
They want to go out with groups and have fun. But do
they know how to be safe while cycling in a group?
This time I want to bring up group ride techniques to
make rides safer for everyone.
The first thing to look at is where you are in a group. The three basic positions are leader, middle and the last rider. Each position has a different responsibility to making a safe fun ride. The leaders job is to set a even pace at all times varying the speed with the terrain so that the group doesn't bunch up or string out unnecessarily.
The first thing to look at is where you are in a group. The three basic positions are leader, middle and the last rider. Each position has a different responsibility to making a safe fun ride. The leaders job is to set a even pace at all times varying the speed with the terrain so that the group doesn't bunch up or string out unnecessarily.
The second thing the leader does is point out road
hazards in advance so no one hits road debris and
flats or crashes. The third thing the leader does is
pick a good line for the group to ride in corners and
down the road so that the riders behind feel like
they are not swerving around. The final job is to
signal the turns that the group will make in advance
of the turns so that on coming traffic and the riders
behind know what the group is doing.
The last rider has the job of making the group aware of cars coming up from behind the group when it is unexpected the riders from the front are pulling off into traffic or the group is about to make a left turn where they would be crossing traffic.
The riders in the middle have one basic responsibility which to pass the signals from the leader back to the riders behind or to pass information from the last rider to the front. Riders in the middle should follow directly behind the riders ahead of them and not get to close and then jam on the brakes causing a accordion effect in the ride.
These are the basics of group riding. Hope you have as much fun as I do out there.
Come on over to Brumble Bikes and maybe come and do one of our group rides.
The last rider has the job of making the group aware of cars coming up from behind the group when it is unexpected the riders from the front are pulling off into traffic or the group is about to make a left turn where they would be crossing traffic.
The riders in the middle have one basic responsibility which to pass the signals from the leader back to the riders behind or to pass information from the last rider to the front. Riders in the middle should follow directly behind the riders ahead of them and not get to close and then jam on the brakes causing a accordion effect in the ride.
These are the basics of group riding. Hope you have as much fun as I do out there.
Come on over to Brumble Bikes and maybe come and do one of our group rides.
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