Road Cycling Etiquette for Group Rides
Cycling etiquette helps standardize the expectations of all riders to make group rides safer and more fun. Knowing the basics, like where to ride, how to signal pulls, and how pacelines work will keep you in the mix and in the good graces of your fellow riders. Before your next cycling group ride, check out these tips for riding safely in the bunch.
Road Cycling Tips for Group Rides
Cycling is an inherently social sport. Riding in a group is a great way to connect with friends, meet new people, and ride further (and faster) than you can on your own. Especially if you’re new to the sport or new to a local ride, it’s important to learn some universal rules of the road.
Respect the Ride Leader
Most group rides have a formal or informal ride leader who dictates the pace, route, and general structure of the ride. Some rides are no-drop (which means no one gets left behind) while some may have rolling re-groups or go at race pace. Take your cues from the ride leader and stick to the plan.
Know What You’re Getting Into
Learn as much as you can about the ride and the group before you go, especially if it’s your first time on the ride. Find out when the ride starts, the route, the expected average pace, if there will be pitstops, and any other useful information.
Bring What You Need
In addition to enough food and water for the distance of the ride, bring what you need to get home. Always pack a flat kit that includes a tube, CO2 or hand pump, multitool, and a patch. If you’re allergic to bees, bring an EPI pen and tell someone about your condition, just in case.
On the Road
The key to road cycling etiquette and safety is communication. Riding in a group is about speed; a tight group of riders (known as the peloton) in a tight bunch can travel considerably faster than loose, spread-out riders.
Signal Turns and Stops
Communicate upcoming turns or stops using hand signals and vocally. You should also identify any debris, potholes, or other hazards in the road to riders behind you. Remember that everyone should communicate, not just those up front. Think of it as passing on hazards from the lead riders all the way to the last riders.
Positioning
Know where to be in the bunch and where other riders are, too.
Don’t overlap wheels. Avoid placing your front wheel next to the rear wheel of the rider ahead of you. If the rider in front has to move over quickly, overlapping wheels will cause a crash. Always ride with your front wheel behind any wheels ahead of you.
Ride level with the person next to you. Try to keep your handlebars aligned with theirs, especially if you’re near the front. Some riders have a habit of riding just a bit ahead of the person next to them on the front. This “half-wheeling” causes the pace to get faster and faster; it’s very annoying and very poor form.
Be predictable. It may sound confusing, but the faster you’re going, the more important it is to do everything slowly. Hold your line and position in the group, hold your speed, and don’t swerve.
Read more: Mountain Biking Trail Etiquette
Riding in a Paceline
There are two common ways to ride in a group. Note that you can ride a single paceline or double paceline fast or slow, though single pacelines are usually faster.
Double paceline. Sometimes as known as riding two-up, this involves riding two abreast. The lead two riders will pull off the front together and drop to the back of the group.
Single paceline. This is a single line with a single lead rider that pulls off to the side and drops to the back of the bunch. This can often look like two columns but notice that one column is always moving forward, and one is always falling back.
It’s good cycling etiquette to pull through and take your turns on the front if you’re able. If the group is too fast, let others around you that you’re going to “sit in” at the back, which allows you to benefit from the draft without working too hard. If you sit in, don’t go for any sprints or try to “win” climbs; that’s very bad form. If you’re strong enough to sprint, you’re strong enough to pull through.
Other Road Cycling Tips
The best way to get in the groove with a local group is to show up, make friends, and ask questions. There are a few other ways to get in the good graces of your ride mates.
Show up on time. A ride that’s posted for 8 am leaves at 8 am. Don’t show up at 8:00 and expect everyone to wait while you air up your tires, change, or make adjustments to your bike.
Ride the ride. Some rides are races; Tuesday Night Ride in Traverse City has some regrouping points, but it’s mostly a drag race. Others are social and stay together. Ride the ride you showed up to; don’t go faster than everyone else to get your workout in or turn a casual Sunday spin into the World Championships. If the ride is promised as a 20 mph average and you want to do 24, ride by yourself.
Overcommunicate. Let people know if you’re tired, ask questions, and tell others if you have a flat or mechanical. Other riders are almost always happy to slow down or help fix a flat tire, but they probably can’t read your mind.
Hit the Road with Norte Youth Cycling
While our youth cycling programs primarily focus on mountain bike skills and urban riding, we have plenty of kids interested in riding on the road. Norte strives to empower healthy, active families across northern Michigan, with in-school, after-school, and summer programs in three counties. Learn more about our work and consider donating today.