Swamis' Group Ride Tips
For all Swamis group rides, our biggest concern is that the rides are safe.
The information listed below is basic information, which we need to keep in mind.
Helmets are mandatory…No exceptions!
Aerobars are allowed on group rides BUT:
Only use the “aero” position when off the front (i.e. no one else is in front of you) or when you’re WAY behind the group. Do not use the “aero” when in the pack ever. Please keep your hands on the handle bars for everyone’s safety.
Fixed Gear Bikes are allowed BUT:
Only ride the fixed gear bike where it is safe (i.e. up front or out back),
but never in the pack. Now with that said we would much rather have you
show up on a regular road machine and save the fixed gear for a nice solo
ride.
Point obstructions out in the road
Keep an eye out for the other riders, traffic, snakes, sticks and other
objects that could cause issues.
Ride 2 X2
As much as possible ride 2 X 2 and please stop for mechanical problems
get help. WE LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND ON OUR RIDES!
Ride to suit the conditions
Be mindful that what is considered safe and acceptable when riding solo
might not be safe or acceptable when riding in a group. Also please be
mindful of the riding conditions (weather, traffic, and other cyclists)
so as to keep the group safe. Example: If rolling through heavy
auto traffic it’s probably best to not sprint for traffic light.
Feedback
Be open and respectful to feedback from other group members. Be a good
Swami and take the advice. The advice comes from a good place…
we want you and everyone else to be safe.
Ride in a predictable fashion
Close riding demands that everyone be on the same wavelength. NO QUICK
CHANGES OF DIRECTION, KEEP TO YOUR LINE. Maintain a consistent direction
of motion and avoid weaving. We are on a group ride not a race….
Well sometimes…. Again be mindful and choose your race errrr….
Ride opportunities with care for both yourself and the group.
Ride a Straight Line
Keep your actual focus 20 or 30 feet in front of the bike. Remember, the
bike will go where your eyes go. Keep your head up. Don’t become
fixated on the rider in front of you. Regularly glance 3 to 5 riders ahead.
Look back carefully.
Pace Line
In a pace line or riding 2x2, don’t accelerate when it’s your
turn at the front. Note your mph and maintain the group’s speed
when the lead rider pulls off. After your own bout against the wind, pull
off to the side agreed upon and stay close to the others as you soft pedal
and slide back to the rear of the paceline. It keeps everyone as far out
of the traffic flow as possible, making paceline riding possible even
on busier roads.
Pace Line (part II)
As the current leader pulls off, his or her speed must remain
the same before slowing to ensure the new leader an opportunity to safely
take the lead of the pack. Once the retiring leader is safely over (typically
to the left), he or she slows to efficiently return to the back of the
pace line. As the retiring leader nears the back of the pace line, it
is very useful for the end rider of the pace line to tell the retiring
leader that they are approaching the end of the line. Once the retiring
leader gets near the end of the pace line, it is useful to get out of
the saddle and bring the speed back up to the pace line speed. This out
of the saddle approach serves two purposes. First, it helps the retiring
leader speed up and, second, it provides an opportunity to stretch their
leg muscles.
Pace Line (part III)
Pulling through–The new leader must maintain the same speed without
sprinting, speeding up or slowing down during the first few seconds of
the transition. If the new leader wants to increase the speed, then the
best results are achieved with a slow increase in order to keep the pace
line smooth and efficient.
Pace Line (part IV)
Want more info? Here is a really good pace line discussion which is posted
at San Diego Bicycle Club's web site: Paceline
Skills I and Paceline
Skills II. Yeah yeah, SDBC is a rival club but this is a great presentation
of Paceline Skills so we figured linking to it benefits everyone.
Signal to others
Signal to others. Provide hand signals and/or yell to signal gravel, debris,
other riders, cars, pedestrians, turns, and pace line rotations. Warn
others of your intentions. If you need to stop or pull over indicate or
shout your intentions and do it slowly. Move to the left or right and
yell “slowing” or “stopping” before you brake.
Protect your front wheel
If your rear wheel is struck a fall is unlikely because it has nothing
to do with steering the bike. However, if your front wheel is contacted
it will often be twisted off line faster than you can react. You’ll
almost certainly go down. Help prevent this by never overlapping someone’s
rear wheel.
Use the brakes sparingly
Ffeather the levers lightly instead of clutching at them. Easy on your
brakes. Most crashes are caused by someone braking sharply and the rider
behind touching wheels with them. If you are getting too close to the
rider immediately in front of you, try soft pedaling instead of braking
to adjust the gap. If you need to brake, do it gently and gently tap on
the rear brake.
If you get gapped
Try to maintain steady speed. No surging. Don’t open gaps. Don’t
make things worse by accelerating too hard, overrunning the wheel in front,
then grabbing the brakes. Instead, ease back up to the rider in front.
If you don’t become proficient at following a wheel, you can waste
more energy than you save by constant yo-yoing.
Passing
Always pass on the left. Don’t pass on the right unless you know
there is room and the rider in front absolutely knows you are coming.
Consideration
Be considerate of the riders behind you. If you must spit or blow your
nose move out of the pace line enough so no one is directly behind you.
Be Wary on Climbs (especially at the foot of a climb)
A major cause of group crashes is riders who stand abruptly. They slow
for a second, causing the rider behind to hit their rear wheel and spill.
To avoid this danger, let the gap open a bit on hills or ride a foot to
either side.