My pet peeve is always being dropped or last in a no drop ride. Everyone is nice about it but it’s so frustrating that I’ve pretty much stopped riding with my local bike shop.
Great thing to remember on a group ride is to maintain the steady pace of the group when it's your turn on the front. Resist the urge to suddenly go faster unexpectedly. Also. it's great to have a ride captain who dictates pace and effort level and sweeps the back for stragglers who are getting dropped.
@@gcn One thing that I learned lately is that i've been taking massive pulls on the front and splitting up the group. People started calling me Diesel. The advice that i was given was to keep the same cadence and gearing when I am on the front and to slowly increase if I want but not to drastically change gearing and cadence. This will prevent splitting up the group and also will help conserve my own energy as well. The things you learn along the way are so valuable and make people want to ride with you.
Thanks, good tip! I ride in a windy area and offered to pull the group a few times this year. With the wind, often times, I cannot hear the people behind yelling. So my stint at the front ends up helping nobody, as they just disappear behind me 😁 I started road cycling alone during the pandemic, so I am slowly adjusting to group riding.
Great points. To assist with that, 3 bits of kit are very helpful: 1. An effective (for you) mirror, 2. Something resembling a speedometer, 3. A brain upgrade that has "we're in this together" self-talk on incessant repeat. :) (Club rider, heavy touring bike, generally happy with a 25kmh pace)
@@MrSdpeteyRecently, we had a new chap in our club group ride who unconsciously increased his speed once at the front. Twice, as I was ride leader, I left the peleton to reel him in. He thanked me for doing so (bought me a donut at the break) and let me know that he gets a bit anxious in traffic and speeds up to get to the next turn sooner. It's worthwhile understanding, when possible, the reasons our peleton buddies do the things they do. A big benefit of having a core of regular cycling companions.
As an older rider (75+) I was not only at the back, but almost always dropped on any climb . I bought a very good e-bike. Now can not only keep up, but take my turn at least on the flats. It's so much more fun to be part of the group again. The group uses common hand signals, and when at the back, yell "Car back" when a car is coming up on the group.
All really great tips, and all new riders (and even experienced riders) should adhere to these rules. A few not mentioned that I feel are important for new cyclists: 1. If it's your turn on the front, don't wait until you're gassed to get off the front. You probably won't be able to jump on the back and you'll get dropped. Take a shorter turn if you need to, and pull off before you reach your max. 2. If you're the second wheel, don't surge when the lead rider finishes their pull. Keep the pace nice and steady. 3. Practice holding your line. If you're in a group that's riding side by side (double pace line), there's nothing more aggravating to other riders than someone who swerves back and forth, or worse yet, drifts toward you going through a curve. Hold your line. 4. Learn to repair your own flats. If you're on a group ride and get a flat, nobody wants to be there for 20 minutes while someone tries to fix a puncture. Learn how to do it and practice it until you're fairly quick. Your friends will thank you.
LOL, I ride with a group in France. When I moved here 12 years ago I was used to riding as 8n the video. I had to get used to everything being exactly opposite. Passing on the left not pulling out and letting riders move up, never stop for coffee despite having nice boulangeries, occasionally point out hazards but never ever shout out, It keeps me on my game.
Super-helpful, easy-to-absorb content....props always to GCN!!👍I've ridden hard for 38 yrs, including metro Houston, NYC, D.C., L.A., and now Durango, CO (18 years), and had 2 cautionary thoughts, especially for novice riders emulating the awesome riders on GCN. 1) Clearly, the weather is warm in the vid. Warm = flying bugs (and birds!)...sometimes big, and sometimes very fast. And yet, in several shots, some of the cyclists aren't wearing shades!? The "when, not if," result: Peloton chaos and an emergency road-side stop, and God help you if it's a bee, or worse, a wasp. (I've even had them come AROUND my shades, while at speed!) A horsefly in the eye will get you a trip to the E.R. Definitely not good for group-ride dynamics. 2) NOBODY wearing gloves!?! Holy cow. Even the very best riders wreck (usually not their fault, either!) I don't care how tough you are (or think you are!), but after being banged up, and THEN digging road grit, grime, and scree out of the palms of your hands (and praying you brought wipes and water (LOL...not Accelerade!!)...to rinse off!), and THEN trying to ride home bleeding and bare-handed, and THEN having abraded palms for 2 weeks, is bad. A solid "0" on the Fun-O-Meter. Of course, been there, done all that...a looong time ago, but never again. ;-) P.S. Thanks again to GCN...keep up the great vids!👍
Agree with both points, always ride with eye protection, even if you buy cheap ones from the hardware store. Second, I took a spill on some inadequate gloves a while back and the abrasion went deep into my palm. The injury took over 6 months to heal and was very painful.
Single file pace lines- it’s nice for the last person to tell the cyclist who is falling back from taking the last pull “last”. This allows them to know they can slide back in to the slip-steam.
Pace - as a power meter user i'll keep an eye on output when on the front. Keeping the effort within a range to ensure that the group holds together. It's also a handy reference point for knowing when others are going to hurt on the surge for the cafe!
Steady power, not steady speed. Know the group and have a plan. You don't need to know everyone's FTP. No power meter? Then just go by perceived effort and be aware of how the group is doing.
Super video Manon and Hank!! LOL about the wheel sucker! Love the hand signals with voice! Remember going uphill learning group riding techniques for our CANBIKE instructors course on an urban street near the Pratt's Pond mill stream in Cobourg Ontario. The lead rider yelled "FISH!" and pointed down to a very large dead salmon! A first for all of us! The instructor couldn't believe it.
Most people should sit further back than 20cm, just pedal harder and give yourself more room for error! Sitting close is necessary for maximal group speed but seen too many friends come off from being too close. And that really slows you down. Sometimes permanently.
Getting out of the saddle: you can stand without your bike moving back. You have to think about it before doing it and make sure you are putting down a power stroke as you stand. Yes, it is still good to warn the person on your wheel. But, I also try to make sure I don't move back if I'm in a group.
This is why I often avoid group rides. While peloton riding is handy when riding with weaker riders or horrible headwind for long distance, I will put out the watts/kg riding solo, even at a slower pace but not having to worry about the lead rider not warning the back about roadkill or pothole. Even on group rides I often either stick with another solo rider and chat or hang in the back a paces away from the group.
Also, when riding behind someone and you can’t really see in front. Pay attention to the hips and feet of the rider in front of you. This allows you to know when they will be slowing, stopping, avoiding potholes, etc. Hand singles are way better then screaming in A or B group but, be sure to let everyone know before the ride starts.
That road is so perfect. You should try riding like that ( double or single row pace line) around where I live in Berkeley, Cal (northern California). The roads are hilly and pavement is shite. Potholes every 10 inches. Cracks running parallel to the road wider than a tire. and no shoulder. Plus insane traffic and road raging idiots. My favorite crashes were all in pace lines where the leader either stood up suddenly on a small hill, or the leader didnt signal a turn at an intersection. Both times, ride ending. With injuries. Be careful, and don't just go for speed when you aren't even in some stupid race. A paceline is a team, don't race each other.
The roads should be good there. Winters in Northern Illinois, freeze and thaw, freeze and thaw, freeze and thaw, all winter. That climate, is really tough on roads.
I was wondering about that. I am left legged, so when iIget up it is always timed at the start of the left downstroke. I would have to see a video of myself to believe I slow during the rise. I don't ride with a group but next time I am on path an come across others, I will pace them for a bit then get up, to see if I slightly drop the pace. It could be I just don't notice with out a reference.
Got caught in a peloton on a flat ride that I couldn't out-ride. The head wasn't looking and slammed into a runner. Ambulances were called! I ended up with stitches and a cracked molar. I avoid group riding now. Even if the front rider is competent, not being able to see in front of me makes me waaay too nervous to join.
Cyclists in a group that have the skills are a beautyful wiew..... Joy to see..🙂👍.. I have not ride in group yet but i would like when i get stronger... Have a safe ride boys and girls🙏🧙♂️
Excellent info, as always. I wonder... including all GCN Presenter/Staff from different countries, what is the biggest group ride you can put together? That would be quite the sight to see!!
I am 5’4” and don’t enjoy riding with people with legs a foot longer than mine. 😂 i make a point to ride the opposite direction of local groups so all I do is wave.
Being tall isn't overall any advantage in cycling. We're less aero, our bike frames weigh slightly more, and theres no guarantee that we can produce more power. Among pro riders the tall riders tend to be extremely thin to make up for a heavier skeleton, unless you're a machine like Wout Van Aart.
You are missing a trick here; I’m a similar height and get all the benefits of drafting behind taller riders. Tough for them that they don’t get the same from me. It makes up for us not being able to reach the stuff on the high shelves in supermarkets😊
It has been about 30 years since riding at all. Started back and went on a huge group ride about 50 people and was a nervous wreck and got dropped lol.
I organize unruly, ruthless, nasty group rides of 10-20, and at the end (last 20km) it’s all out until the finish where we are usually only 5-6 left while others dropped or something. No quarter. I never have the map on my Garmin so I gotta stick with those who have it. It makes for a good motivation.
Not a group riding topic... but a gripe of mine is if a rider starts spitting/snotting without checking if someone is behind them... (or on purpose if they think your drafting). Its vile in any case
Be clear with the group that the leader in single file or draft will watch carefully for debris and hazards, and will point them out. I'm still recovering almost 5 months after a crash where the leader did not point out a rock, 2nd guy hit it and went down, I hit his bike and went down hard (5 bone fractures include vertebrae and neck, plus a bunch of other stuff). Don't just assume the lead rider is going to take looking out for the group seriously, talk about it beforehand.
While bikepacking for three months with two mates, tight group riding and the confidence in it naturally came by itself. Saving energy felt very nice when the wind resistance is high, the bikes are heavy and we're doing it all days long. Eventually we found ourselves going down a mountain in Austria at 60km/h terminal velocity among the cars for 20 minutes on a straight road. It was so much fun! While being in the slipstream I could feel my bike reaching higher speed than my mates in front of me so I naturally had to go out into the road to pass them. That's kind the opposite of what you're doing on the flat road in this video, but at the same time I don't see any other choice unless I want to hit the brakes by sitting up more straight to use my body to catch the wind. We all took turns passing each other like this when we had to because that was more fun. What are your thoughts on long downhill slipstream etiquette?
My first and only group ride and I took the lead position and stayed there until the end. At one point I got lost a little bit and the group followed me. It did not make me a fan of group rides. I want to do climbs my way and descends also.
Getting out of the saddle in a group should be done by CONTROLLING YOUR BIKE not by flapping your hands about. One: this is intrinsically safer; Two: If you are needing to get out of the saddle, taking a hand off the bars will likely make you slow more than just getting out of the saddle, particularly if going uphill; Three: Mainly for racing, controlling your bike means that you stay the same distance from the rider in front of you and you are less likely to be elbowed out of your position.
I always check my speed when I'm second in line. So when I get to the front I continue at the same speed. Sometimes the rider who gets to the front is rested so they up the speed and the rider coming off the front gets dropped. I'm talking to you Tony Jones.
For beginners, give yourself a good year or more before you join a paceline or any drafting. You need to be steady and smooth, not unnecessarily freewheeling. I definitely believe even beginners can enjoy group rides; however, read the description closely. Generally, the slower groups will have a "no drop, no draft group."
Also if you get a puncture or drop a chain, put up your hand and keep your line if possible. Rather than immediately swinging to the left or right side of the road. Not completely his fault as he was a bit compromised, but I got taken out by a guy who hit a pothole and lost his footing who then swung to the left with his brakes on leaving me nowhere to go at high speed. As he just assumed no one was behind him.
Honestly I wouldn't rteally advertise answering phonecalls when cycling. I just mute my phone and send a grp text to my family & friends grp I'm on a ride and can't pick up for a while and for the other callers there is voicemail :D
My wife always yells at me for getting out of the saddle without telling her on a climb, but she hit the brakes so hard in front of me once that I ended up hitting her from behind and knocking her into the grass and knocking myself out when I fell head-first onto the road (so I'm told - still no memory of the actual event, didn't come to until I was in the ambulance. Thank goodness for helmets!) So I guess we're even? :)
Is it worth riding in group formation when there's a fairly large gap between the abilities of the riders? Also, is it worth doing these group ride practices with groups smaller than 4 riders?
Hey Global Cycling network! I have a question. I'm a type one Diabetic and I struggle with rides sometimes because the second I start to pedal harder than say a 13KM/h avg my BS tanks. I'm talking starting the ride high at a 12-14 and going below 4 in maybe half an hour. Are any of your team Diabetic? How do other Diabetics handle long rides (50K plus). Do they just eat constantly?
Hey there Steven, I'm also a type 1 diabetic and your experience echoes mine. Any ride I am over zone 2 for will get the blood sugar dropping and club rides are really difficult to manage (especially when they smash the pace). My tip is to make use of those carb heavy gels and take one before going out if I know the intensity is going to pick up. Then I have one every 30 minutes at least and supplement with an energy drink of some kind (I use a powder as it's cheaper). It's tough but that's works for me up to my longest ride (~60k with 1.5km climbing) though I'm still pretty new to cycling
@@da14a49 I think what I need to do is up the alarm for a low to say 7 so that I have time to get some sugar in me before I'm low. That's my new thinking. I'll have to wait to try. Winter arrived a few days ago so the bike is parked for a bit
I have a screen on my nav specifically designed to being on the front. It has the map, next nav cue, and speed. My normal nav screen has different pieces of info like power/cadence, wind, heading etc. but on the front I need to know where we're going and I want to hold a consistent speed.
I feel that it is rude to shout loudly. If you see a pothole 20 feet ahead of you, point and speak in a normal voice. Riders two or three behind you will pass the word back through the group. (if they don't, they will gain a bad reputation).....In a race, it's a different story. Some riders (I'll never tell), will ride close to a pothole, to see if others in back of you, will ride into it. (No quarter asked, no quarter given)
Yeah I've had people like that sit on my wheel, if they don't get on the front and share I'll go for a short sprint and drop them. It's not always easy sitting on behind a rider that's a lot stronger.
No half wheeling, ride level with the rider next to you. I'm surprised no one in the video has gloves on! I even go running with gloves on now after I tripped and p ut my hands down to break my fall. 😵
Honest question: Leading group of say 4 people in a line formation. Large organized ride like say steamboat gravel or seattle to portland. Catch slower group and start passing on left. Do later riders in faster line yield to slower line if pinched, or does slow line yield to faster paceline if pinched. Honest question. Me as lead, once I pass first rider in other group, I'm committed and cannot see what's happening behind, what should expectation be? It all looks good on paper, but our "Team" has been griped at a couple times for "not leaving enough space" but I honestly didn't think I was breaking etiquette by passing in what at the time was open. Care to educate me? Please be kind, honest question.
The only issue with your video is the yelling about hazards. Most times just indicating a hazard by pointing is sufficient . Save the loud comments for really dangerous situations. There's nothing worse than a group ride where riders are constantly screaming "HOLE", CAR UP or BACK"
I rode all winter & early spring, with a club that hollers. 1st ride with my Wednesday crew, I hit a big, unexpected rock. I never saw it. I woke up sitting next to my bike with concussion, broken scapula & elbow. I take full responsibility- forgot how quiet they were. 🤷🏻♀️ I'm also a MTB & have skills- just an accident.
I prefer both call and point. If someone just yells hole, I wonder where the hell it is. If someone just points, I might not br looking. There are acceptable yells and truly annoying ones. Don't be an A.Y. (annoying yeller)
Riding in a group is one of the worst things about riding on the road. There's always that 1 rider that takes it way too seriously. Maybe I am just grumpy, but much prefer gravel and MTB where its less structures.
You can get ‘round all these unwritten rules by cycling on your own - it also means cafes don’t have a fit when you turn up unexpectedly and you don’t have to put up with other cyclists. A win, win!
I will have to disagree with shouting as loud as you can. this is just going to give everyone an unnecessary panic shouting as loud as you can should only be used when there is real danger.
No comments about considering other road users. A group of riders take up space and can be a dilemma when come across when driving. I ride to work each day on a busy road with a lot of cars and trucks of varying sizes. Not all give the legal distance. I have a rear view mirror. I want to know what is coming up. I don't want to contribute to the anger and frustration people can have about sharing the road with cyclists.
Question - one of the people in our group ride cannot pull for very long (but he tries), and several other riders refuse to ride with him because of that. I still ride with his as do a couple of others. Is it poor etiquette to refuse to ride with a rider like that?
Basically don't do it. You can't trust that their riding style is smooth enough to allow safe drafting and if they're rolling solo they won't be calling out hazards which can end really bad really quickly. Tacking onto the end of a random group is also poor form as they don't know you and won't be able to trust your riding style.
I do this all the time if I can get on the wheel of a quicker rider. I just make a point of saying, “thanks for the ride” when we go our separate ways or “that’s pushed my average speed up a bit”- which is a complement that usually goes down well. If I feel I can contribute, I’ll pull alongside and chat for a while and then do my turn on the front when possible.
I agree. One time I was doing 30sec sprints every 5mins on my ride I went pass a group of 3 riders when I was doing a sprint. When I sat up one of the riders I past almost ran into the back of me. He starts yelling at me. I turned and asked him. " Do I know you? Did I call you up and ask you to ride with me? No, so maybe don't go jump on someone's wheel without asking."
@@scottbaker5851 this. I've done impromptu chaingangs with random riders but it's always done with a bit of communication and we share the wind. I would have had a go at that guy too, don't jump on the wheel of someone who's obviously out for a solo ride.
@@morosis82 I don't mind if they ask if they can sit on my wheel if I am not doing any intervals. Awhile back someone ask me if they could suck my wheel has they were tired. I had no problem.
@@jamesbarber6375 Yep, Not to mention if you get yourself behind a slow going truck or a tractor. Not very safe for newbies but it's literally a free ride.
@@madyogi6164 Oh yeah. I once was behind a tractor for about 10-15 kilometers on the flat and rode 40 km/h while freewheeling most of the time. It was amazing.
What are your group ride pet peeves?
When the rider off the front rotates off the front of the group to the left :)
Riders that can’t hold their line when riding two wide is the biggest problem I find riding in groups.
easily, the rider who takes it WAY too seriously
My pet peeve is always being dropped or last in a no drop ride. Everyone is nice about it but it’s so frustrating that I’ve pretty much stopped riding with my local bike shop.
When a rider near the back, loudly shouts "Car Back", instead of using a normal voice.
Great thing to remember on a group ride is to maintain the steady pace of the group when it's your turn on the front. Resist the urge to suddenly go faster unexpectedly. Also. it's great to have a ride captain who dictates pace and effort level and sweeps the back for stragglers who are getting dropped.
Great tip! Do you ride in a group? 👀
@@gcn One thing that I learned lately is that i've been taking massive pulls on the front and splitting up the group. People started calling me Diesel. The advice that i was given was to keep the same cadence and gearing when I am on the front and to slowly increase if I want but not to drastically change gearing and cadence. This will prevent splitting up the group and also will help conserve my own energy as well. The things you learn along the way are so valuable and make people want to ride with you.
Thanks, good tip! I ride in a windy area and offered to pull the group a few times this year. With the wind, often times, I cannot hear the people behind yelling. So my stint at the front ends up helping nobody, as they just disappear behind me 😁
I started road cycling alone during the pandemic, so I am slowly adjusting to group riding.
Great points. To assist with that, 3 bits of kit are very helpful:
1. An effective (for you) mirror,
2. Something resembling a speedometer,
3. A brain upgrade that has "we're in this together" self-talk on incessant repeat. :)
(Club rider, heavy touring bike, generally happy with a 25kmh pace)
@@MrSdpeteyRecently, we had a new chap in our club group ride who unconsciously increased his speed once at the front. Twice, as I was ride leader, I left the peleton to reel him in. He thanked me for doing so (bought me a donut at the break) and let me know that he gets a bit anxious in traffic and speeds up to get to the next turn sooner.
It's worthwhile understanding, when possible, the reasons our peleton buddies do the things they do. A big benefit of having a core of regular cycling companions.
As an older rider (75+) I was not only at the back, but almost always dropped on any climb . I bought a very good e-bike. Now can not only keep up, but take my turn at least on the flats. It's so much more fun to be part of the group again. The group uses common hand signals, and when at the back, yell "Car back" when a car is coming up on the group.
I Don’t ride in groups, but enjoy your content greatly. Thank you
Neither do I - and I've no intention of starting!
Yeah, I ride alone, unless my son is around.
All really great tips, and all new riders (and even experienced riders) should adhere to these rules. A few not mentioned that I feel are important for new cyclists:
1. If it's your turn on the front, don't wait until you're gassed to get off the front. You probably won't be able to jump on the back and you'll get dropped. Take a shorter turn if you need to, and pull off before you reach your max.
2. If you're the second wheel, don't surge when the lead rider finishes their pull. Keep the pace nice and steady.
3. Practice holding your line. If you're in a group that's riding side by side (double pace line), there's nothing more aggravating to other riders than someone who swerves back and forth, or worse yet, drifts toward you going through a curve. Hold your line.
4. Learn to repair your own flats. If you're on a group ride and get a flat, nobody wants to be there for 20 minutes while someone tries to fix a puncture. Learn how to do it and practice it until you're fairly quick. Your friends will thank you.
Ollie screaming easssyyy at 9:02 is my new notification tone.
Hahaha nice one! 👀
😂😂😂 awesome!!
LOL, I ride with a group in France. When I moved here 12 years ago I was used to riding as 8n the video. I had to get used to everything being exactly opposite. Passing on the left not pulling out and letting riders move up, never stop for coffee despite having nice boulangeries, occasionally point out hazards but never ever shout out, It keeps me on my game.
I love this video. It is not only about cycling, its about working together, good social behaviour.
Super-helpful, easy-to-absorb content....props always to GCN!!👍I've ridden hard for 38 yrs, including metro Houston, NYC, D.C., L.A., and now Durango, CO (18 years), and had 2 cautionary thoughts, especially for novice riders emulating the awesome riders on GCN. 1) Clearly, the weather is warm in the vid. Warm = flying bugs (and birds!)...sometimes big, and sometimes very fast. And yet, in several shots, some of the cyclists aren't wearing shades!? The "when, not if," result: Peloton chaos and an emergency road-side stop, and God help you if it's a bee, or worse, a wasp. (I've even had them come AROUND my shades, while at speed!) A horsefly in the eye will get you a trip to the E.R. Definitely not good for group-ride dynamics. 2) NOBODY wearing gloves!?! Holy cow. Even the very best riders wreck (usually not their fault, either!) I don't care how tough you are (or think you are!), but after being banged up, and THEN digging road grit, grime, and scree out of the palms of your hands (and praying you brought wipes and water (LOL...not Accelerade!!)...to rinse off!), and THEN trying to ride home bleeding and bare-handed, and THEN having abraded palms for 2 weeks, is bad. A solid "0" on the Fun-O-Meter. Of course, been there, done all that...a looong time ago, but never again. ;-) P.S. Thanks again to GCN...keep up the great vids!👍
Agree with both points, always ride with eye protection, even if you buy cheap ones from the hardware store. Second, I took a spill on some inadequate gloves a while back and the abrasion went deep into my palm. The injury took over 6 months to heal and was very painful.
Single file pace lines- it’s nice for the last person to tell the cyclist who is falling back from taking the last pull “last”. This allows them to know they can slide back in to the slip-steam.
Pace - as a power meter user i'll keep an eye on output when on the front. Keeping the effort within a range to ensure that the group holds together. It's also a handy reference point for knowing when others are going to hurt on the surge for the cafe!
Do you know everyone else’s FTP or power to weight ratios?
that works, but even with no speedometer I can gauge the pace. we had nothing in the 1970s
Steady power, not steady speed. Know the group and have a plan. You don't need to know everyone's FTP. No power meter? Then just go by perceived effort and be aware of how the group is doing.
Super video Manon and Hank!! LOL about the wheel sucker! Love the hand signals with voice! Remember going uphill learning group riding techniques for our CANBIKE instructors course on an urban street near the Pratt's Pond mill stream in Cobourg Ontario. The lead rider yelled "FISH!" and pointed down to a very large dead salmon! A first for all of us! The instructor couldn't believe it.
Most people should sit further back than 20cm, just pedal harder and give yourself more room for error! Sitting close is necessary for maximal group speed but seen too many friends come off from being too close. And that really slows you down. Sometimes permanently.
Very true! Like Manon said ease yourself into it and don't commit to anything they you feel uncomfortable with 👀
Much more comprehensive hints than your last group riding video.
Getting out of the saddle: you can stand without your bike moving back. You have to think about it before doing it and make sure you are putting down a power stroke as you stand. Yes, it is still good to warn the person on your wheel. But, I also try to make sure I don't move back if I'm in a group.
This is why I often avoid group rides. While peloton riding is handy when riding with weaker riders or horrible headwind for long distance, I will put out the watts/kg riding solo, even at a slower pace but not having to worry about the lead rider not warning the back about roadkill or pothole. Even on group rides I often either stick with another solo rider and chat or hang in the back a paces away from the group.
Also, when riding behind someone and you can’t really see in front. Pay attention to the hips and feet of the rider in front of you. This allows you to know when they will be slowing, stopping, avoiding potholes, etc. Hand singles are way better then screaming in A or B group but, be sure to let everyone know before the ride starts.
That road is so perfect. You should try riding like that ( double or single row pace line) around where I live in Berkeley, Cal (northern California). The roads are hilly and pavement is shite. Potholes every 10 inches. Cracks running parallel to the road wider than a tire. and no shoulder. Plus insane traffic and road raging idiots. My favorite crashes were all in pace lines where the leader either stood up suddenly on a small hill, or the leader didnt signal a turn at an intersection. Both times, ride ending. With injuries. Be careful, and don't just go for speed when you aren't even in some stupid race. A paceline is a team, don't race each other.
The roads should be good there. Winters in Northern Illinois, freeze and thaw, freeze and thaw, freeze and thaw, all winter. That climate, is really tough on roads.
WOW! Short sleeves and shorts in winter in the UK!! Amazing!!
You don't have to let people know when you are getting out of the saddle. You just have to make that pedal stroke, when you stand, to be a hard one.
I was wondering about that. I am left legged, so when iIget up it is always timed at the start of the left downstroke. I would have to see a video of myself to believe I slow during the rise.
I don't ride with a group but next time I am on path an come across others, I will pace them for a bit then get up, to see if I slightly drop the pace. It could be I just don't notice with out a reference.
If a small climb is upon you most riders are expecting that you might get up, but if it’s random, a quick wave is a courtesy
Got caught in a peloton on a flat ride that I couldn't out-ride. The head wasn't looking and slammed into a runner. Ambulances were called! I ended up with stitches and a cracked molar. I avoid group riding now. Even if the front rider is competent, not being able to see in front of me makes me waaay too nervous to join.
Cyclists in a group that have the skills are a beautyful wiew..... Joy to see..🙂👍.. I have not ride in group yet but i would like when i get stronger... Have a safe ride boys and girls🙏🧙♂️
Excellent info, as always. I wonder... including all GCN Presenter/Staff from different countries, what is the biggest group ride you can put together? That would be quite the sight to see!!
Throughly enjoy this video & learnt a few new things. But spent most of my time admiring the bikes, especially the gorgeous Colnago😍
Some real nice bike candy here 🙌
Great video guys, love mallorca. Use to train there back in 90s. 😎👍
I think the etiquette when going to stand up is to flick both elbows to warn riders behind!
Different clubs might have different signals. Always worth checking in with the group you're riding with 🙌
Florian's smile at 2:10 is the same that people normally do when singing the happy bday to them !! Like, what am I supposed to do now ??
I'm reasonably sure that was because there was another GCN peloton being filmed going in the opposite direction.
Farting on the slowest longest climb is always funny...
I am 5’4” and don’t enjoy riding with people with legs a foot longer than mine. 😂 i make a point to ride the opposite direction of local groups so all I do is wave.
I honestly don't understand how a person's height effects riding in a group. Height doesn't seem to hinder Emma Pooley.
@@stevek8829
The only effect it has is, the rider behind doesn't get any draft. I have ridden with people 6'4 to 5'2 and it was never a problem.
Being tall isn't overall any advantage in cycling. We're less aero, our bike frames weigh slightly more, and theres no guarantee that we can produce more power. Among pro riders the tall riders tend to be extremely thin to make up for a heavier skeleton, unless you're a machine like Wout Van Aart.
You are missing a trick here; I’m a similar height and get all the benefits of drafting behind taller riders. Tough for them that they don’t get the same from me. It makes up for us not being able to reach the stuff on the high shelves in supermarkets😊
this video must have been filmed awhile ago, such lovely, sunny weather there
Great advice, thanks, I only ride in a group on my Breeze rides, they do an average speed of 7 mph so can't put much of this into practice :)
Using the seatpost of the rider in front is a good visual reference.
Also, make sure it’s clear left and right before you snot rocket.
Yes please do 👀
Or wait till you get to the back of the line.
how incredible you had to go to Spain to make a video cause the weather in the southwest of England is so rubbish...
3:50 That Transition tho
so pleasing
As Smooth as they come 🙌
Glad to see the Group Cycling video 😇 But, I'm a single cyclist in Switzerland 😅
Very helpful tips. Wish I was in Mallorca!
Great vid. Nice C-68!!! ❤
It has been about 30 years since riding at all. Started back and went on a huge group ride about 50 people and was a nervous wreck and got dropped lol.
I organize unruly, ruthless, nasty group rides of 10-20, and at the end (last 20km) it’s all out until the finish where we are usually only 5-6 left while others dropped or something. No quarter. I never have the map on my Garmin so I gotta stick with those who have it. It makes for a good motivation.
Sounds like my bike club here in SoCal. When it's time to roll, everybody becomes a cheetah!
This is the only type or group ride I’ll accept. Red zone or nothing love it!
Not a group riding topic... but a gripe of mine is if a rider starts spitting/snotting without checking if someone is behind them... (or on purpose if they think your drafting). Its vile in any case
Be clear with the group that the leader in single file or draft will watch carefully for debris and hazards, and will point them out. I'm still recovering almost 5 months after a crash where the leader did not point out a rock, 2nd guy hit it and went down, I hit his bike and went down hard (5 bone fractures include vertebrae and neck, plus a bunch of other stuff).
Don't just assume the lead rider is going to take looking out for the group seriously, talk about it beforehand.
While bikepacking for three months with two mates, tight group riding and the confidence in it naturally came by itself. Saving energy felt very nice when the wind resistance is high, the bikes are heavy and we're doing it all days long. Eventually we found ourselves going down a mountain in Austria at 60km/h terminal velocity among the cars for 20 minutes on a straight road. It was so much fun! While being in the slipstream I could feel my bike reaching higher speed than my mates in front of me so I naturally had to go out into the road to pass them. That's kind the opposite of what you're doing on the flat road in this video, but at the same time I don't see any other choice unless I want to hit the brakes by sitting up more straight to use my body to catch the wind. We all took turns passing each other like this when we had to because that was more fun. What are your thoughts on long downhill slipstream etiquette?
Just do it. It's what I used to do in downhill longboarding. Just give a little shout your passing. A quick "HEY".
Hahahah the guy taking a leak at 3:16 😅😂
I got a nice chuckle at the couple stopped at 3:14 so husband could take a leak. What is the cycling etiquette for that?
I totally missed that, too funny
9:00 I did not expect that :D
My first and only group ride and I took the lead position and stayed there until the end. At one point I got lost a little bit and the group followed me. It did not make me a fan of group rides. I want to do climbs my way and descends also.
It's all about team work in the group! 🙌 Did the group keep up?
I’m sure no one else on that ride was a fan of you… you did everything incorrectly
@@gcn Yeah, they were like 100-150 meters behind in the end.
@@skulluxe1 That is OK, I wasn't planning on giving signatures anyway.
Getting out of the saddle in a group should be done by CONTROLLING YOUR BIKE not by flapping your hands about.
One: this is intrinsically safer;
Two: If you are needing to get out of the saddle, taking a hand off the bars will likely make you slow more than just getting out of the saddle, particularly if going uphill;
Three: Mainly for racing, controlling your bike means that you stay the same distance from the rider in front of you and you are less likely to be elbowed out of your position.
Forgot about half-wheeling, my strongest pet peeve of riding with anyon!
Our group "steady through and off" usually ends up getting quicker and quicker.
I always check my speed when I'm second in line. So when I get to the front I continue at the same speed. Sometimes the rider who gets to the front is rested so they up the speed and the rider coming off the front gets dropped. I'm talking to you Tony Jones.
Nice
For beginners, give yourself a good year or more before you join a paceline or any drafting. You need to be steady and smooth, not unnecessarily freewheeling. I definitely believe even beginners can enjoy group rides; however, read the description closely. Generally, the slower groups will have a "no drop, no draft group."
Great tip! Some clubs will offer beginner sessions, this can be a great way to get into group riding 🙌
Also if you get a puncture or drop a chain, put up your hand and keep your line if possible. Rather than immediately swinging to the left or right side of the road. Not completely his fault as he was a bit compromised, but I got taken out by a guy who hit a pothole and lost his footing who then swung to the left with his brakes on leaving me nowhere to go at high speed. As he just assumed no one was behind him.
I eat plenty of beans before group rides. Then my mates BEG ME to sit at the back. 😬
Genius 🤯
Not mates for long I assume 😂
@@da14a49 🤣🤣🤣
Group riding etiquette: don’t answer your phone, Manon! ❤
So many “rules” I’ll stick to riding alone!
my first group ride was me lying about my cycling experience and riding with ex elite-pro cyclists and having no idea how to switch positions 🤣
Honestly I wouldn't rteally advertise answering phonecalls when cycling.
I just mute my phone and send a grp text to my family & friends grp I'm on a ride and can't pick up for a while and for the other callers there is voicemail :D
Very informative 👍
Hope it helped 🙌
My wife always yells at me for getting out of the saddle without telling her on a climb, but she hit the brakes so hard in front of me once that I ended up hitting her from behind and knocking her into the grass and knocking myself out when I fell head-first onto the road (so I'm told - still no memory of the actual event, didn't come to until I was in the ambulance. Thank goodness for helmets!)
So I guess we're even? :)
Remember the other riders who are not in the group. Don't block the whole road (trail), go single file around corners
Is it worth riding in group formation when there's a fairly large gap between the abilities of the riders? Also, is it worth doing these group ride practices with groups smaller than 4 riders?
I have ridden behind a person who was excessively sweating. I thought it was raining on a cloudless day. Eeewww.
Guilty, as charged. What can you do? You can get up front, or back & out of the slipstream, I suppose.
Hey Global Cycling network! I have a question. I'm a type one Diabetic and I struggle with rides sometimes because the second I start to pedal harder than say a 13KM/h avg my BS tanks. I'm talking starting the ride high at a 12-14 and going below 4 in maybe half an hour. Are any of your team Diabetic? How do other Diabetics handle long rides (50K plus). Do they just eat constantly?
That would actually be a great video by GCN. How to ride if you suffer from diabetes. A far better and useful vontent than choosing a gravel bike
Hey there Steven, I'm also a type 1 diabetic and your experience echoes mine. Any ride I am over zone 2 for will get the blood sugar dropping and club rides are really difficult to manage (especially when they smash the pace). My tip is to make use of those carb heavy gels and take one before going out if I know the intensity is going to pick up. Then I have one every 30 minutes at least and supplement with an energy drink of some kind (I use a powder as it's cheaper). It's tough but that's works for me up to my longest ride (~60k with 1.5km climbing) though I'm still pretty new to cycling
@@da14a49 I think what I need to do is up the alarm for a low to say 7 so that I have time to get some sugar in me before I'm low. That's my new thinking. I'll have to wait to try. Winter arrived a few days ago so the bike is parked for a bit
i need to learn this tips :)
2:11 GCN filming on both sides of the road.
Florient Chabbal seem to enjoy the ride and the English commentator 😅
Always signal when I'm in a group. Crap on the road, railroad tracks ect.
I have a screen on my nav specifically designed to being on the front. It has the map, next nav cue, and speed.
My normal nav screen has different pieces of info like power/cadence, wind, heading etc. but on the front I need to know where we're going and I want to hold a consistent speed.
There were multiple "last things you want to do" in this video. Surely there can only be one? The last thing you want to do is confuse people.
I feel that it is rude to shout loudly. If you see a pothole 20 feet ahead of you, point and speak in a normal voice. Riders two or three behind you will pass the word back through the group. (if they don't, they will gain a bad reputation).....In a race, it's a different story. Some riders (I'll never tell), will ride close to a pothole, to see if others in back of you, will ride into it. (No quarter asked, no quarter given)
Best strategy: find a rider who is way bigger and much stronger than you. Then go for an easy spin ;-)
Sit back and relax!
Yeah I've had people like that sit on my wheel, if they don't get on the front and share I'll go for a short sprint and drop them.
It's not always easy sitting on behind a rider that's a lot stronger.
How about learning to stand without doing the drop kick. Drop down one cog, and stand like you are climbing up a staircase.
I guess we’re the only ones confused on why this isn’t a simple thing. You can totally practice a smooth transition in and out of the saddle.
@jammankutch9385
I do know a few cat 1s that drop kick. One kicks back a half bike when she stands. So I make sure never be behind her on a climb.
No half wheeling, ride level with the rider next to you. I'm surprised no one in the video has gloves on! I even go running with gloves on now after I tripped and p
ut my hands down to break my fall. 😵
Honest question: Leading group of say 4 people in a line formation. Large organized ride like say steamboat gravel or seattle to portland. Catch slower group and start passing on left. Do later riders in faster line yield to slower line if pinched, or does slow line yield to faster paceline if pinched. Honest question. Me as lead, once I pass first rider in other group, I'm committed and cannot see what's happening behind, what should expectation be? It all looks good on paper, but our "Team" has been griped at a couple times for "not leaving enough space" but I honestly didn't think I was breaking etiquette by passing in what at the time was open. Care to educate me? Please be kind, honest question.
The only issue with your video is the yelling about hazards. Most times just indicating a hazard by pointing is sufficient . Save the loud comments for really dangerous situations. There's nothing worse than a group ride where riders are constantly screaming "HOLE", CAR UP or BACK"
I rode all winter & early spring, with a club that hollers.
1st ride with my Wednesday crew, I hit a big, unexpected rock. I never saw it. I woke up sitting next to my bike with concussion, broken scapula & elbow.
I take full responsibility- forgot how quiet they were. 🤷🏻♀️ I'm also a MTB & have skills- just an accident.
I prefer both call and point. If someone just yells hole, I wonder where the hell it is. If someone just points, I might not br looking.
There are acceptable yells and truly annoying ones.
Don't be an A.Y. (annoying yeller)
Wasnt this video done a few years ago?
I'm usually stuck up front, breaking wind. But also the weakest rider with severe asthma.... go figure... I need new friends
Riding in a group is one of the worst things about riding on the road. There's always that 1 rider that takes it way too seriously. Maybe I am just grumpy, but much prefer gravel and MTB where its less structures.
If you find your people, it's a great feeling! 🙌 Do you ride with a group on the gravel and MTB rides?
Was that hand or Hank signals?
Is there a word for the opposite of wheel sucker? Pulling at the front all the time and riding yourself into the ground too early? That‘s me.
You can get ‘round all these unwritten rules by cycling on your own - it also means cafes don’t have a fit when you turn up unexpectedly and you don’t have to put up with other cyclists.
A win, win!
I will have to disagree with shouting as loud as you can. this is just going to give everyone an unnecessary panic shouting as loud as you can should only be used when there is real danger.
As long as the instructions are clear that's the main issues 🙌
I have to disagree with the disagreement. As somebody that limited hearing, the louder the better is perfect for me.
Tone provides the urgency, not volume!
@@chalkus much like dog training :) sorry, I'm a dog trainer :) :)
Agreed! No shouting. Our group uses set words or phrases like "Car back!" etc which accompanied with hand signals is sufficient.
No comments about considering other road users. A group of riders take up space and can be a dilemma when come across when driving. I ride to work each day on a busy road with a lot of cars and trucks of varying sizes. Not all give the legal distance. I have a rear view mirror. I want to know what is coming up. I don't want to contribute to the anger and frustration people can have about sharing the road with cyclists.
Question - one of the people in our group ride cannot pull for very long (but he tries), and several other riders refuse to ride with him because of that. I still ride with his as do a couple of others. Is it poor etiquette to refuse to ride with a rider like that?
What exactly ORBEA Bike does Hank ride? Which model? Please :)
I believe it's the Orca OMX lovely bike
I always wonder what the etiquette is for (possibly) drafting a random rider you encounter on the road? (asking for a friend...)
It's bad form, unless you ask permission first.
Basically don't do it. You can't trust that their riding style is smooth enough to allow safe drafting and if they're rolling solo they won't be calling out hazards which can end really bad really quickly.
Tacking onto the end of a random group is also poor form as they don't know you and won't be able to trust your riding style.
I do this all the time if I can get on the wheel of a quicker rider. I just make a point of saying, “thanks for the ride” when we go our separate ways or “that’s pushed my average speed up a bit”- which is a complement that usually goes down well. If I feel I can contribute, I’ll pull alongside and chat for a while and then do my turn on the front when possible.
Wheel suckers are a pet hate of mine, especially when I'm out riding by myself (not the subject of this video I know, but it shits me).
It only bothers me when they get up front on the home stretch.
I agree. One time I was doing 30sec sprints every 5mins on my ride
I went pass a group of 3 riders when I was doing a sprint. When I sat up one of the riders I past almost ran into the back of me. He starts yelling at me. I turned and asked him. " Do I know you? Did I call you up and ask you to ride with me? No, so maybe don't go jump on someone's wheel without asking."
@@scottbaker5851 this. I've done impromptu chaingangs with random riders but it's always done with a bit of communication and we share the wind. I would have had a go at that guy too, don't jump on the wheel of someone who's obviously out for a solo ride.
@@morosis82
I don't mind if they ask if they can sit on my wheel if I am not doing any intervals. Awhile back someone ask me if they could suck my wheel has they were tired. I had no problem.
Phone call on bike? In Spain it will cost you 200€ and 6 driver license points. Half of all your points.
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
What's the etiquette for needing a right good fart?
Why dont you ride single file all the time ? Instead of taking up the whole lane and slowing cars ?
Thirty percent! How much? Thirty percent! Thirty!
Hole!!! lol
Good etiquette would be to leave devises at home.
Are cycling computers a devise? How about having a phone for use in case of an emergency?
I think it’s very important to keep your phone with you. Plus I use my phone for Strava
Leave it all at home, and the raw enjoyment of being with a group on bikes will be a revelation
@@Jack42Frost it’s more of a safety thing to me. God forbid something happens and no one is around you can call for help
@@Jack42Frost I agree, devises and the fact that people only look at and talk about their watts is just incredibly dull.
1:50 you save 30% less energy than the guys in the front😅
By being between 20 and 20cm from the bike in front?
@@jamesbarber6375 Yep, Not to mention if you get yourself behind a slow going truck or a tractor. Not very safe for newbies but it's literally a free ride.
@@madyogi6164 Oh yeah. I once was behind a tractor for about 10-15 kilometers on the flat and rode 40 km/h while freewheeling most of the time. It was amazing.
A group ride video that did not mention half- wheeling!? Who are you guys and what have you done with GCN?
I don’t like riders who power up on every hill. They are usually the non-climbers.
The train 🚴♀️🚴🚴🚴💨💨💨💨