Guidelines for Riding in a Group

[Aranda]

I am fairly new to cycling and would like to know how/where do I learn how to ride in a group: Doing things the way other riders expect you to do it.

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These guidelines would include issues such as which side to pass, how close can you follow another rider, moving out of the way of faster riders, etc.

 

Any advice for newcomers?

[Speed Devil]

The best way is to join a club and go out with them on weekend training rides. If you go out training during the week see if you can join a group along the way.

You will quickly learn the ropes of bunch riding. But be warned, there are some cyclists who have their own ideas of bunch riding.

 

Where are you in GP?

Speed Devil2009-08-15 13:31:32

[Aranda]

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I am from the Centurion area, therefore I plan to join the SuperCycling Club training rides later this month.

 

With all the technical stuff I have seen on the TV during the Tour de France, other posts on this forum about Negative Riding and also the many accidents during training rides, is it not a good idea to generate such a document at the higher levels of cycling in SA?

 

I am sure we can prevent lots of problems and issues and hopefully accidents if all cyclists have a single set of Guidelines for Riding in Groups and maybe even Guidelines for Training Rides on public roads.

[Nish4]

 

..Nish42009-10-07 00:28:47

[Spinnekop]

Hi Aranda.

 

Welcome to the Hub.  Welcome to cycling.

 

I think your best chances are to get the experience in.  Ride in groups.

Most crashes are caused by people overreacting.  Pull too hard on the brakes.  Over steer.  etc.

Once you start to relax, you'll start enjoying it.

 

Good luck and ask a lot of questions! 

[Guest Big H]

You may also be required to ride through red robots while cycling in a group. Your own decision whether to stop or not  ...... even it it may mean you loose contact of the group!!!!!!!!!

[Alida]

You may also be required to ride through red robots while cycling in a group. Your own decision whether to stop or not  ...... even it it may mean you loose contact of the group!!!!!!!!!

Now why do that? How about posting some positive advice instead of trying to start a fight?

 

Best is to join a club and ride in their beginners group of they have one. If they don't then just take it easy and relax - Spinnekop is right about the over-reacting. Be open to more experienced riders giving you pointers - most of the time they're just trying to help.

[Guest Big H]

You may also be required to ride through red robots while cycling in a group. Your own decision whether to stop or not  ...... even it it may mean you loose contact of the group!!!!!!!!!

Now why do that? How about posting some positive advice instead of trying to start a fight?

 

Best is to join a club and ride in their beginners group of they have one. If they don't then just take it easy and relax - Spinnekop is right about the over-reacting. Be open to more experienced riders giving you pointers - most of the time they're just trying to help.

 

Not trying to start a fight..... in a (your) imaginary world all is luvvie douvy and cuddles, roses and kisses........ in the real world groups ride over red robots!!!!!!!!!! ..... and it is not negative advice it is to show the rookie what to expect out there. It is dangerous on the road..... cyclists get killed.

[Alida]

You may also be required to ride through red robots while cycling in a group. Your own decision whether to stop or not  ...... even it it may mean you loose contact of the group!!!!!!!!!

Now why do that? How about posting some positive advice instead of trying to start a fight?

 

Best is to join a club and ride in their beginners group of they have one. If they don't then just take it easy and relax - Spinnekop is right about the over-reacting. Be open to more experienced riders giving you pointers - most of the time they're just trying to help.

 

Not trying to start a fight..... in a (your) imaginary world all is luvvie douvy and cuddles' date=' roses and kisses........ in the real world groups ride over red robots!!!!!!!!!! ..... and it is not negative advice it is to show the rookie what to expect out there. It is dangerous on the road..... cyclists get killed.[/quote']

 

Kittens, puppies and marshmallows actually.

 

Sorry for hijacking your post Aranda.

[Bateleur1]

You may also be required to ride through red robots while cycling in a group. Your own decision whether to stop or not  ...... even it it may mean you loose contact of the group!!!!!!!!!

Now why do that? How about posting some positive advice instead of trying to start a fight?

 

Best is to join a club and ride in their beginners group of they have one. If they don't then just take it easy and relax - Spinnekop is right about the over-reacting. Be open to more experienced riders giving you pointers - most of the time they're just trying to help.

 

Not trying to start a fight..... in a (your) imaginary world all is luvvie douvy and cuddles' date=' roses and kisses........ in the real world groups ride over red robots!!!!!!!!!! ..... and it is not negative advice it is to show the rookie what to expect out there. It is dangerous on the road..... cyclists get killed.[/quote']

 

In all fairness Alida, Big H does have a point here.  But a well organised group does have one or two senior/stronger rides who will always make sure that nobody is left behind and if the traffic light splits the group, the will regroup down the road.

 

The group I train with (Bester cycle group) never leaves someone behind.  You are more than welcome to join us, depending which side of Centurion you live.  We start from the Waterkloof Ridge shopping centre, which is a stone throw away from Centurion.

[Canaris]

Buy a MTB bike and ride off road, then you can side step all these issues and avoid old ladies in cars as well.

[zeepee]

1) dont look behind you

2) dont drop your water bottle

 

3) dont overlap your wheel with the person infront of you

[Gasping]

Alida, that was a fair question. I ride alone, so come the 94.7 it could get messy. Looking forward the the ride at SBR so maybe I can learn something.

 

Colonel, enough with the reality of the situation. Don't get married because in reality the chances of your spouse cheating is ....... Don't eat butter because ..... Don't eat margarine because......

 

Be nice to new people?

 

The reality is this: Alida, you have offers to ride with some experienced cyclist. Take them up on the offer.

[Alida]

Alida' date=' that was a fair question. I ride alone, so come the 94.7 it could get messy. Looking forward the the ride at SBR so maybe I can learn something.

 

Colonel, enough with the reality of the situation. Don't get married because in reality the chances of your spouse cheating is ....... Don't eat butter because ..... Don't eat margarine because......

 

Be nice to new people?

 

The reality is this: Alida, you have offers to ride with some experienced cyclist. Take them up on the offer.

[/quote']

 

You mean Aranda perhaps?

[scotty]

Buy a MTB bike and ride off road' date=' then you can side step all these issues and avoid old ladies in cars as well.[/quote']

Not completely off road also comes with a whole bunch of rules, e.g riders riding single track in wrong direction, faster riders screaming at slower riders, rider. One must also be careful of leaping quad bikes.

[amateur]

I understand why Aranda is asking the question, yes the best way to learn is to go ride with a group, but this group might not know that you are new and there to learn so you end up being shouted at and that makes it an unpleasant experience and you tend not to go back.

 

Aranda if you can find a group to ride with, let the guys know at the start that you are new and there to learn, otherwise find someone experienced to go with you and point out the do's and don't's whilst in the bunch.

 

otherwise some basic points are:

- hold your line, the rider behind you can see in front of them so he can make his way past you.

 - if you want to go past someone don't just look behind you as if you are new your bike will probably follow, stick your hand out to indicate you want to come out and pass (don't slap someone of their bike though). most of the times someone will see this and they will tell you it's fine to come out in front of them, then look first and then go. When you are more comfortable you can start being a bit more risky

 - also warn the rider in front of you that you are going to pass, that you are passing left or right, if you just say passing, people want to get out of your way and might turn in front of you

- if you are going to drink you tend to slow down or stop pedling (well most beginners do), take your bottle out first, hold it slightly out so others can see you are going to drink and then proceed.

 

Come on guys little helpfull hints like this is all she needs to make this a pleasant experience.