Riding in a group can be a challenge for those without experience, especially for cyclists used to training alone or for those making the leap from mountain bikes to road bikes. The feeling of riding in a peloton, whether on a ride with friends or in a cycling event, can cause uncertainty.
However, learning to move within the group is key to improving safety and efficiency on every ride. If you are new to this dynamic, a good strategy is to position yourself at the back of the group, observe, and understand how the other cyclists communicate and synchronize on the road.
Mastering this technique not only improves safety, but also allows you to optimize your effort. Taking advantage of the group's slipstream reduces wind resistance and helps conserve energy, something especially useful on long routes with road bikes, where the drafting effect starts to be felt from 15-18 km/h.
Image: Thomas Maheux / A.S.O.[/caption]
On top of all this, of course, you have to add the fun of sharing a good time on the bike in good company. Riding in a group is a skill any cyclist can acquire. Here are 12 tips to make everything much easier.
1.- Learn to be the leader
Leading a group does not mean imposing your pace on your companions. Neither too fast nor too slow. A tricky, even conflictive issue is determining the optimal speed when you are in the front position. How do you know without references to set your pace? The answer is not simple. There are cyclists who take advantage of the circumstances, setting a suffocating pace for many. Mistake. Nor is it advisable to go to the other extreme. Keep in mind that your companions make less effort than you to ride at the same speed. When leading a group, it is reasonable for your heart rate to go up. Otherwise, you will force your group to go at too light a pace or with constant braking. Riding in the slipstream saves at least 20% of power. Therefore, when riding in front, you should increase your effort by the same amount. The math doesn’t lie. On a descent, on a moderate slope, don’t let yourself coast. It is tempting, but your companions will be braking; in fact, inertia itself may cause them to overtake you, with the consequent risk and breaking up the formation.
2.- Be a good leader
Related to the previous point, remember that being first in a group means looking out for the safety of your companions. In this sense, try to scan the terrain and to warn of possible dangers. Act in the same way you would like others to act with you. Don’t go crazy or drive the group crazy either. Yelling and flailing like a madman because a manhole cover is coming up doesn’t seem reasonable. Especially when your companions can misinterpret you, panic, and cause a perfectly avoidable fall.
3.- Keep your head up
Not just for dignity, but—above all—for safety. Lowering your head while riding in a group is a recipe for disaster. Use the corner of your eye to monitor the movements of your companions to the left and right. Look up. If you’re riding in a large group, look up to 10 riders ahead of you. It’s the only way to have a minimum margin of reaction in case a fall happens right in front of you.
If you pedal with your eyes fixed on the wheel in front of you, it will be impossible to anticipate a potential accident.
The closer you get to the cyclist in front of you, the more you benefit from their slipstream. But don’t get obsessed with their rear wheel. Anticipate what’s coming ahead. Drafting shouldn’t mean squeezing the space to the maximum. This way, we avoid the risk of overlapping wheels and falling. Position yourself to the side of the rider in front of you, but not directly behind (in line). If they brake, you can move to the side and escape.
4.- Analyze your escape route
This is something that comes from a combination of experience and a certain intuition. A sudden gust of wind, a narrowing of the road, a corner that tightens more than expected... Make sure there’s air; that is, enough space between your bike and your groupmates’ bikes. Even with all precautions, a fall can surprise you at any moment; but if you stay alert, you’ll have more chances to avoid it. When riding in a large group, it’s always safer to take corners on the inside. Especially if the corners are tight. If a cyclist hits a curb or an edge with their pedal, the tendency is to slide outward, spitting out riders like bowling pins. If you stay on the inside, let’s say you have more control over your destiny.
5.- Forget about the brakes (to a certain extent)
If you use the brakes in a group, you’ll cause sudden decelerations. Therefore, the cyclist behind you will have more chances to run into your rear wheel, overlap wheels, and cause chaos. If, on top of that, we lock the wheel, loss of control of the bike is almost guaranteed. Move between the air currents. If you see you’re getting too close to the cyclist ahead, move out of the line so the wind slows you down gradually. When your speed matches your companions’, return to the group’s slipstream.
6.- Learn who is safe and who is not
Even in the professional field, there are cyclists who are known for being safe. Let’s say they are reliable wheels to follow. Others are more prone to accidents. The same thing happens in a group of amateurs. Watch how your companions ride and the decisions they make at every moment. You will quickly recognize the cyclists who pose a danger. In a cycling event, avoid those people. In your group, try to help them develop their skills for riding in a peloton. Don’t avoid them or suggest they give up their efforts. On the contrary, riding in a group is a skill that can be learned and, as a community, it’s our responsibility to teach good habits to newcomers.
7.- Take turns, don’t attack
When you take over from the cyclist leading the group, don’t make a sudden surge. Just increase the speed a little and pass naturally. If you’re the one at the front, let yourself fall back so that the person overtaking you doesn’t have to make an extra effort. Unfortunately, it’s common to see a fresh cyclist take the lead and overdo the power. The result: a cyclist breaks away at the front and the group’s harmony is destroyed.
8.- Keep your hands on the handlebars
If you need to stretch, take off clothing, or mess with your jersey pockets, move to the back of the group first. Whenever you’re riding with others, keep your hands on the handlebars. You could put yourself and your companions at risk. Common sense.
9.- Learn how to blow your nose
The reality is harsh and there are times when you have an urgent need to spit or clear mucus. Do it when you’re at the back of the group. If you have to execute next to other cyclists, aim toward the road, not to the side. Lower your head a bit and expel what you need to under your arm, as if you were aiming at the end of the handlebar, more or less.
10.- Shift when standing up
When you stand up to pedal, the weight balance on the bike changes and your cadence tends to slow down. This can cause a sudden deceleration. It’s as if your rear wheel moves back toward the front wheel of the cyclist behind you. Not only could you give them a scare, but you could also cause a collision. To avoid this, shift down one or two gears as you get out of the saddle. This way, you’ll use a lower cadence and maintain a steady speed. You’ll be more predictable.
11.- Don’t overlap wheels
In Spain, cyclists are allowed to ride side by side. In fact, this is usually the standard formation in all types of groups. The correct way to do this is handlebar to handlebar. Avoid riding half a wheel ahead of the cyclist next to you. This can irritate your companions; especially if you accelerate to maintain that slight advantage. That attitude ends up unnecessarily increasing the pace, breaking the harmony of the formation.
If you’re riding side by side, don’t get ahead of your companion, as you’ll end up unnecessarily increasing the group’s pace.
If you feel like the strongest, stay at the front longer, but at the group's pace. Don't force your teammates to pedal beyond their abilities. It's very annoying. This way, you'll get the training you're looking for and your friends will ride more comfortably in your slipstream for longer. Uphill (not talking about mountain passes), try to set a pace that's comfortable for about half the group. It might be quite easy for you, but demanding for some teammates. This is a good strategy to keep the group compact on most climbs.
12.- Avoid putting the group in danger
Joining a group ride is like joining the musketeers: all for one and one for all. For safety and efficiency, the whole group must move as one mind. This is something you must keep in mind, especially if you're leading. Can the whole group make it through the green light? Is there enough space in traffic for everyone to turn left? Although everyone must be responsible for themselves, avoid putting the cyclists behind you at risk. At some point, a car will pass too close or an angry driver will yell at you from their car. Dwelling too much on these situations is risky. You could endanger more people and involve them in a situation they might not want to deal with. Stay calm. What do you think? Can you think of more recommendations? In the long run, most of these habits become simple automatic behaviors. The more time you ride with the same group of people, the better you'll be able to anticipate their behavior. You'll enjoy it more and feel safer.
Tuvalum Team
