Group rides are social, fun and allow you to ride father and faster than when going solo. You'll also learn valuable bike handling skills that will translate well to race scenarios.
Choose Your Bike
Don't show up with a tri bike for a group ride. To be safe, you'll need your hands by your brakes, so you'll never be in your aero bars. And if anything unexpected happens in your group, the risk of serious injury is greatly increased when a tri bike is involved.
Call Out Road Hazards
Don't just yell "hole." Also point to the left or right to indicate where the hazard is, not the direction to go to avoid it.
Hand Signals
Learn proper cycling hand signals for group rides. You'll need to point out road hazards, indicate direction changes and when the group is slowing or stopping.
Stay Off the Brakes
Learn to use wind resistance to slow your speed instead of using your brakes for minor adjustments. Sit up tall or slide half a bike width to the outside of the paceline to slow yourself. If you have to use your brakes to moderate speed, use the rear one. This will help let cyclists behind you know you're slowing.
Mind the Gap
To take advantage of drafting, you'll want to have between 18 and 24 inches between your front wheel and the wheel ahead of you. If you're uncomfortable with this, it's OK to stay at the back of the group until you've had a chance to practice this bike skill. Let others know you'll be doing this, so they won't expect you to fall into the paceline formation.
Bar to Bar
You'll want to be shoulder-to-shoulder with the rider next to you—and never split the lane—if you're in a double paceline. It's OK to be close enough to pat the rider next to you on their back, just don't go reaching into their jersey pocket for a mid-ride snack.
Rotating Paceline
A single, rotating paceline means you'll be moving in a counter-clockwise fashion, moving up on the right and dropping back on the left. When it's your turn to ride in the wind, take care not to accelerate off the front. Take a short pull, and share the work with the group.
Double Paceline
If your group is riding a double paceline, you'll be moving up the center and pulling off to the outside. If you're on the right side, move up the center and pull off to your right. If you're on the left side, you'll move up the center and pull off to the left.
Moderating Your Climb
When climbing on your bike, don't overdo it. If you're at the front, don't gap your group; if you're in the middle of the group, mind the riders behind you; if you're falling back on the climb, move toward the shoulder; and if you're at the back of the group, keep your eyes up the road, not on your front wheel, to maintain situational awareness.
Descend Like a Pro
It's OK to have extra spacing between you and the other riders while descending. This will allow for greater reaction time to avoid road hazards and allow for smooth braking.
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