Road Cycling - when riding with a partner...

When riding with a partner in your city/town, do you ride side by side, or single file?

I usually ride solo, but occasionally will hook up with another rider for a bit. These guys (funny, don't run into many women cyclists in my town...) want to chat, which is fine with me, but we end up riding side by side with angry drivers honking at us.

Today, while (shall I admit it?) driving to work this morning, I had to pass a pair of cyclists on a narrow 2-lane roadway. I had patience to wait until it was safe, but admit to being a little annoyed because if they were riding single file, I could have safely passed much earlier.

What are your thoughts?

I usually ride in a staggered line, just slightly to the side and behind the other rider when I get fortunate enough to ride with someone. However, if someone's coming from the other direction, or if someone's trying to pass, I quickly slow down and ride single file behind my partner so people can easily pass.

Helmet mirror! :) You can see if it's clear or not, and adjust your positioning accordingly. Kudos for thinking about this issue and how to be accomodating to others :)

Originally posted by Koffee Brown
I usually ride in a staggered line, just slightly to the side and behind the other rider when I get fortunate enough to ride with someone.

Yes, if I'm riding with someone, I tend to ride wingman-style too... to the left and slightly behind by half a bike's length. This way, I can more easily drop back into single-file. If it's someone I know really well, we'll usually switch positions every few miles.

Usually I ride single file with my friend becuase I can't talk and I'm out of breath(he's too fast). When we do talk though we ride side by side and if a car tries to pass I slow down and get behind, like Koffee

Donna and I normally ride side by side until one of us knows a car is coming up then we'll switch to single file.

Zack

Originally posted by CycleMagic
Today, while (shall I admit it?) driving to work this morning, I had to pass a pair of cyclists on a narrow 2-lane roadway. I had patience to wait until it was safe, but admit to being a little annoyed because if they were riding single file, I could have safely passed much earlier.


I had that problem while driving before.

On this certain stretch of highway (10 miles or so)... very foresty (can't see around corners... its dark. Actually I love driving through it.)... very very hilly, smooth, twisty, with a narrow road, and fast...
I wouldn't feel comfortable riding my bike on it. Too dangerous.
ANYWAY, I came across a couple riders riding side by side. That annoyed me a bit, since the road is so narrow, and apposing traffic could come flying around a corner as im trying to pass.

When I hit the backroads, I usually ride side by side and I just listen for cars coming. I'll usually make somewhat of an effort to make a little more room for the car as a good gesture. I usually slow up a bit and bring my front wheel closer to the rear wheel of the other bike.

However, on one of my group rides, this guy constantly hogs up the lane and has no regard for cars. We sometimes say things to him and he'll respond, but he'll hop right back into the middle of the lane and pisses off drivers. I find this quite annoying.

I'm one of the lucky cyclist who gets to have a buddy to ride with pratically every ride. We try to ride on roads that have a wide enough shoulder to let us ride side by side. If not; single file and even then we alert each other of cars coming behind us.

Best part about riding with someone is the draft!
:D

I draft em. :D I know it's rude, but my friend's a friggin road racer so what the heck. If I can keep up with him, I'll ride side by side with him.

I'm with Chi -
My buddy simply goes... then looks back and slows down. So the conversations are limited to those times when he slows too much and I over take him and when I stop to catch my breath. It really also depends on the road we're on - Hills - no conversation... (just can't do it) Flats - less to talk about, but more oppotunity.

Originally posted by CycleMagic

Today, while (shall I admit it?) driving to work this morning, I had to pass a pair of cyclists on a narrow 2-lane roadway. I had patience to wait until it was safe, but admit to being a little annoyed because if they were riding single file, I could have safely passed much earlier.

What are your thoughts?

Here in CO, it's illegal to do that. Cyclists must ride single file if a car is 300 meters away or closer.

http://www.swcp.com/~nmts/laws/coloradoBikelaw.html

For socializing, double file 'til a car comes from the rear. Then who ever spots it first sez 'car back.' Then we single up 'til it/they passes.

In fact, even when riding single file, usually when someone notices a car approaching from the rear, they say 'back' or 'car back', just so people are aware, and don't pull off the front, etc.

these sound like all very reasonable replies. thank you for your input! nice to hear that there are other conscientious riders out there!