Road Cycling - Well, what would you expect me to do?

If riding in the middle of a paceline and a bug in the eye or other happenstance necessitates that you drop off, how should you handle it? Initially holding your line seems not only logical but crucial, now you need to get out of the way so as not to cause trouble in the rest of the pack.

What would the experienced rider(s) behind you expect of you?

Scream AAAAAAAAGH there's a bug in my eye!! There's a bug in my eye!! Well that's what I'd do anyway, but I don't know anything and I'm only posting this because I'm bored. :D OOhhoohh! And it brought to be an even 400 posts :D

Thanks Nats, that's the best advice I have so far so I'm going with it. I just hope I never have to drop off to relieve myself :o

Shoot, nothing to the post count, I've gone from -3 posts to over 500 just this morning.

Originally posted by threadend
If riding in the middle of a paceline and a bug in the eye or other happenstance necessitates that you drop off, how should you handle it?

We talking a training ride here? Easiest way would be to slowly decrease your speed while slowly moving to one side (probably going to be the traffic side in a single paceline).

The following riders will figure you've got a flat or something and let you slip to the back.

first get some glasses so that doesnt happen then when it does DONT FREAK OUT just move out of line like you would if you were moving off the front from a pull. Also just talk to the people around you that's really just about all it takes.

I like Nat's method.
You do that, they'll get out of your way alright...

Maintain your pace and raise your arm. Raising your arm straight up signals to the riders behind you that you're pulling out. Gradually get out of the paceline while still maintaining pace. It is important that the paceline behind you does not slow down. You don't want to tick anyone off.... and wear glasses!

Originally posted by George
Maintain your pace and raise your arm. Raising your arm straight up signals to the riders behind you that you're pulling out. Gradually get out of the paceline while still maintaining pace. It is important that the paceline behind you does not slow down. You don't want to tick anyone off.... and wear glasses!

Do all that, but keep screaming "arrgh there's a bug in my eye!" the whole time.

RichC

:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:

you guys are fuuuuuuuuunny :p "I gotta weeeeeeee! I gotta weeeeeeee!"

What are you doing riding in a group without protective eyewear?

Now when a bee gets sucked into your helmet...

Originally posted by BikeInMN
What are you doing riding in a group without protective eyewear?

Now when a bee gets sucked into your helmet...

Arrgh! There's a bee in my bonnet, a bee in my bonnet!

Originally posted by BikeInMN
What are you doing riding in a group without protective eyewear?

Now when a bee gets sucked into your helmet...

I've had that happen to me. The lovely laminar flow characteristics of my helmet eventually deposited it on the back of my neck where it got confused and stung me. The guy behind me saw it all happen and yelled something like, "Hey! I think there's a bee on your neck... don't make any sudden moves!" So everyone knew what happened. I simply replied with, "Ouch! Too late!"

It wasn't too bad honestly and wasn't enough to force me to pull over and stop. My neck did tingle for a while. Now, my previous bee sting occurred when one entered my mouth. That one did necessitate a stop.

I've had an errant bee make a crash landing on my sunglasses and slide from there to just beneath the glass, so that he was sitting on my sinus, where he promptly stung me. Needless to say, my entire eye swelled shut. Also, later that day I went head over the handlebars at around 30MPH downhill and broke my wrist and earned some scars I still have 5 years later. Fun times! Good thing I wasn't in a paceline for that!

Take the bug out with your hand, pop it into your mouth.

Instant protien, fresh!

oooh boy..had this thread running through my head yesterday!! It was like swimming through water..only bugs. Ick! There were only two of us, and when one of those bass turds got in my eye, guess what I did...."AAAAAAAAAAAGH! Bug in my eeeeeye!!" And my friend had to dig it out while I stood there making gross-out noises. weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee