Road Cycling - Paceline Question - Left or Right?

Is there a "best practice" with respect to pacelining and the peeling off of the front rider? Peel left or peel right?

I've been working with a new group of riders the last couple of weeks. We formed up a paceline this morning for the first time. I've always been in groups that the leader peeled off to the left. Several of the riders were surprised when I used a hand signal to peel off to the left. Caused some momentary confusion . . . thank goodness for the clear hand signal.)

What are your thoughts? What are the safety issues? What are the hazard issues going either way? Is there a "right" way?

Let me know your thoughts!

THANKS!

The Cyclingmaniac

Left is what I've seen the most since it keeps the dropping rider from having to ride in the ditch.

always pull off into the wind. if the wind is directly ahead, most groups i've been in pull off to the right.

Always pull off into the wind. If there is no wind effect, the lead rider dictates the direction. ie, if the leader has taken the traffic lane (say about halfway into the lane) then you peel off to the right to protect the the dropping guy from traffic. If the leader is hugging the right side, then you must peel off left, but in a busy traffic lane this is dangerous for the guy coming off the front. It is best to not change the direction that has been established for that direction, even if it is techically incorrect, because it is bound to cause confusion (unless you call it out before hand).

most of the time, in our group, we peel to the left unless things/situations as pointed out above do happen. But either way, the peeling riding has to make a signal, and likewise the riders at the back must be alert enough to predict things, since there are times when the peeling rider cannot make the signals because of fatigue, or he may be reaching for his water bottle, among others.

When riding in a paceline, your actions must be predictable to avoid confusion, and mishaps.

peel to the left. if there is traffic, don' t peel off, wait. if there is constantly too much traffic, don't ride in a pace line on that road, find a road with little to traffic. the person peeling off should NOT be fatigued. a fast paceline needs all of its riders so the pulls should be short, 20 to 30 pedal strokes. the person dropping back should still be strong enough to hang on and recover for the next pull. if someone pulls for too long and gets dropped, it only slows the paceline.
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we always pass on the left... if the front guy goes to the back of the line, he peels right and drifts back.. basically making the paceline rotate in a clockwise rotation, if you look at it that way

jeff

On race situations you pull off into the wind.

However in traffic it is safest to pull off to the left into traffic and keep the paceline as far right as possible.

peel to the left. if there is traffic, don' t peel off, wait. if there is constantly too much traffic, don't ride in a pace line on that road, find a road with little to traffic. the person peeling off should NOT be fatigued. a fast paceline needs all of its riders so the pulls should be short, 20 to 30 pedal strokes. the person dropping back should still be strong enough to hang on and recover for the next pull. if someone pulls for too long and gets dropped, it only slows the paceline.
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oh man, here i am sitting in the office and i see this photo. it looks SOOO nice there :D

how can i get back to work now? all i can think about now is riding in the country.

oh man, here i am sitting in the office and i see this photo. it looks SOOO nice there :D

how can i get back to work now? all i can think about now is riding in the country.

ride to work...

oh man, here i am sitting in the office and i see this photo. it looks SOOO nice there :D

how can i get back to work now? all i can think about now is riding in the country.Looks like Hwy 84 heading from La Honda to San Gregorio. Or is it somewhere up in the North Bay, fogrider?

ride to work...

i would if i could. this is similar to what i would have to deal with:

Looks like Hwy 84 heading from La Honda to San Gregorio. Or is it somewhere up in the North Bay, fogrider?
SteveE, you are right on the money! Remember to take off your shoes when you go into the saloon! ;)

Always consult with a group prior to the ride if possible. You may think your hand signals are universal and obvious. This is not always the case. Best to clear up confusion before it starts and people start going down.

Jim