Road Cycling - Too many crashes!

At a local club ride there was another crash this week. The crash happened because a cyclist panicked and grabbed his brakes. A half a dozen riders went down. There were some minor injuries and some bikes damaged. It was in heavy traffic so fortunately nobody was hit by a car. Just like some of the previous crashes the ride leaders didn't even know there was a crash until they got back to the meeting area.

So far this season there has been a crash on about one out of every four rides. Last season was about the same with some of the injuries being very serious and like the crash this week most were caused by someone toward the front locking up their brakes.

The group is growing with there being about 45 riders now but this is not a racing group. The maximum speed is usually around 16 to 18 mph. In the past when I've suggested that the leadership make an effort to coach new and inexperienced riders I've been given all kinds of reasons why they won't do it. The most effort I've seen them make is to consider splitting the group up into smaller groups but it hasn't happend yet.

I've not done much riding with any other clubs but I think it's time for me to find a different one to ride with. Am I right in thinking the amount of crashes are excessive?

You might want to find a new club.

For two years I did a weekly ride with 30-50 other racers and never once saw a crash. It sounds like your group is full of some total beginners.

Our group rides are usually 20 - 40 riders and I have only seen one accident this year. That one was during the sprint section around a corner in the rain. These rides are fast and in very tight. If someone did not hold their line or hit the breaks they would be verbally abused!

Zorak, your experience and that of many others that I've talked to (including some 1st hand experiences) has led me to develop a solitary cycling style. I have 1 regular riding partner and there's maybe a couple of others that I would consider riding with. But for the majority of those that I've seen in club rides etc., I maintain a healthy distance.

I've not done much riding with any other clubs but I think it's time for me to find a different one to ride with. Am I right in thinking the amount of crashes are excessive?

it does sound excessive. what kind of traffic are you talking about? to me, that size of a group in heavy traffic just doesn't seem safe.

I have never heard of a crash on a club ride around here. You need a better club or think about spiltting the group into "A" and "B" groups.

Where are you located?

There must be another club ride...

PJ

really, i will second all of the above, i ride with guys that do hard rides and i have never seen people come close to crashing. You might want to find another club, becuase the next crash might be with you, and thats no good. On group rides, safty is a real concern, your not racing, your having fun. there is no need to get carried away on a group ride.

thats my .02

I ride alone.

Sounds like you need a new group. Even when I did some group rides, I never saw anything close to a crash! Get a new club. Someone is going to get critically injured or killed.

I've read a few of your other posts where you gripe about the group you ride in. I can understand your desire to ride in a group but seriously man if it's that bad then why do it.

I rode in a group for years and we never had a wreck. Of course there was only 15 of us and we all knew who could be trusted to lead and who should be out of the line.

My advise would be to see if a few of the people in your group with similar skills would want to split in a training group so you could do the kind of riding you want and still have the benefits of a group.

I ride alone.

Sounds like you need a new group. Even when I did some group rides, I never saw anything close to a crash! Get a new club. Someone is going to get critically injured or killed.

I ride alone 2.

until my friend finally decides to buy the Specialized S-Work Tarmac. that guy has too much money.. wish i could afford a Swork Tarmac. :cry:

At 16-18 mph, the group should really not be having that many crashes. Of course, at that speed, you could have a fair number of novices in the group. Novices can inadvertantly do all sorts of dangerous things in group rides.

You might offer to teach a paceline course or if you are not the teaching type get a buddy who is to offer it whilst you cosponser it or something. Many bike clubs have them. You can run people through the basics and let them know the essential ettiquette and practices.

Another thing, is you might try to get the club to break the group up. Often the larger the group the more unwieldly it is and the more dangerous it is.

From what you say, I can't see much justification for riding with that group. As far as that goes, even a good group will have off days... people riding over their heads, doing sketchy things, and taking stupid chances with traffic. You're better off riding alone.

If you have some friends in the group, organize your own ride. Personally, I like a group of no more than 7-10 people. That's enough that you get the benefit of a group, but not so much that it becomes a mess. Get together and leave a few minutes before the big group (or start from somewhere else), vary the route as you wish, ride hard, tempo or easy as your group decides... there are lots of advantages.

Our group usually rides at 17-20 mph. Two weeks ago, one rider hit the wheel of a rider in front of her. We had one incident last year. We have now contacted a racing club in the area. They are going to come out and work with us on the grass and teach us how to ride, practicing touching wheels with other riders and hops(to avoid road debris). If you see that your club is riding unsafe, YOU can be the change.

Single riding

Group rides can be fun. Try spreading some education around. The MS society & other big ride organizers are pushing rider education, like the stuff here: http://www2.lgc.com/ms150/

If it won't take, find/start another group & let Darwin take his toll on this bunch.

You might want to find a new club.
It sounds like your group is full of some total beginners.

I agree with Laggard

It sounds like you need to find a new club to ride with. I've seen a few crashes on club rides, seasoned racers included, but the total is small and it was over a good number of years.

It sounds like your group is full of some total beginners.
You're darned right!

To lock both wheels at 16-18 they must be first time bike users :eek: Tell them to try cycling solo instead of going in the deep end. Most of the stuff i learned was when i was riding solo, and half the mistakes i made probably would have put others at risk, so choose another group before you end up hurt.

You're darned right!

To lock both wheels at 16-18 they must be first time bike users :eek: Tell them to try cycling solo instead of going in the deep end. Most of the stuff i learned was when i was riding solo, and half the mistakes i made probably would have put others at risk, so choose another group before you end up hurt.


Thanks everybody for all of your input. I'm defiantly going to start riding with another club. The main reason I'd been riding with this one was because they were close enough that I could ride to the meeting/ starting points from my house on my bike (7 miles). The other club's meeting /starting points are about a 30- 45 minutes away via car. I've decided to just go the distance to ride with a better club and on the evenings when I can't make it in time I'll just ride solo.

I was talking to a friend this weekend who is a member of the other club. He told me he quit riding with my club for several reasons with one being a concern for his safety. He said he'd been riding with the other club for almost two years and had only seen one crash but it was only a single rider and was due to a mechanical issue.

As far as sticking around to try to influence the club to be better. I'd thought about that but decided against it for two reasons. 1) They've not been very receptive to my suggestions thus far so theres no use wasting any more of my time. 2) The longer I ride with them the greater the chances are that I'll be in one of those crashes.

Thanks again for your input!

One thing I didn't see mentioned is the ride leader's responsibility. In our group, the leader stops at major intersections, turns, tops of hills to wait for the rest of the group to show up. If there's too much waiting time, someone will usually ride back to see what has happened. Another club I used to ride with had the ride leaders riding sweep, at the end of the group. That way the racers can go out in front, the middle-paced riders can all stay together and the slower-paced riders can stay together.

I agree with what was previously said, take charge and get some education going there. I tried it with the other club, some were receptive, most were not. That's why I changed. You don't have to be aggressive, just polite. Good luck and happy trails.

One thing I didn't see mentioned is the ride leader's responsibility. In our group, the leader stops at major intersections, turns, tops of hills to wait for the rest of the group to show up. If there's too much waiting time, someone will usually ride back to see what has happened.

What a bunch of weenies.

One thing I didn't see mentioned is the ride leader's responsibility. In our group, the leader stops at major intersections, turns, tops of hills to wait for the rest of the group to show up. If there's too much waiting time, someone will usually ride back to see what has happened.


No stopping at intersections, turns, tops of hills etc. He sits at the front and that's it. No pace line, no passing him and his sidekick or you get yelled at. The ride leader is now also the club president so I can't go over his head to complain but you can bet I won't vote for him next election. If you flat you better have your tools and tube or a cell phone because nobody will stop to help you. When I've tried to discuss it with the pres I've been told that if people want a no-drop ride they can ride with the slow group.




Another club I used to ride with had the ride leaders riding sweep, at the end of the group. That way the racers can go out in front, the middle-paced riders can all stay together and the slower-paced riders can stay together..

There is a faster racing group. It has no ride leader. There is no organization at all in that group. I've seen them riding 4 and 5 abreast in traffic as well as crossing the yellow line and running red lights to get better position. Somehow they don't crash as often as the group I ride with but they are always having issues with drivers. (imagine that!)

There is also a slow paced group. It's original intention was to help orient and educate new riders but it no longer serves that purpose. I've asked why and was told that none of the new riders want to ride with the old grannies. I had an injury once and was supposed to take it easy on the bike so I tried riding with the slow group. They let me know that I wasn't really welcome to ride with them. It turns out that group has become more of a women's social type of thing.




I agree with what was previously said, take charge and get some education going there. I tried it with the other club, some were receptive, most were not. That's why I changed. You don't have to be aggressive, just polite. Good luck and happy trails.

This one is not receptive. A few months ago I tried to discuss some of the issues with the president and was given excuses for every issue that I raised. Nothing changed.

Although I've not been to a club meeting or an official club ride in the club I'm planning on joining but I've road with several of the members at t-shirt rides and they all say good things about their club. It's time to change clubs. Thanks for the encouragement!

Hmmmm. That group sounds like the one I used to ride with. Maybe your new group will be better. Guess it takes awhile to find a group you're comfortable with.