Betta
06-02-02, 12:19 PM
New to the road scene. A friend mentioned hand signals. i.e. gravel in the road...I'm slowing down...changing gears....pass. So, is there a website that can fill me in. I want to respect other riders and be safe.
Road Cycling - hand signals
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RainmanP
06-02-02, 12:35 PM
The few times I have gotten to ride in groups with experienced riders the signals were mostly verbal. For gravel, glass, crack in the road, etc., they point emphatically with the appropriate hand and yell "Gravel!", "Glass!", whatever, and riders pass the warning back. Other things are warnings to use caution.
"Car back!"
"Car up!"
"Red light!"
"Slowing!"
"Stopping!"
"Shifting down!"
Actual hand signals for different hazards/warnings would be too easy to miss. This is a good question and it will be interesting to see how riders in other areas communicate.
"Car back!"
"Car up!"
"Red light!"
"Slowing!"
"Stopping!"
"Shifting down!"
Actual hand signals for different hazards/warnings would be too easy to miss. This is a good question and it will be interesting to see how riders in other areas communicate.
velocipedio
06-02-02, 12:43 PM
On a windy day, in a fast paceline, verbal signals are almost unhearable, so nyou really do have to keep your eyes open for hand signals.
Typically -- and this varies a bit from group to group:
1. Signals with the arm extended at the shoulder indicate a turn or direction change, while signals below the shoulder indicate hazards, slow downs, etc.
2. Slow down is usually a variation of the "stop" hand signal [arm extended down, palm facing back], with the hand waving a bit.
3. The signal to take a pull is usually a quick forward flick of the hand as the current paceline leader pulls off.
4. A wave across the back usually indicates that you should move off a bit to avoid a large obstacle coming [like a parked truck or work crew] coming up on the side of the road.
It's always a good idea to check what the hand signals are before your first ride with a group, and ask them to call the signals, as well.
Typically -- and this varies a bit from group to group:
1. Signals with the arm extended at the shoulder indicate a turn or direction change, while signals below the shoulder indicate hazards, slow downs, etc.
2. Slow down is usually a variation of the "stop" hand signal [arm extended down, palm facing back], with the hand waving a bit.
3. The signal to take a pull is usually a quick forward flick of the hand as the current paceline leader pulls off.
4. A wave across the back usually indicates that you should move off a bit to avoid a large obstacle coming [like a parked truck or work crew] coming up on the side of the road.
It's always a good idea to check what the hand signals are before your first ride with a group, and ask them to call the signals, as well.
Betta
06-02-02, 12:43 PM
Trust me, I use a wide range of screams..."CAR BACK!!!"....or "DOG!!"...or "F@#**K!"(used at the start of a hard climb), but when I'm on a serious climb I don't feel like yelling...it messes with my breathing and concentration. So, hand signals would be cool.
RainmanP
06-02-02, 12:44 PM
The few times I have gotten to ride in groups with experienced riders the signals were mostly verbal. For gravel, glass, crack in the road, etc., they point emphatically with the appropriate hand and yell "Gravel!", "Glass!", whatever, and riders pass the warning back. Other things are warnings to use caution.
"Car back!"
"Car up!"
"Red light!"
"Slowing!"
"Stopping!"
"Shifting down!"
Actual hand signals for different hazards/warnings would be too easy to miss. This is a good question and it will be interesting to see how riders in other areas communicate.
"Car back!"
"Car up!"
"Red light!"
"Slowing!"
"Stopping!"
"Shifting down!"
Actual hand signals for different hazards/warnings would be too easy to miss. This is a good question and it will be interesting to see how riders in other areas communicate.
John E
06-02-02, 01:26 PM
On group rides, I have always used hand signals to point out glass, sand, and other obstacles. An arm pointed downward toward the hazard, palm parallel to the ground and perhaps wiggled back and forth, is not confused with the slow/stop hand signal.
OmahaRider
06-02-02, 02:00 PM
Most hand signals are reserved for the car drivers---generally the middle-finger.
RoAdRaGeR
06-02-02, 02:11 PM
Don't be afraid to use the middle finger, I used it a lot last month.
D*Alex
06-02-02, 07:08 PM
I have occasionally rode with a couple deaf cyclists, and common finger-spelling, as well as simple single-handed ASL words can communicate quite a bit. Of course, it does help to know ASL, at least a bit.
roadbuzz
06-03-02, 10:17 AM
Originally posted by velocipedio
1. Signals with the arm extended at the shoulder indicate a turn or direction change, while signals below the shoulder indicate hazards, slow downs, etc.
Probably the most common variation of this one is the right hand out and pointing downward towards the edge of the road, (sometimes shaking the hand) indicating gravel or broken pavement.
4. A wave across the back usually indicates that you should move off a bit to avoid a large obstacle coming [like a parked truck or work crew] coming up on the side of the road.
I've seen this one used to indicate approaching a RR Xing.
Some riders indicate a pothole with a downward motion of the hand, opening the fingers at the bottom of the motion. It's not very helpful because it's usually executed fairly close to the body, and easy to miss. Besides, at that point they're better off keeping hands on the bars, and you're better off watching the road!
My question for the other riders... when do you execute the signal? Too late, and nobody behind you has time to react (This is what I usually see on rides). Too early, and the obstacle doesn't occur until after people it's expected. How do you time it?
1. Signals with the arm extended at the shoulder indicate a turn or direction change, while signals below the shoulder indicate hazards, slow downs, etc.
Probably the most common variation of this one is the right hand out and pointing downward towards the edge of the road, (sometimes shaking the hand) indicating gravel or broken pavement.
4. A wave across the back usually indicates that you should move off a bit to avoid a large obstacle coming [like a parked truck or work crew] coming up on the side of the road.
I've seen this one used to indicate approaching a RR Xing.
Some riders indicate a pothole with a downward motion of the hand, opening the fingers at the bottom of the motion. It's not very helpful because it's usually executed fairly close to the body, and easy to miss. Besides, at that point they're better off keeping hands on the bars, and you're better off watching the road!
My question for the other riders... when do you execute the signal? Too late, and nobody behind you has time to react (This is what I usually see on rides). Too early, and the obstacle doesn't occur until after people it's expected. How do you time it?