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Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

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Old 06-10-10, 09:04 PM
  #26  
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Sounds like you're doing the right thing. Assuming it's a single file line of riders, get up front, pull until you get tired, check your shoulder and pull off to the left. I usually then like to motion the rider behind me and to my right with a flick of the elbow or a wave through. Slow pedal until the whole pack moves up on your right, and when there's a gap or no riders left, fill in.
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Old 06-10-10, 09:47 PM
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Originally Posted by chokingvictim
yah -- the ride was a disorganized paceline. rather dangerous at times, circling in interesections and making wrong turns.
was there pbr?
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Old 06-10-10, 09:55 PM
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they are going to yell at you
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Old 06-11-10, 07:51 AM
  #29  
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I learned the hard way that when I came off the front, not to let my speed drop too far off. After getting shot out the rear like a piece of ****, I learned to drop off slowly, keeping my speed up so that when the last bike passed, I was up to the speed of the group, fell into line, then rested as the line pulled me along. Resting while you fall back is a big mistake.
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Old 06-11-10, 08:53 AM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by roccobike
I learned the hard way that when I came off the front, not to let my speed drop too far off. After getting shot out the rear like a piece of ****, I learned to drop off slowly, keeping my speed up so that when the last bike passed, I was up to the speed of the group, fell into line, then rested as the line pulled me along. Resting while you fall back is a big mistake.
it also helps to be at a higher cadence, will make that quick burst of speed to catch back on to the back much easier.
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Old 06-11-10, 09:00 AM
  #31  
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Originally Posted by TrojanHorse
There's a million different articles on the internet about this.... here's one

https://www.teammcallencycling.org/pd...sandSafety.pdf

People get sensitive about it too, so don't just pretend you know what you're doing, let your buds know if you don't know!
Nice link. Never saw that before. I like it.
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Old 06-11-10, 09:04 AM
  #32  
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Originally Posted by roccobike
I learned the hard way that when I came off the front, not to let my speed drop too far off. After getting shot out the rear like a piece of ****, I learned to drop off slowly, keeping my speed up so that when the last bike passed, I was up to the speed of the group, fell into line, then rested as the line pulled me along. Resting while you fall back is a big mistake.
This is my constant problem. I have yet to master the ability to latch back on properly. The easiest way for me to get dropped is off the front.
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Old 06-11-10, 09:05 AM
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Originally Posted by Homebrew01
You take a turn at the front for 30 seconds. Then pull off to the left & ease up so that the rider who was behind you is now pulling. You drift to the back and get behind the last guy until it's your turn at the front again. If the pace is too high for you to take a turn at the front, then stay at the back and let the guy who's drifting back cut in front of you by leaving a gap for him and telling him "go ahead" or something so he doesn't think you're just not paying attention and letting gaps open.

This is assuming you're in an organized paceline. Disorganized pacelines are more common.
What if the wind was coming from the right? Do you still go to the left?
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Old 06-11-10, 09:55 AM
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Originally Posted by bmxsykes
What if the wind was coming from the right? Do you still go to the left?
That's the advanced course. On regular group rides, on open roads with traffic, we always pull off left because everyone is already as far right as possible. It would get messy very quickly trying to pull off to the right .
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Old 06-11-10, 10:32 AM
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Just signal for guys to come through, no matter if you are riding a paceline or any other arrangement. Just sweep your arm forward, the universal signal for the guy in back of you to pull through and then just hold your line and let them come around you.
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Old 06-11-10, 12:20 PM
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If you notice the lead riders speed start to drop, is it better to tell them to pull off or just go around them to keep the pace?
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Old 06-11-10, 01:25 PM
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Originally Posted by bmxsykes
If you notice the lead riders speed start to drop, is it better to tell them to pull off or just go around them to keep the pace?
If it's an actual paceline, then tell him to pull over. Some people take MUCH longer pulls than they should
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Old 06-11-10, 01:53 PM
  #38  
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Originally Posted by Yaniel
I pull the warm up and then hold on for dear life
+1... That sounds familiar!
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Old 06-11-10, 02:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Homebrew01
If it's an actual paceline, then tell him to pull over. Some people take MUCH longer pulls than they should
I just hold my speed and slowly pass on the right. Provided there's room it's not disruptive to the paceline.
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