webtwo

I said "good morning" at 5:00 AM and the female rider let out a loud screeching scream. She was terrified.

Samfujiabq

Used to own a Porsche,that group is a bunch of arrogant jerks,hmmmm?you should buy a Porsche.

ahsposo 

Oh, and learn a good sneer to give when someone says "I do triathlons."

i_live_in_sf

cool, thanks for the tips!

Ice41000

Shave your legs!

Vlaam4ever

Hold your line!
carry a pump, spare tube and patch kit,
know how to use your pump, and patch kit
dont shave your legs until your wear out your first set of tires
only 1 bottle for a 2 hour ride.
dont wear earphones when on a group ride.
Ride 3 times per week
wear a clean kit for each ride

This should get you started.

Totoboa

If you can close and pass with lot's of room, safely, then, maybe OYL is redundant. Charging up on someone who is is solo, has been for miles, and is on a empty road, is in deep transcendental thought with the zen of nature, then loudly blasting ON YOUR LEFT may indeed cause a wreck.

Ya gotta scratch yer mind sometimes.

If it seems appropriate, it probably is. And vice versa.

I have started stopping at ALL places required by the vehicle code in this state. Lights, stop signs, etc. I will not be the subject of

"Those A44hshawl cyclists just ran the stop and cause me to slam on my brakes and spill my Mocha" conversations where we are swore at and cursed. I am no longer part of the problem but maybe a small part of the solution.

If you can move over for motorized traffic safely, do so. You live in SF so you live in California so it's the law. Obeying the law may save your life, but it WILL keep you from antagonizing the mass general public that travels the roads out of necessity, not a sport, some of the time.

Totoboa

saw this too late . . ..

Dudelsack 

In group rides, squirrels are the most dangerous.

tagaproject6

Uhm, it's not the Porsche!

danmc

Sometimes you should say "On your left." Other times you shouldn't. Sometimes you should wave. Other times you shouldn't. Sometimes you should wear a highly obnoxious, bright, yellow shirt. Other times you shouldn't. This is a very confusing sport. I think I'm going to take up chess instead.

Kai Winters

New riders, when drinking from your water bottle, are required to spray a bit of water over their shoulder to cool the riders behind them. They are always grateful for the spritzing.

Yell out "hole" after passing it by veering wildly left or right...preferably left and right.

Perfect time to ask fellow riders to check your position on your bike, making sure you are correctly seated and fitted to your bike.

When it is your turn to take a pull make sure you take a long time at the front while gradually slowing the pace. Your fellow riders will thank you profusely for giving them a well deserved brake.

By following these and other "unwritten" rules of riding etiquette you will quickly become a cherished member of the group.

jsharr

Learn the difference between words that sound alike but are spelled different and mean different things. Brake and Break. Road and Road. Pedal and Peddle. Try to use the correct word.

apollored

No but when I'm on a narrow canal towpath and there isnt much room, I wouldnt want to have a collision because someone has come up and passed me without letting me know.

I can handle being passed and passing others fine but when they are right next to me, its better to know they are there in case I decide to move right or left just at the time they come past and then they clout me.

asgelle

The best way to know if someone is going to be in your way is for you to look to make sure the path is clear rather than expect someone else to do that work for you.

RollCNY

Could you please explain the difference between these two? I'm thinking it is subtle.

jsharr

Dang it! Meant Rode and Road. I think I may have to shoot myself now.

apollored

I do dont worry, I dont expect anyone to do my checking lol but would still like for someone to indicate their presence.

ahsposo 

Make sure you post the vid here.

Nachoman

haha. It's all in the pronunciation. Kind of like wind (as in blowing in the wind) and wind (as in wind the watch).

calyth

It's hard to say. There are the common ones to basically notify pedestrians that you're passing them. But I find that "on your left" does not work in Vancouver or Toronto, but in Ottawa that works wonders.
Don't ride sidewalks unless it's very short, and you're not at speed.
Suggestions might include asking people who look like they have mechanical problems if they need help - I see that around here.

Your city may vary.

ds650

When riding with my son on trails I always have him ding the little soccer ball bell I put on his bike. Its loud for its size and works well. When I'm alone I just say left. Also be alert on sweeping curves that have trees, people like to ride two abreast and fail to fall inline on the curve and the person on the left is suddenly riding right at you on your right lane from behind the trees that blocked their angled approach.

With that said, I'm a runner first and most runners do what I do and wear an ipod. So I always caution my son and use more caution myself when catching up to them because if they are wearing earbuds that seal your ear canals they can't ear much at all. I wear the stock Apple ones because although the new style is more sealed they still allow sound in and I feel like that's important to hear cars especially.

Once on a ride with my ex we caught a longed hair woman wearing shiny sparkled yoga tights. She says look at those crazy tights. (This because I'm obsessed with yoga pants and make my gfs wear those and running/volleyball shorts lol). Anyway, we get closer and I see back hair because the shirt must have been from Baby Gap. I say that's a dude! We pass and his bike though a C'dale looked like my Trek. So I say nice bike dude as I'm beside him and he looks at me and says thanks with full eye shadow, blush, red lipstick. Not the most shocking thing I've seen, but the talk of that days ride. Too each their own.

cellery

Start BF posts

About which wheels to buy in the subject line.

Rthompson55044

I don't get this. Rude if you ask me. This a small community and seeing a rider in the middle of no where I find it rude when they don't acknowledge.

Kai Winters

Suspect you missed the "intent" of using the wrong word...woosh over your head hehehe

Aaaahhhh everyone run the "grammar nazi" is on the loose.