Originally Posted by
Brian Ratliff
No offense, but most rec riders have no idea what "no gaps" means in a fast paceline. If guys were rotating off and rejoining the line in front of you, then there were gaps. Rec riders tend to measure "gaps" in terms of feet; racers tend to measure in terms of inches. The "communication" in a paceline is done less with words and more by positioning. If you are leaving a couple feet between you and the guy in front, then you are communicating that you are either not in the pace line or you are about to be dropped; either way, the guy dropping back will join in front of you. If you are tight to the guy in front, then the guy dropping back will not attempt to join the line in front of you (unless it's a race and he really wants the spot, of course).
Hi Brian,
No offense taken and thanks for your comments. Makes sense that racers are more precise as you correctly write. Part of gapping as you know of recreational riders like me and similar riders is..due to lack of consistent effort as you say. If we all rode together a lot, there would be much better synergy and similar expectations. Inconsistent effort partly born from lack of experience creates too high a risk to ride wheel to wheel as no rider can really trust the surge of the line. Racers of course are generally better riders, and the whole paceline will be more precise and riders can ride closer together with less risk.