Originally Posted by
10 Wheels
Our club had a paceline death last year.
Andy (24 y/o) was 2nd in line getting ready to take the lead when he hit the rear wheel of the lead rider.
Crashed into the roadway where a truck was already passing the group.
Preface: The following is by no means a criticism of Andy, but taking the opportunity as a teachable moment.
When both my wife, and my daughter started riding with me, or in a group, that exact scenario was a great fear to me. You overlap wheels, and fall, you're putting some skin and you're collar bone at risk. You overlap wheels, fall out of the bike lane into passing traffic, and you put your life at risk.
Lesson to be learned is that you need to be particularly careful about spacing when traffic is passing for this precise reason.
Also people can tend to let up or not hold their line, when they're spooked by or concerned about passing traffic. Hence the need to be mindful of what's in front of you when traffic is passing from behind.