Did a larger group ride this past weekend, it sucked at first simply because people do not listen and follow basic directions.

About 12 of us, all with queue sheets, ride leader says, "Casual pace, 18-20mph (hills), single file, rotate off the front every 30 seconds the only caveat being typical exceptions...(group climb, decent, limited LOS, hazards etc..) For more significant climbs and descents we opened up and regrouped.

Group takes off, nice line, then the front starts to pull away, smug know it all up front, not looking back, no rotation, etc..Makes a paceline pointless. Ride leader didn't own the group.

I and a couple of like minded riders summed it up, and five of us basically just broke off (Notified the leader...) and did our own paceline. We opened up the pulls because we wanted the work, some decent wind to deal with... At one point when I was pulling I saw a big dude solo up ahead obviously strong rider, I accelerated, notified the line I was doing so, gradually came up on his wheel, asked him for a pull and welcomed him to hitch-hike if he'd like, he was more than happy to do so.

Pacelines are great when they work and all it takes is good, frequent communication. Leave the ego at the door because it's about the group.

Agreed upon hand and verbal queues for everything...slowing, accelerating, hazards, direction changes, coming off the front , when in the back shout "last" so the rider who just came off the front can seemlessly get on the end of the line...Yell, "Mechanical" if you have a breakdown.. As the leader glance back frequently enough to ensure the group is tight, pass info up and down the line...

Teamwork is cool.