G'day dave,

group riding is great, especially when you get the hang of the nuances. I won't go into 'group etiquette' at the moemnt, it would take to long. The most important thing to remember is to 'respect' those around you & trust that they will do the same to you. So.....never, ever, overlap wheels with the guy in front...ride directly behind him, or slightly to one side, but never overlap. This is the main cause of falls in a bunch. Look ahead of the bunch, anticipate movements, call out hazards, "car up", "lights" (as in stopping at a red one) "Glass" etc. You'll learn how the group reacts to these sort of calls. once the group is more experienced, they will generally 'point' at problems to avoid without actually saying much. ie: the guy on the front points at soemthing on his left, the group will move slightly right...you don't need to know why or what the issue is, just that there is one that you need to avoid. Don't make sudden or jerky movements, always glance under your arm, or over the shoulder before changing your 'line'....you'll learn heaps from just 'doing it'...don't be scared to 'sit on' a wheel...its quite safe, provided you remember these 'rules'....most of all...have a blast!

Hitchy