Leading the group
 

okay, so the other night i am on my weekly ride and i start to lead the group ride somewhat but we approach some hills and i cant hold myself to keep up my pace (it was at least 22-24mph) so i pull left to let the guy on my wheel get ahead. is this the proper method to utilize??

reason i ask is because i can never get back in the peloton of riders and usually get stuck out there in left field. the other reason is that some older guy riding told me what i did was wrong, that instead i should just hold steady and let the guy behind me pass. really confused esp about proper etiquette.

I'm assuming the group was riding a rotating paceline. If so you did the right thing. Best approach is to pull off before you feel the need to do so. You should keep your speed up as you pull off and use your strength to get back on the end of the paceline.

Maybe you should talk to them about it and find out what is expected.

if you hold steady they won't pass you because you haven't slowed down. unless it's a race style ride, it's generally bad form to speed up the pace of the group, so if you hold steady you will stay in the front. if you're cooked, then you can't hold your pace any longer, hence why you're pulling off. so tell that guy that you're not am magician and when you can't keep your pace anymore you will pull off which is the proper way so the next guy can start leading without having to surge to pass you.

lol @ big john, well yes. see the thing is, usually the peloton has about 15 or so riders and i feel like a loner out there in left field. there is no way in hell to get back in except towards the back. OR unless my buddy lets me back in i guess. am i right?

do riders thinks its bad form if i dont say "Come on in" when we need to single up? I usually just keep my pace and dont break gaps because then it screws the whole ride up behind me. if the guy behind me wants to let him in so be it-- at least it doesnt screw up my ride.

when you're done in the front, you're supposed to go to the back until you rotate through again.

You're supposed to go to the back.

if going from double to single I figure everyone should let someone in. if the guy in front of you let in a guy, and the one behind you did too, then you look like a ******.

so basically, if i cant keep up a steady fast pace i shouldnt be in the front??

Normally after your turn at the front you go to the back, then eventually you get back to the front. Unless you're like me, then the three strongest beasts take turns hammering at the front until I am cooked. They get a kick out of it.

We're all assuming this is a rotating pace line, do you understand why it's called a rotating paceline?

if this ride is a race ride and you can't get back in, then you don't deserve to get back in.

I pull the warm up and then hold on for dear life

big john - let me clearly understand you- you are one of the big 3 beasts leading the group? Thats nuts!! those guys have giant legs.

EDIT: Thanks, I gotcha.

anyways, the guy dint say thank you to me when i dint let him in. and i think he coulda been irratated but idk.

ALSO: Is it legal or proper to pass people going slow to pass them on the right?? like kind of box the rider in, even with a rider on the lefT?

don't pull out of the middle. take your pull at the front and then go puke.

If you are in some kind of organized line you shouldn't be passing anyone until it is your turn at the front. Sometimes everyone will spend an equal time on the front,, then drop back. Sometimes a stronger rider will spend longer at the front than the others. It helps to get to know each other and even talk. I don't like to ride close to people who don't appear to know what they are doing.

edit, They will let me lead to the hills or if it's windy.

Do you expect people to understand this?

You take a turn at the front for 30 seconds. Then pull off to the left & ease up so that the rider who was behind you is now pulling. You drift to the back and get behind the last guy until it's your turn at the front again. If the pace is too high for you to take a turn at the front, then stay at the back and let the guy who's drifting back cut in front of you by leaving a gap for him and telling him "go ahead" or something so he doesn't think you're just not paying attention and letting gaps open.

This is assuming you're in an organized paceline. Disorganized pacelines are more common.

i dint

At least the OP can be proud that he can lead a group, i can't lead even a group of old ladies in wheel chairs.

yah -- the ride was a disorganized paceline. rather dangerous at times, circling in interesections and making wrong turns.

There's a million different articles on the internet about this.... here's one

http://www.teammcallencycling.org/pd...sandSafety.pdf

People get sensitive about it too, so don't just pretend you know what you're doing, let your buds know if you don't know!

Try to find people to ride with who know what they are doing, maybe ask around at some bike shops or ask about a club.

watch this movie

http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/...deopref=change