The point of this thread is to improve paceline safety and effectiveness. My proposal is to a) list your peeve and b) what can be done to avoid it. In this way we can all learn how to perform better in the paceline and in group ride situations.
My first peeve (I'll only list two for now):
Peeve: Riders at the front of a group on a downhill run just coasting. Sure is fun, but please know the riders behind you are also coasting - in your draft, and therefore running all over your back wheel. The whole line ends up riding their brakes and not getting the maximum benefit of the downhill.
Resolution: If you are the front one or two people in a line going downhill you've got to pedal so the people behind you aren't riding their brakes. The steeper the hill the faster you have to pedal. Sure it is work but you can pull out and drift back at any time. Your obligation being on the front is to keep the line strung out and you've GOT to pedal to do that. Coasting on the front of a paceline going downhill is one of my biggest peeves.
Peeve #2: People who when they stand up in the paceline throw their bicycles back a foot or two. I don't think these people even know this happens. In a tight line on an uphill that foot or two can throw your backwheel directly into the front wheel of the person behind you. The whole rhythm of the group is broken (especially the fellow who has to take action to avoid the throw back) at an especially critical uphill time.
Resolution: Realize that when you stand up your center of gravity moves forward and the bike moves back. Please don't terrorize the fellow behind you by thrusting your bike back into his face. Take care to time your standing up to a point in your pedal stroke where you are applying maximum power. Make the first stand up stroke a little extra powerful to counteract the tendency for your bike to move back.
Biggest Peeve: When a rider takes a turn at the front, then pulls off and either speeds up or doesn't ease up. The whole point is to pull off and drift smoothly to the back. I can't pull through and then pull off at a steady and consistent pace if you don't drift back and get out of the way.
agreed* one for me is when the paceline is too fast. i.e. when Dan and Joe are at the front pulling.
the worse one for me is when someone stops pedaling on a flat or downhill. Always keep a rotation of the pedals so you have that orward momentum and people who are on your wheel will not be running into the back of you. All you have to do is to creep your legs in circles, making a real slow cadence.
another one is seethrough bibs. when they start to wear, get new ones
Peeve: In a double paceline, when it comes a rider's turn to pull at the front....they accelerate suddenly, gap the rider behind and then pull off too far in front of the lead rider in the recovery line. This causes problems in the entire group.
Resolution: Just maintain the pace...or accelerate very very slightly. If you aren't sure if you are accelerating....just look down at your speedo. When you begin passing the lead rider in the recovery line ( on your left) start easing to the left. Your rear wheel should pass just ahead of their front. It also will help if the lead rider in the recovery line realizes that they should be soft pedaling a bit and moving backwards in relation to the faster line. That way to pulling rider won't feel such a need to accelerate in order to get out in front of you.
Hope this makes sense. If practiced, it makes the double paceline a dream to ride.
Real minor peeve; Folks hitting their butt when they pull off. If the paceline is really working forward and return then it is obvious you will pull off as soon as you clear the returning line. When the pulls are longer and riders are drifting back one by one then this may not be so obvious. Although when you drift to the left (or to the right if the wind is coming from the right) I'm assuming your through with your pull and I'm coming through. I don't get the whole butt-hitting thing?
Resolution: Do your pull and drift to the side (1 or two handlebar widths is enough), let up about 1 mile per hour and the paceline will come through. A flick of the elbow is more than adequate affirmation to the following rider that you are pulling off and not just avoiding a dead possum.
Peeves.....Distracted pacelining. Someone gets in the pace line and then starts a chat and either pulls off the left through the recovery line or hits brakes. Inattention in the pace line causes accidents.
Solution...if you are in a pace line stay focused and practise good etiquette.
This is why I don't ride with groups in pacelines anymore. I've only been in one paceline where someone didn't endanger my life or just aggravate the devil out of me. It's not worth the extra two mph you get drafting.
Peeve: when pulling off the front, some people look at my butt instead of the road or my bike Resolution: watch something else
just kidding.
>>>I don't get the whole butt-hitting thing?
It was just the way I learned (it's my hip, not my butt). I do it in group rides (not necessarily in pacelines) as a courtesy, like any other hand signal, and a lot of other signals that we don't regularly use, to offer a signal of my intent as a rider.
Personally, I thought it useful when I picked up the habit from a group ride out of town. It's more distinct than an elbow flick. I agree, in a short-pull situation, it's not necessary, it should be fluid (I may still do it instinctually though). But in a group where people are pulling for varying distances, like most of our rides, the lead rider could be pulling off, or as suggested, avoiding an obstacle. With a clear signal, there is no misunderstanding their intent to leave the front of the line.
We've been asked to refresh this thread - especially now that the Monday Night Ride is about to begin. Which is 6pm on March 15! Any other ideas/suggestions/rants appreciated. Remember the idea is to have constructive comments so our pacelines run more smoothly and safely.
Here's a new peeve alluded to above. When you are in the recovery line your obligation is to keep that line tight. If you are drifting back and the person in front of you isn't falling back as fast as you are, then you should get on their wheel. You might have to work to get up there, but the draft of the recovery line is as important as the draft of the advancing line. So keep the recovery line as tight as the advancing line.
One of the very first MNRs I attended, Kim asked if anyone wanted to learn how to ride in pacelines. A small group of about 5 people joined in, and I have been SO much wiser ever since. I learned more in one ride than I did the entire rest of the year.
I was a total newbie, so welcomed information and skills, but there might be a place in the club for a comfortable consensus as to "how we do things" in the RHBC. Perhaps this thread could address the "Group Ride Etiquette: Top Ten". It might even already be available on some other club's site.
I'd love to see Kim (and some other patient, experienced riders....) repeat this skills session, and maybe some others (like hand signals, etc.). There's lots of great experience and talent in this club, so no one would need to be the "teacher" all the time.
In the past we have had Problem visitors who would not share the road or listen to our requests to move right. If that problem presents again I would like to address it right away as to not let the bad habits get started.
What do you think about a list of what not to do our out Monday night ride We can ask our visitors to please be curious to the local drivers by riding in a mannerly way. ... Not moving over to allow traffic to pass is not acceptable. Please be advised by any club member to listen to instruction in regard to etiquette. If they have a problem with our advising we can request that they attend a skills clinic to remember how to ride safely and predictably. We ride these roads all the time. Please be good guests and proceed with manners or we pay the price. p