Riding in a group can be a daunting experience at first, but with experience and a few
pointers, it can become a lot less scary. Riding in a group and being able to closely
follow the wheel in front is a skill, but it’s one that is easily learnt.
There are a few things to know to ensure riding in a group is safe, for you and your
fellow cyclists, so here are some pointers for riding in a group.
Advanced group riding skills
If you’re used to riding with others and are comfortable with basic group riding skills, it’s time to
take your group riding up to the next level with some advanced techniques. These techniques
are ideal for road racing, breakaways and team time trials.
The two most commonly used advanced techniques are the ‘through and off’ and the single
pace line. These are both used to keep a high pace over flat or rolling terrain, and most groups
alternate between the two, depending on the number of riders and the type of road.
Tips for riding in a group
Don’t overlap wheels with the rider in front
This is the golden rule of riding in a group. You want to ride closely with the wheel in
front, as close as you feel safe doing to best benefit from the slipstream effect, but you
don’t want to overlap your front wheel with their rear wheel. That way danger lies.
That’s because if the rider in front suddenly moves across the road your wheels will
collide and the likely outcome is a crash, that could take out not you but the cyclists
behind you as well. This is one of the most common causes of crashes in the
professional peloton.
Ride steady and hold your line — and no sudden braking
This is the golden rule of riding in a group. You want to ride closely with the wheel in
front, as close as you feel safe doing to best benefit from the slipstream effect, but you
don’t want to overlap your front wheel with their rear wheel. That way danger lies.
So hold your line and avoid sudden side-to-side movements. You may need to change
direction for an oncoming hazard of course, which is why you should be looking well
ahead for such hazards and move smoothly around them with plenty of time, after
communicating to the rider behind with a hand signal or verbal warning that you intend to
move out into the road. If you do need to move out from the pace line ensure you
indicate to the person behind you of your intention to change direction.
Communicate hazards
When you’re following the wheel in front closely your view of hazards (potholes, holes,
sunken drain covers etc) in the road ahead is obscured. So to help the cyclist following
behind you, point out hazards either verbally or simply by using your hand and pointing
towards the ground on the side of the road that the hazard will be coming from.
There are all sorts of hand signals you can employ for different hazards, from simply
pointing to a hole, to warning of parked cars by placing your hand behind your bike and
point in the direction you intend to move, to placing your hand out with the palm facing
down and making a dog patting gesture for slowing at junctions.
Stay relaxed
Finally, as much as it can seem intimidating at first, try and stay relaxed when riding in a
group. Riding in close proximity to other cyclists with your wheels several inches from
the wheel in front can seem scary on your first experience, and it’s common to tense up
with nerves, but try and stay as relaxed as you possibly can because you’re less likely to
make a mistake or panic when you’re not holding the handlebars with a vice like grip.
Relax and enjoy the beauty of a well-organised group.
Follow a wheel
Most groups ride in a double pace line of two columns of pairs of riders. Unless you’re
riding on the front, you’ll be following the wheel in front. Try to make sure you’re are
actually following the wheel of the cyclist in front, don’t just plonk yourself in the middle.
You’ll get a better slipstream effect and it means two cyclists can ride alongside each
other.
While you want to avoid overlapping wheels as previously mentioned, it’s sensible to ride
a little to one side – but still behind – the wheel in front so that if anything happens and
the rider in front slows suddenly you can move to one side of them rather colliding with
their rear wheel.