group cycling etiquette

Fredo

Hi,
I'm planning to do my first "sportive" cycling event this year: tour of meath, Tour of Kildare and the Sean Kelly 100k. I always cycle on my own and have no previous experience cyling with a group. What are the things to avoid when cycling with a group -bar from the obvious going suddenly left / right and stopping?
Thanks for the advice.

scottreynolds

Fredo wrote: »

Hi,
I'm planning to do my first "sportive" cycling event this year: tour of meath, Tour of Kildare and the Sean Kelly 100k. I always cycle on my own and have no previous experience cyling with a group. What are the things to avoid when cycling with a group -bar from the obvious going suddenly left / right and stopping?
Thanks for the advice.

1. Crossing the wheel of the person on front of you so when they stop you crash into them.

2. My pet hate.......... Not calling the holes in the road and then dodging it at the last minute.

Lumen

The Four Fundamental Rules of Group Riding

A sportive is not like a chain gang, unless you want it to be.

Raam

We're pretty rubbish at keeping a tight orderly group on our boards rides. Although we have been getting better.

lukester

If you have any awareness at all of group riding you'll be ahead of the curve if the W200 is anything to go by. Groups were either very organised and in the minority, i.e. club riders or similar, or total chaos.

Actually, even scarier were the groups that appeared organised but weren't at all, highly unpredictable and no warning shouts.

CheGuedara

I've also put a small presentation I had to put together for my club that I can send you if you want.

It's largely taking the 4 fundementals linked by Lumen though but has other information such as bike basics, a bit about dealing with dogs, cycling kit, basic maintenance (fix a puncture, clean and lube a bike)

Fredo

thanks all very useful

Lumen

Raam wrote: »

We're pretty rubbish at keeping a tight orderly group on our boards rides. Although we have been getting better.

Rules of Boards Group Spins:

1. Leave no-one behind.
2. The first one to the top of the hill is the God of Epic.
3. Lie to the newbies about far you're taking them.
4. Cake.

Raam

Lumen wrote: »

Rules of Boards Group Spins:

1. Leave no-one behind.
2. The first one to the top of the hill is the God of Epic.
3. Lie to the newbies about far you're taking them.
4. Cake.

5. Turning up on time: entirely optional

lukester

Rules of Boards Group Spins:

1. Leave no-one behind.
2. The first one to the top of the hill is the God of Epic.
3. Lie to the newbies about far you're taking them.
4. Cake.
5. Turning up on time: entirely optional

I've only been on two boards spins, but blorg adhered to or demonstrated each rule, except number 4.

DirkVoodoo

6. How you look is more important than how you ride.
7. Assume for every hour on the road there will be an hour of coffee/cake stops. Plan your saturday accordingly.

Raam

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

6. How you look is more important than how you ride.

I mean, really!


That should be number 1.

victorcarrera

Some more info here from a previous thread.
http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055476047

Unless you are at the front of the group keep at least one hand on or near the brake levers.

TinyExplosions

Raam wrote: »

We'reI'm pretty rubbish at keeping a tight orderly group on our boards rides. Although weI have been getting better.

Fixed for you

blorg

lukester wrote: »

Rules of Boards Group Spins:

1. Leave no-one behind.
2. The first one to the top of the hill is the God of Epic.
3. Lie to the newbies about far you're taking them.
4. Cake.
5. Turning up on time: entirely optional

I've only been on two boards spins, but blorg adhered to or demonstrated each rule, except number 4.

We had cake at the Glen of Imaal stores, I did anyway. Chocolate biscuit cake and some sort of jam bun.

lukester

blorg wrote: »

We had cake at the Glen of Imaal stores, I did anyway. Chocolate biscuit cake and some sort of jam bun.

Dang, you're right, totally forgot. I had chocolate biscuit cake too :pac:

Chips Lovell

Raam wrote: »

We're pretty rubbish at keeping a tight orderly group on our boards rides. Although we have been getting better.

It's been interesting to notice how many people have twigged drafting of late and have started jumping on wheels.

I had kind of the opposite of a boards spin experience on the W200. Going up Djouce on the way back I realised I had dropped a mate. But I had about four guys lined out behind me. Wanted to slow down and wait for him, but no matter what I tried I could get these guys to ride around me. Tried slowing down, pulling off to the right etc, but they still stayed stuck to me.

Húrin

Lumen wrote: »

Rules of Boards Group Spins:

1. Leave no-one behind.

These must be more guidelines than rules because this happened to me the first time I came out.

Nietzschean

Húrin wrote: »

These must be more guidelines than rules because this happened to me the first time I came out.

thats a shame not seen it any time i've been out myself anyway (had them waiting for me more than once there at the weekend)

scottreynolds

Lumen wrote: »

Rules of Boards Group Spins:

1. Leave no-one behind.
2. The first one to the top of the hill is the God of Epic.
3. Lie to the newbies about far you're taking them.
4. Cake.

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

6. How you look is more important than how you ride.
7. Assume for every hour on the road there will be an hour of coffee/cake stops. Plan your saturday accordingly.

8. Black sock and shoes, while perfectly acceptable when working, are not acceptable while riding.

Anyone comment on hybrids?

emty

Húrin wrote: »

These must be more guidelines than rules because this happened to me the first time I came out.

It must be interesting living in a parallel universe

RobFowl

scottreynolds wrote: »

8. Black sock and shoes, while perfectly acceptable when working, are not acceptable while riding.

+1

D!armu!d

Nietzschean wrote: »

thats a shame not seen it any time i've been out myself anyway (had them waiting for me more than once there at the weekend)

Same for me - the group was very good at waiting up & giving encouragement

AstraMonti

lukester wrote: »

Rules of Boards Group Spins:

1. Leave no-one behind.
2. The first one to the top of the hill is the God of Epic.
3. Lie to the newbies about far you're taking them.
4. Cake.
5. Turning up on time: entirely optional

I've only been on two boards spins, but blorg adhered to or demonstrated each rule, except number 4.

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

6. How you look is more important than how you ride.
7. Assume for every hour on the road there will be an hour of coffee/cake stops. Plan your saturday accordingly.

scottreynolds wrote: »

8. Black sock and shoes, while perfectly acceptable when working, are not acceptable while riding.

Anyone comment on hybrids?

9. When emty says that there isn't any uphill, there are at least 3 with a 10% grade.
10. When blorg says that we are almost home, there are at least 50 more kms to go.

Chips Lovell

Nietzschean wrote: »

thats a shame not seen it any time i've been out myself anyway (had them waiting for me more than once there at the weekend)

D!armu!d wrote: »

Same for me - the group was very good at waiting up & giving encouragement

I think his tongue was in his cheek there.

sy

el tonto wrote: »

....I had kind of the opposite of a boards spin experience on the W200. Going up Djouce on the way back I realised I had dropped a mate. But I had about four guys lined out behind me. Wanted to slow down and wait for him, but no matter what I tried I could get these guys to ride around me. Tried slowing down, pulling off to the right etc, but they still stayed stuck to me.

I wonder why:rolleyes:

Húrin

emty wrote: »

It must be interesting living in a parallel universe

you wouldn't believe the modifications I had to make to my internet receiver to get it to work over there.

blorg

Húrin wrote: »

These must be more guidelines than rules because this happened to me the first time I came out.

In fairness now Húrin we went to pretty much unprecedented lengths if you are talking about that day we went to Trim... I remember myself sticking back with you pretty much the whole way there trying to get you to hang on my wheel and then on the way back we tried to get you in the middle of the bunch with people forward of you and behind you.

Raam

blorg wrote: »

In fairness now Húrin we went to pretty much unprecedented lengths if you are talking about that day we went to Trim... I remember myself sticking back with you pretty much the whole way there trying to get you to hang on my wheel and then on the way back we tried to get you in the middle of the bunch with people forward of you and behind you.

I was doing my best to launch constant attacks. I even swapped on to the Wilier with the deep section rims to try and get some extra steam.

alfalad

CheGuedara wrote: »

I've also put a small presentation I had to put together for my club that I can send you if you want.

It's largely taking the 4 fundementals linked by Lumen though but has other information such as bike basics, a bit about dealing with dogs, cycling kit, basic maintenance (fix a puncture, clean and lube a bike)

Care to share? May benefit myself and sure i know a few people that would!

ROK ON

Húrin wrote: »

These must be more guidelines than rules because this happened to me the first time I came out.

Hi Húrin. I am not sure that that is tongue in cheek or not. BUt I must say that I have not found this to be the case.
I struggle on every single climb, yet on every boards spin I have been on, folk have been waiting for me at the top.
I dont know how long I have kept people waiting, but on some climbs I am guessing 5-10mins.
I dont particulalry enjoy keeping folk waiting (as I am a reasonably impatient person myself). But I have found that people were good enough to wait for me.
I guess that folk should try to remember

(1) Everyone is out to enjoy themselves,

(2) Dont do anything which is likely to spoil someone elses day/or your own. I try my damdest to go a bit better on the climbs, but sometimes that still will leave popel waiting for me.

(3) I usually find that if I am heading out with people that I do not know, that it is advisable to pm them/or post and explain what type of cyclists that you are. It may be the case that you are too fast/too slow for what they are looking for on that day. That may help people to have a more enjoyable spin.

Hope that this helps.

niceonetom

I wish one particular W200 participant (not a boardsie) knew this piece of etiquette. Out not back!

lukester

On the couple of spins I've been on I've never seen anyone left behind, blorg has tried to help people get stuck onto a wheel or the middle of a group on the flat, and there's been a very friendly and considerate atmosphere.

Bunnyhopper

A handy blog post from Barry of World Wide Cycles. It has some stuff about riding in groups, but it's just generally useful anyway, I think.

http://worldwidecyclesblog.com/2009/06/15/10-things-every-cyclist-should-know/