ROAD BUNCH RIDING RULES AND ETIQUETTE
Riding in a bunch can be the most enjoyable experience if done correctly. The advantage of riding as a bunch or Peleton (French word for an organised group of riders) is that as an organised group you can ride further and faster than individual riders or a non-organised group.
You will expend up to 30 per cent less energy by riding sheltered in a bunch, as riders in front of you overcome the wind resistance. By taking turns at the front, all riders can share the effort and longer distances can be covered.
However, bunch riding can also be a huge pain especially if people in the group don’t understand the rules or don’t do their fair share of the work. Everyone needs to know these rules for the safety of all riders.
Below are some tips for bunch riding
(visit ride strong for the full article)
Below explains what to do while riding in a
large group or Peloton, however from time to time
you maybe riding in a smaller group which will
require you to take your
turn leading the group by yourself,
not with a partner as described below, however the
same rules apply.
Be predictable with all
actions
Avoid sudden braking and changes
of direction and always try to maintain a
steady straight line. Remember that there are riders
following closely behind. To slow down,
gradually move out into the wind and slot back into
position in the bunch when you have less speed. By
putting your
hands on the hoods on your
brakes you can “sit up” and this will allow your
body to slow you down
by utilizing the wind resistance.
Brake carefully
Ride safely and try to stay
off the brakes. If you are inexperienced or a
little nervous about riding too close to the wheel
in front
of you, stay at the back
of the group, gain confidence and practice your
bunch riding skills.
When the pace eases, don’t brake suddenly, instead ride to the side of the wheel in front and ease the pedaling off, then ease back into position again on the wheel. Practice on the back and soon you will be able to move up the line with a partner.
Rolling through – swapping
off – taking a turn
The most common way to take a turn on the
front
of the group is for each pair is to stay
together until they get to the front. After having a
turn on the front (generally about the same amount
of time as everyone else is taking), the pair
separates and moves to each side (left and right or
the right side if your
riding at the front alone), allowing the
riders behind to come through to the front. To get
to the back
of the peloton, stop pedaling for a while or
ease
off to slow down,
keep an eye out for the end
of the bunch and fall back into line there.
It is safer for everyone if you get to the back as
quickly as possible.
Be smooth with turns at the front
of the group
Avoid rushing forward (surges) unless you
are trying to break away from the group. Surges
cause gaps further back in the bunch which affect
the riders at the back as they have to continually
chase to stay with the bunch.
No half wheeling
When you finally make it to the front,
don’t ‘half wheel’. This means keeping half a wheel
in front
of your
partner. This automatically makes your
partner speed up slightly to pull back along
side you.
Often half wheelers will also speed up, so
the pace
of the bunch invariably speeds up as the
riders behind try to catch up.
Choosing when to come
off the front
You and your
partner need to do some planning when you get
on the front so that when you roll through you come
off at a place where the road is wide enough
for the group to be four-wide
for a short time. With some planning, it is
often possible to come
off the front a few hundred meters earlier or
later to avoid a dangerous situation and avoid
unnecessarily upsetting motorists.
Always retire to the back
of the bunch
If riders push in somewhere in the middle
of the bunch rather than retiring to the back
after taking a turn, cyclists at the back will not
be able to move forward and take a turn
of their
own. Remember that riding in a bunch is
about all riders sharing the workload and accidents
happen down
the back
of the bunch as well.
Pedal downhill
Pedal downhill
when at the front
of the bunch as cyclists behind you will want
to ride with their brakes on consistently.
Point out obstacles
Point out obstacles such as parked cars, loose
gravel, broken glass, holes, rocks or debris on the
road, calling out “hole” etc as well as pointing is
helpful in case someone is not looking at your
hand when you point. It is just as important
to pass the message on, not just letting those close
to the front know.
Hold your
wheel
An appropriate gap between your
front wheel and the person in front is around
50cm. Keep your
hands close to the brakes in case
of sudden slowing. Sometimes people who are
not used to riding in a bunch will feel too nervous
at this close range – riding on the right side is
generally less nerve-racking for such people as they
feel less hemmed in. Watching “through” the wheel in
front
of you to one or two riders ahead will help
you hold a smooth, straight line.
Don’t leave gaps when following wheels
Maximise your
energy savings by staying close to the rider
in front. Cyclists save about 30 per cent
of their energy at high speed by following a
wheel. Each time you leave a gap you are forcing yourself
to ride alone to bridge it. Also, riders behind you
will become annoyed and ride around you. If you are
in the bunch and there is no one beside the person
in front
of you, you should move into that gap
(otherwise you will be getting less windbreak than
everyone else will).
Don’t overlap wheels
A slight direction change or gust
of wind could easily cause you to touch
wheels with the rider in front and fall.
Do not panic if you brush shoulders,
hands or bars with another rider
Try to stay relaxed through your
upper body as this helps absorb any bumps.
Brushing shoulders, hands or bars with another rider
often happens in bunches and is quite safe
provided riders do not panic, brake or change
direction.
Riding up hill
Many riders, even the experienced ones,
freewheel momentarily when they first get out
of the saddle to go over a rise or a hill.
When doing this, the bike is forced backwards. Many
riders
often lose their momentum when rising out
of the saddle on a hill which can cause a
sudden deceleration. Following the wheel in front
too closely when climbing may result in you falling.
Look ahead
Do not become obsessed with the rear wheel
directly in front
of you. Try to focus four
or five riders up the line so that any
‘problem’ will not suddenly affect you. Scan the
road ahead for potential problems, red lights etc,
and be ready.
Obey the road rules
Especially at traffic lights – if you are on the
front, and the lights turn orange, they will
definitely be red by the time the back
of the bunch goes through the intersection.
You will endanger the lives
of others if you run it.
Lead in front
Remember when you are on the front, you are
not only responsible for yourself
but everyone in the group. When you are leading the
bunch, try to monitor potential problems and give
plenty
of warning
of impending stops or changes
of pace. Make sure you know where you are
going.
Don’t use your
aero bars in a bunch ride
Never use your
aero bars in a bunch ride – not even if you
are at the front. Using aero bars means that your
hands are away from the brakes. Aero bars are
for time trial use only.