Bunch Ride Etiquette

[j_young_80]

Place a consolidated list of bunch ride etiquette here

[faema]

For those taking part in their first cycle race on the road or who are new to group training, there are a few points you should be aware of to avoid falls and to gain the confidence of others around you:


Be predictable with all your actions.

Maintain a steady straight line and avoid braking or changing direction suddenly, especially if contesting a sprint. Remember that there are riders following you closely from behind. To slow down, gradually move out into the wind and slot back into your position in the bunch.

Point out and call out any road hazards ahead. These include potholes, drain grates, stray animals, opening car doors, sticks or stones, parked cars, etc.

Do not overlap wheels. A slight direction change or gust of wind could easily cause you to touch wheels and fall. Pedal down hill when you are at the front of the bunch. Cyclists dislike having to ride under brakes. If you freewheel down hill you are doing as much good as sitting in your lounge chair.
Stay to the left when in front to allow room for others to pass safely on your right, particularly in traffic. Pass other riders on the right hand side whenever possible.

Be smooth with your turns at the front of the group. Avoid surges unless trying to break from the bunch. A group will travel quicker when turns are completed smoothly.

Avoid leaving gaps when following wheels. Cyclists save about 30% 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, especially if the bunch is working together to break away or catch a break in a race.

When climbing hills, avoid following a wheel too closely. Many riders often lose their momentum when rising out of the saddle on a hill which can cause a sudden deceleration. This can often catch a rider who is following too closely, resulting in a fall from a wheel touch.

Do not panic if you brush shoulders, hands or bars with another rider. Try to stay relaxed in your upper body to absorb any bumps. This is a part of cycle racing in close bunches and is quite safe provided riders do not panic, brake or change direction.


There are a lot more minor points that could be mentioned here as becoming a proficient bunch rider takes time and experience to achieve. The most important point however is to be aware of others around you and respect other riders, your actions will have a direct response on theirs.

[Startrek]

If you knock Ninja of her bike she will punch you in the head .

Note to one's self anger management classes are NOT working.


Ok i'm just joking ok




Nah i'm goin hit you .

[faema]

What the??

It says at the top, Post Bunch Ride Etiquette here. Not sure what that reply is about.

I picked up this content from the CCC (http://www.canberracyclingclub.org.au/club_info/?IntCatId=18&IntContId=808) site, which I think is an amalgamation of a few different articles going around the web (sorry should have referenced it).

[Startrek]

Its a joke most people on this site know me and would just laugh ,stop being so serious and lighten up .

[SimonD]

What the??


Sheather is our resident crazy woman. If you see any blond ladies riding a bike and you value your ear drums, give them the wide berth, just in case.

Thanks for posting the info, btw!

[faema]

Ahhh no worries. Thanks for the heads up.

Hope to get out on a Norman ride one of these days.

[Startrek]

Excuse me ,just have a look at Jamie's avatar.

[SimonD]

Ahhh no worries. Thanks for the heads up.

Hope to get out on a Norman ride one of these days.

It'll be good to have you along. It's a pretty fun ride.

Excuse me ,just have a look at Jamie's avatar.

Avatars, hmmm...

[SSSimon]

When you have been lapped by the leaders in a crit, safely pull off the course and out of the race (unless you are still in the top 10).
This will stop confusion and congestion at the pointy end of the race.

[gsavage]

When you have been lapped by the leaders in a crit, safely pull off the course and out of the race (unless you are still in the top 10).
This will stop confusion and congestion at the pointy end of the race.

Yes, was pulled up for this last night and makes perfect sense, not that I am aiming to be lapped. Also means I can watch the finish and cheer on the everyone.

Last night I was so focussed on not being lapped that I kept on pushing on even though I was well out of it. :)

[SueP]

When you have been lapped by the leaders in a crit, safely pull off the course and out of the race (unless you are still in the top 10).
This will stop confusion and congestion at the pointy end of the race.


Except at supercrits where you may join back onto the back of the bunch (carefully) and get a little more of a workout. Just don't interfere with the race (ie don't jump in front of someone who hasn't been lapped) and best to pull out before the last lap to avoid any confusion.

[Stevo]

When going for the "Bushie Blow" move to the side or too the rear of the Peleton. Otherwise be prepared for Termination.

[Startrek]

When going for the "Bushie Blow" move to the side or too the rear of the Peleton. Otherwise be prepared for Termination.

OK i'm taking the bait whats a Bushie Blow.

[Bean]

Bush oyster... out the nose.

[Simonsky]

If you want to snork (aka bushie blow, aka bush oyster and all other manner of pleasant epithets) do it the heck away from me! Talk about the perfect disease transmission mechanism! And moving to the side still means that riders 3 or 4 back are going to get hit by a spray of mucus. So if you must do it, go to the back of the bunch.

[SimonD]

If you want to snork (aka bushie blow, aka bush oyster and all other manner of pleasant epithets) do it the heck away from me! Talk about the perfect disease transmission mechanism! And moving to the side still means that riders 3 or 4 back are going to get hit by a spray of mucus. So if you must do it, go to the back of the bunch.

Well said. It seriously goes everywhere! There is nothing worse than feeling the spay on your face....

That's the second time this week, I've said "well said" to a SImon - I'm getting worried.

[Vanessa]

That's the second time this week, I've said "well said" to you C-Bold - I'm getting worried.

Simonsky is Simon N

[SimonD]

How embarrassing. Can I blame it on the Silent Range?

[Vanessa]

Sounds believable, depending on how much you've consumed :)

[Bean]

How embarrassing. Can I blame it on the Silent Range?

If it's over and over again in the public section of the forum that's fine.

[SSSimon]

If you are feeling gaseous wear undies under your knicks. Scientific studies have shown that undies trap 90% of particulates.

If you see anyone with VPL (visible panty line) under their knicks, be sure to compliment them on their thoughtfulness.

[Bean]

If you are wearing knicks that won't catch 90% of particulates, get a new pair!

[MatthewL]

I think I'd be wanting a higher catch rate than 90%!!

[SSSimon]

Come on guys, be more scientific in your thinking! Knicks + undies = 99% catchment!

So, thank the VPL rider for their consideration. BTW also spare a thought for the scientist/s who conducted the study.

[Bean]

Come on guys, be more scientific in your thinking! Knicks + undies = 99% catchment!

So, thank the VPL rider for their consideration. BTW also spare a thought for the scientist/s who conducted the study.

It doesn't take a scientist to make the reasonable assumption that a good pair of knicks will hold just about everything in... but I've ridden behind some shockers in my time!

[SimonD]

but I've ridden behind some shockers in my time!

Sparkles.....!

[bosworth*]

Haha

[Stevo]

For the comfort of others, do not wear knicks you can sift flour through!!!!

[SSSimon]

Hi all, coming in on the discussion with a plan for tomorrow's Norman (weather permitting) - don't you love how I always say that - just to reinforce what a hard person I am ;)
The F bunch is pretty untidy sometimes, a couple of suggestions from my observations last week:
1) don't smash yourself on the front for so long that you get dropped when the next pair come through - if you're not feeling strong just do a short turn - maybe only 300m - just enough time for the pair going back to get there.
2) swinging off at second wheel right when the front pair are also swinging off is bad - ideally we only want one pair making their way to the back of the bunch at a time - otherwise we're really riding a 4 wide bunch!
3) do try to stay handlebar to handlebar, shoulder to shoulder with your partner - however if your partner is getting to be more than 2 bike lengths back yell out that you're moving up - ditch your partner and move up into the space in front of them. The rest of the bunch should move forward and fill the gaps;
3) avoid getting paired up with someone who is a lot weaker than you unless you are happy to take it easy when your turn comes around;
4) if you are really confident and paired up really well, ride up as a pair next to a single rider - politely suggest that the single rider should find a partner at the back if it takes them more than 20 seconds to figure that out themselves (this is actually called the '20 second rule' and I didn't make it up);
6) last week I found the second half of the F group really tidy - maybe because we'd dagged all the untidy riders going up MuggsAway.

Regards,
SimonC.

[Driver]

Sparkles.....!

what? can you wear nicks on your head?

[SimonD]

what? can you wear nicks on your head?

Discovered that one a bit late.

No farting.