How to ride a bike (in a group) Part 1.

Once upon a time in the eighties (and probably 70s and 60s) there was a legendary local hardman called Ernie Bore who ruled the clubruns and chaingangs with a few well chosen words and gestures. Legend has it that Ernie died on a chaingang trying to counter an attack. Steve Richards was responsible apparently (for the attack).

Those rules still apply today and with so many new riders joining, Ken 'South of England's strongest pensioner' Ruffell thought it would be a good idea to put them down on paper. Feel free to comment or add (part two will be up shortly). These are Ken's thoughts:


CLUB TRAINING RIDES
‘ETIQUETTE’

Here is an entry into the etiquette of club training rides. There will always be a difference of opinion between the grizzlies and the young guns, the experienced and the inexperienced, but there were a few lessons learnt in the old ‘wild west’ that perhaps still haven’t been passed on. These are basically the things that a rider can or should or shouldn’t do, when riding in a group. A few, or all, may be obvious to some, but may be foreign to others.

Lack of etiquette can sometimes lead to clashes, or even crashes. The list below highlights some of the main problems, which I have seen during this winter’s training rides.

HOLES
When we are riding in a large group - perhaps 15 to 20 riders - in twos, the leading pair should always warn all the guys behind of holes coming up. Hand signals are no use to the last pair, about 20 metres back. Be vocal - shout out the holes - or someone will either puncture or crash.
GOBBING & SNOTTING
We’ve all experienced gob or snot flying back from a rider up front, and if you want to stay fit all year, you don’t want to pick up someone else’s virus. If you are up front, on the right string, then gob or snot to your right - downwards, not up in the air. If you are on the left string, gob or snot to your left.
WATERPROOF TOPS
When I see guys on the front of the group putting their waterproof tops on, I get reminded of a really bad group crash some years ago. When both hands are off the bars, there is very little control and there’s no mercy for the guys behind if the worst happens. If you need to get another layer on, then drop to the back of the group to do it.
FOOD & DRINK DOWNHILL
Everybody needs to take on fuel during a long training ride, but it should be done when it’s safe to do it - not while descending. A dropped bottle can cause big problems!
BRAKES
I wonder how many club-members change their brake-blocks regularly. We’ve had an especially wet winter and I am on my third set (front and rear) since November. It’s so easy to tell who’s braking comfortably, and who’s struggling, particularly when descending. Check them and change them regularly. Good blocks are expensive, but then so is your life!
THERE ARE MORE!