road group riding rules?

[FyrFytrRyn]

i got invited to go on a group road ride this weekend, my first actually. i asked the guy who invited me "is there anything i need to know?" He replied "just dont run into the guy infront of you!" well that was the end of that. theres more right? i just dont want to piss anyone off, i know every group is different, but is there any rules that all riders know, can i get a guideline book or something?? thanks roadie friends, i appreciate it, very much!

[tkblazer]

who cares if you piss them off.. .they're roadies

[MTBMaven]

Don't fart when you are the lead guy

More seriously though, I noticed very quickly on my first organized century how much other riders try to tell riders behind them of obstacles or changes in pace. When you are trucking along you tend to get into a zone. Things like stop lights, cars, rocks, pot holes can throw you off when you are in that zone, or simply when you are drafting closely behind someone.

People tend to yell rock, hole, car up, or car back, etc. They also use their hands to wave people from one side to the other. Simple stick you hand back, almost like you are grabbing something from your jersey, and wave the direction other should move. Also people yell slowing, stopping, or going when changing pace as dictated by traffic conditions.

Within the first quarter mile of the Tour de Palm Springs (my first century) Pain Freak, whom I was riding with, started doing all this yelling...Slowing!!!....Going!!! It scarred the crap out of me the first time and the next few times I was like Mike...quite. No one else was saying anything. It was so weird.

However after a little bit of riding around hundreds of other riders it made perfect since. You really have to tell others what you are doing. The larger the group, the smaller the gap between other riders, and the more obstacles (e.g. cars, poor road conditions, etc.) the more important these things become.

My recommendation is to try to stay in the back or side of the group until you learn the dynamics of the group. Don't ride too close to someone you don't know that well. Always warn people when coming from behind.

My $.2, take it for what it's worth from a roadie of 8 months.

Originally Posted by tkblazer

who cares if you piss them off.. .they're roadies

Helpful I guess roadies have more concern for their fellow biker than MTBers. Wait I'm an MTBer too....never mind.

[CeeDubb]

1. Maintain your line. The rider behind you has a tough time following if you're all over the road.

2. If you notice objects in the road, slower cyclists you're coming up on, cyclists approaching from the opposite direction (South OC bike paths), pedestrians you're coming up on, etc...be sure to signal to the riders behind you.

3. If riding a paceline, share in the work and take your turn up front (if you've got the energy to do it). If you're not as strong of a rider, the group will generally not care if you hang in the back or middle of the group. If you do have the strength, it generally pisses off the group if you don't do your share.

4. Have fun.

Let the group know it's your first group ride out on the road and they'll fill you in on the dos and don'ts.

[RidetheRAAM4]

There are a few rules that you need to know.

1.) Always try to buzz the guys tire infront of you. If you don't he will feel disrespected and will immediately proceed to drop nails behind him to try and give you flat tires.

2.) Make sure you spit right over your head to get the guy behind you in the face. If you waste your spit on the side of the road the other riders will throw sticks in your spokes for wasting the water. Its hot, they want to get cooled down.

3.) Whenever you take the lead immediately slow down. The only point to riding fast is to get to the front of the pack, once you are there you can slow everyone else down. If you don't they might get annoyed because you are making them work too hard and they will grab onto your seat and not pedal to slow you down.

4.) Most important of all....If you run into any obstacles just bunny hop over them (such as rocks, pot holes, etc..). Remember, ever ride is a race so anything that you can do to throw the guys behind you off their bikes only works to your advantage.

Its a brutal world out there on the road.




P.S. Where are you riding at and which day? I am going for 100 miles on saturday about 8:00am. Doing like 25 miles up the river trail then another 25 up PCH and back.

[S54MCoupe]

Just find someone who seems nice and knows what they're doing, and tell them that it's your first group ride.

DON'T pull in and out of a paceline, and don't overlap wheels. That's my bit of advice.

You don't have anything to worry about, if they know what they're doing, they'll call you out and help you when you're making mistakes.

Have fun!

Originally Posted by RidetheRAAM4

There are a few rules that you need to know.

1.) Always try to buzz the guys tire infront of you. If you don't he will feel disrespected and will immediately proceed to drop nails behind him to try and give you flat tires.

2.) Make sure you spit right over your head to get the guy behind you in the face. If you waste your spit on the side of the road the other riders will throw sticks in your spokes for wasting the water. Its hot, they want to get cooled down.

3.) Whenever you take the lead immediately slow down. The only point to riding fast is to get to the front of the pack, once you are there you can slow everyone else down. If you don't they might get annoyed because you are making them work too hard and they will grab onto your seat and not pedal to slow you down.

4.) Most important of all....If you run into any obstacles just bunny hop over them (such as rocks, pot holes, etc..). Remember, ever ride is a race so anything that you can do to throw the guys behind you off their bikes only works to your advantage.

Its a brutal world out there on the road.




P.S. Where are you riding at and which day? I am going for 100 miles on saturday about 8:00am. Doing like 25 miles up the river trail then another 25 up PCH and back.

I would thank you twice for this post if i could

[Neccros]

Just bring a big frame pump to stick in the wheels of some d-bag that gets on your ass about not following the rules!!!!

[Yeti575ASR]

My advice to you is suck wheel (draft) and stay off the front of the pace line till you size youself up with the rest of the group. Try to keep all passing and moving in the pack smooth like liquid. Sudden moves can cause accidents.

[CeeDubb]

On my last ride in Mission Viejo, one of the riders asked me, "You're a mountain biker, huh?"

I said, "Yeah. How did you know?"

He said, "You can always tell the roadies who mountain bike because they bunny hop over everything."

I never realized how much I hop over little things in the road like debris, large pavement gaps, bumps, etc.

[MTBMaven]

LMFAO. That was some laugh out loud shite.

Originally Posted by RidetheRAAM4

P.S. Where are you riding at and which day? I am going for 100 miles on saturday about 8:00am. Doing like 25 miles up the river trail then another 25 up PCH and back.

Dude doesn't that add up to a 50 mile ride?

[jfromlv]

I think the and back part makes it 100 miles.

[FyrFytrRyn]

Some of this falls inline with streetbike riding. We all point to holes or hazards in the road and sometimes draft each other ,but i cant bunnyhop on one of those, lol. Well, its a LBS organized ride (yucaipa) and i figure its probably gonna be mostly older guys and gals, i may actually be the youngest in the group (not a big change with the STR's i ride MTB with! AHHHHHhaha.) so its probably gonna be mellow. one of 3 routes. yucaipa to redlands/san bernardino via sunset and greenspot. or banning via oakglen road. i forgot the other, but ive ridden the two that i mentioned. thanks for the tips again guys, ill do them one better by pee'ing off the side of the bike at full kill. that'll cool um off!

[Neccros]

Originally Posted by FyrFytrRyn

ill do them one better by pee'ing off the side of the bike at full kill. that'll cool um off!

Just watch the direction of the wind!!!!

[mtnbikej]

Originally Posted by S54MCoupe

Just find someone who seems nice and knows what they're doing, and tell them that it's your first group ride.

[SIZE=5] DON'T pull in and out of a paceline, and don't overlap wheels. [/SIZE]That's my bit of advice.

You don't have anything to worry about, if they know what they're doing, they'll call you out and help you when you're making mistakes.

Have fun!



I would thank you twice for this post if i could

This is the most important piece of advice. This is where people get hurt.

[MTBMaven]

Originally Posted by jfromlv

I think the and back part makes it 100 miles.

Duh yes you are right I miss read the post. I read it as up the river 25 miles and back 25 miles. Sorry.

[CPATCRASH]

And remember. Roadies lie!

Cyclists are the biggest sandbaggers and secret trainers around. They'll say anything to soften you up for the kill. Don't let this happen to you. Study this handy rider's phrasebook to find out what they really mean when they say:

"I'm out of shape."
Translation: I ride 400 miles a week and haven't missed a day since the Ford administration. I replace my 11-tooth cog more often than you wash your shorts. My body fat percentage is lower than your mortgage rate.

"I'm not into competition. I'm just riding to stay in shape."
Translation: I will attack until you collapse in the gutter, babbling and whimpering. I will win the sprint if I have to force you into a pine tree. I will crest this hill first if I have to grab your seat post, and spray energy drink in your eyes.

"I'm on my beater bike."
Translation: I had this baby custom-made in Tuscany using Titanium blessed by the Pope. I took it to a wind tunnel and it disappeared. It weighs less than a fart and costs more than a divorce.

"It's not that hilly."
Translation: This climb lasts longer than a presidential campaign. Be careful on the steep sections or you'll fall over -- backward. You have a 39x23 low gear? Here's the name of my knee surgeon.

"This is a no-drop ride."
Translation: I'll need an article of your clothing for the search-and-rescue dogs.

"It's not that far."
Translation: Bring your passport.

[andy aka rut]

If you end up riding with "older" guys and girls, you will probably do just fine as long as you let them know you are a newbie. Of course if they have any experience, they will know.

Tall tail signs of a mtn biker on the road...

Visor on your helmet.
Dirty shoes before the ride.
Camelback.
Baggy shorts.
Full-finger gloves.
Jersey without the three pockets in the back.

Be sure to keep a close eye on the rear wheel of the rider infront of you. If your wheel hits it, you will go OTB. That is one reason why it is so important to communicate with everyone in the paceline. Remember people are very close behind you and they don't know what you are doing unless you tell them.

Enjoy the ride. We expect a Road Ride Report (RRR) too.

[g.c.]

There is nothing, I mean nothing, that screws up possibilities of new friendships more than wadding up the entire paceline of a road ride your first time out.

Grab the back wheel in the line and watch, learn and listen.

Watch for and understand the hand signals. Listen to the riders ahead of you. Pay close attention, and until you have a touch of experience and are comfortable with elbow to elbow and wheel to wheel, stay in the back of the pack. That way, if you stack or make a boneheaded move you only take yourself out.

Give it two rides and you'll start to get into the groove.

[Pilas]

Originally Posted by mechmann

LOL....

Roadies get all butt-hurt when you don't follow their silly little codes. screw that. i just tell them that isn't how i ride in the dirt.

Their "silly little codes" are mostly things that you d