On Riding in Groups

Riding in groups is rather a dark art. Most of the time people ride along perfectly happy by themselves. Riding in a group at first feels rather un-natural- too close, too far, OMG I'm gonna kill that guy in front of me. 


But eventually you get used to it and just get so bored you eventually see that the label on the back of the person in front of you's shorts says 40 degree wash only. In fact, they should print things on the back of cycling shorts- poetry or algebra equations or something for long rides. 


The other thing is that it's just easier. The person in front of you acts as a windbreak, and it's a hellofalot easier on the ol' legs. A distance of about a wheel length will get you the best aerodynamic advantage, although if you watch the professionals, they're pretty much rubbing rubber (no innuendo implied ;-) ). 


It can be real disconcerting being in the middle of the group with someone in front and behind you- the old cyclist sammich. Worry about the person in front of you- if you keep looking back, you will hit the person in front. If the worst happens, rather than braking hard, try to steer round. 


A secret code was forged, long ago, by early cyclists. It is occasionally passed down by the cycling elders (spotable by their sandals and beards) to "young 'uns". It consists of a series of different hand signals.


Pothole/drain cover/roadkill- Lower an arm  to your side and draw a circle with your hand, depending on which side it was. If you're in a group, the person at the front will be the only person who has time to react to them. Pass the signal back and you'll stop folk getting punctures, buckled wheels.


Stopping- A right handed fist, bend towards the sky. Give people some time to react, and yell that you're gonna stop too. Just stopping will probably lead to you gaining a passenger on your bicycle. And not in a good way.


I'm gonna go- Mainly useful at roundabouts, particularly when going straight on. A flat palm wave forwards past your ear to indicate you're gonna go to peeps behind you.


Apparently that's as far as the cycling elders got before falling asleep in their warm pints of real ale. There are more, but these are the most commonly used and most easily understood ones.