Group riding

Although we don't ride in packs or groups in non-drafting triathlon events, it is good to know the rules of group riding. Pez cycling has a good overview today of the basic rules to follow. You can access the article here.

Key take-aways include:

• Whenever riding in a group you should be riding 2 by 2, side by side, handlebar to handlebar keeping it tight.
• When there is an uneven number of riders you should place yourself in between the two riders ahead of you, with your front wheel between their two rear wheels.
• When peeling off gradually move to the outside and let the group come through the middle.
• There should be no gaps in a group ride.
• Move gradually and steadily.
• Use hand signals to indicate obstacles.
• When someone slows down ahead of you, don't jump for the brakes. You should be riding ever so slightly to the side of the rider in front of you; so when they slow down, you either stop pedaling and start to slightly overlap your front wheel with their rear wheel, or you touch the brakes gradually, once again using the “wheel overlap” as a buffer zone so as not to slow down too suddenly for the riders behind you.

And finally one they forgot to mention: avoid triathletes in groups and with aerobars at all costs (thanks Steve!).