Pace Line Learning Curve - Are We Learning?

[Warren Lopour]

Last Monday, I rode with a group of 10 (which then grew to 13). When we took off, the group quickly fell into a dual pace line. Although it was exhilarating (we went at a clip I could not have sustained alone), it was also uncomfortable for me. As a result, I looked up some articles on the internet:

www.bccclub.org/documents/PaceLineBasics.html

www.active.com/cycling/Articles/Riding_in_a_paceline_is_a_basic_cycling_skill.htm

www.planetultra.com/training/rbr/paceline.html

Here’s the warning from the first article: “A word about risk. The efficiency of riding in a pace line comes at the cost of added risk. Riding in a pace line is not as safe as riding by yourself. If the rider ahead of you (or behind you or on either side for that matter) does something unexpected, you could find yourself on the pavement in an instant. Don't ride in a pace line unless you're willing to assume these risks!”

These articles contain many good tips, and anyone in the club that rides pace lines needs to read them.

Here are some tips that I found to be relevant:

1. CARDINAL RULE: Do NOT do anything suddenly!!!

2. Ideally, you want to be 6” to 12” away from the wheel in front of you. However, you still receive a lot of benefit at three feet! (depending on wind direction, of course).

3. Do no ride up the side of the wheel in front of you since this can cause a fall if the person in front of you swerves to avoid an object in the road.

4. Start riding a pace line with just two riders and do it on flat ground (not sure where we find that around Rochester).

5. Don’t stop pedaling – ever. This prevents you from unintended acceleration and the person behind you from being startled.

6. Do not brake! If the person behind you runs into your wheel, he will go down for sure (and maybe you too), along with anyone in the pace line behind him.

7. Do not accelerate up a grade – pace line should slow down.

8. Never get out of the saddle in a pace line. When you do this you tend to throw your bike back 6”-12”, which can definitely cause a crash.

9. Everyone has a different comfort speed – try to keep within ½ mph of the last leader’s pace.

10. When rotating to the back, be careful to make sure the rider you pull in behind is indeed the last rider in line.

11. Dual pace lines are used for larger groups (8-15 riders). I suspect that makes them even more dangerous (more opportunities for error).

12. Lead rider must be the eyes of the pace line, calling out obstacles and changes in pace or direction. And to go along with this, those in back need to be listening. Is that possible if there are conversations going on?

13. Get a drink when you’re at the back of the pace line. Personally, I’m uncomfortable when drinking in line any time. For my current skill level, I prefer to stop for drinks.

Unfortunately, almost all of the above rules were broken on Monday’s ride. We had a great time, and no one was injured. However, I think we were putting each other at risk unknowingly. I’m sure our ‘A’ (fastest) riders don’t have any of these issues. But for everyone else between ‘A’ and Easy Riders, I suspect we have a lot to learn in order to safely implement pace lines. We want to have fun, but let’s do it as safely as we can.

Why do we take more risks than we are comfortable with? Even though we are all adults, we still succumb to peer pressure. Maybe a group of 12 would be better off breaking up into 3 single pace lines of 4 each. But how do we do it? Everyone wants to be in the fastest group (either out of pride or just wanting to be challenged). However, if we all ride together, we need to accommodate the slowest person in the group anyway. Could we be brave enough to just count out by threes and just take what comes? Sometimes you’d end up in a little slower group, and sometimes you would hit the fastest group. We need to keep in mind that our club advertises doing recreational road riding. Maybe club rides aren’t the appropriate training arena for time trials. Is it really that important to achieve the fastest time and/or the most miles on every ride?

Warren Lopour

[jno]

I ride mostly solo due to time constraints. The thing about a double paceline is that when rotating you are riding 4 abreast, and taking up a majority of the lane.

5. Don’t stop pedaling – ever. This prevents you from unintended acceleration and the person behind you from being startled.

6. Do not brake! If the person behind you runs into your wheel, he will go down for sure (and maybe you too), along with anyone in the pace line behind him.

These contradict each other. How do you slow down? When in the draft, I like to coast, and if I need to slow down, lift my head/sit up and let the added drag slow me down. If I need to brake, tap the brakes lightly and audibly.

8. Never get out of the saddle in a pace line. When you do this you tend to throw your bike back 6”-12”, which can definitely cause a crash.

If you practice this you can stand without throwing your bike bike backwards. It is kind of like looking behind you while still maintaining a straight line.

10. When rotating to the back, be careful to make sure the rider you pull in behind is indeed the last rider in line.

The last rider can say something like, "I'm it" to say they are at the back. If anyone is sitting on and not rotating, they should let a gap open and communicate to the rider falling back to pull in.

Part of the fun of a double paceline is that riders of different abilities can all ride together. The key is to have stronger riders pull LONGER, not faster, and weaker riders to pull SHORTER, not slower. The time at the front should be dictated by the slower of the 2 riders. Many of my fondest/painful memories involve finding myself next to Jim Palmer at the bottom of a hill. It's like someone punching you and you can see it coming. You know it's going to hurt, and there is no way around it.

People who sit on for a few miles before hills/town signs and then attack up the hills or sprint are tools and should be called out.

I think single rotating pacelines are the best (pulling off into the wind). You maintain 2 abreast and stay in good graces of the cars. The problem is that it is no good for anyone sitting on as they are either in the way and disrupting flow or getting gapped and actually working harder than anyone else.

My opinion,

J-No

[lochrider]

The OP included several suggestions from others that make good sense and can be used as a basis for safe Group Riding & Etiquette. Some text, however, seems to have been "lost in translation." The following comments are meant only to make clear to others what I am sure the OP meant to convey.

In general, group riding in a paceline or otherwise requires knowing where you are and where everyone around you is and intends to be. This knowledge comes from clear communication and following conventions. Much of what we read in safe riding lists are re-statements of conventions.

A double paceline is more difficult to execute than a single paceline. If your experience is limited, start by participating in a single paceline. If you are nervous when riding in closer proximity to others, you must overcome this anxiety to take advantage of paceline participation. If you want experience, ask your bicycling friends to organize a skills clinic that addresses issues arising on group rides. A local, experienced cycling advocate or coach is a good source for leading a skills clinic.

The following should be read in context with the original post.

#5 - The reasons many advocate that a recreational cyclist "never stop pedaling" are two-fold: (a) When a cyclist in a paceline stops pedaling they slow down too quickly, creating a potential hazard for those who follow; and (b) By maintaining a steady cadence, a cyclist maintains a dynamic balance on the bicycle that promotes more complete control of the machine and their body. Speed adjustment can be modulated in a more controlled manner by other methods (e.g., easing into the unprotected air, soft-pedaling or "pedaling glass," feathering a brake while pedaling, slowly sitting up to catch more air).

#6 - "Feathering" a brake while pedaling is a controlled means to modulate speed in a group or in a paceline. What the OP probably meant was that a cyclist should not apply brakes as though they were riding solo. The technique of feathering a brake can be learned easily. If you don't know how, ask. NOTE: When a cyclist's front wheel hits or bumps the rear wheel ahead of them, the result does NOT always have to be a mishap (bike speak for "crash"). By participating in a skills clinic, you can learn to stay upright in many instances and reduce the unreasonable anxiety associated with this misunderstood phenomenon. (Nevertheless, it is a good idea to avoid unintended contact.)

#8 - Getting out of the saddle in a paceline or group setting is often appropriate and can be accomplished with no ill effect if the cyclist follows some simple caveats: (a) While pedaling shift to the next or second next larger gear (smaller cog) before you stand, in order to maintain speed at your reduced cadence; (b) Gradually rise off the saddle while maintaining speed/effort; and (c) Communicate your intention in a manner sufficient to be heard by the cyclist following you (especially in groups with less experience). When you are ready to resume your saddle position, you will tend to pull your bike forward, so be controlled and gradual in your actions. (Conversely, as in the OP, sudden standing will throw your bike back sometimes more than 12". As a corollary, be aware of the patterns and behavior of the cyclist in front of you to anticipate any sudden foolishness, including sudden standing.)

#9 - The paceline should strive to maintain a high speed that all participants can manage without undue stress. This does not mean that the group must go the same speed throughout the ride. As riders become warmed-up they will be able to work at higher levels, but many riders can take up to 30 or 40 minutes to adequately warm-up. When a cyclist finds that they must cut short their period of time at the front because they are at or near their limit, they should gradually turn off the front and rotate to the back after insuring their movement will not impact the rider behind them (the other rider can stay at the lead and be joined by the next in line or rotate off, as well). Pacelines large enough should encourage the creation of "the Caboose" so less strong riders can gain the benefit of the group ride while they amass experience. Also, the time or effort period at the front should not approach one's "red line;" too many riders have fallen off a paceline due to putting in too much effort, rather than an effort within their comfort zone. (If you can't pull, either rotate off the front or ride the caboose.)

Finally, one way to make for a well-mannered paceline consisting of riders having a wide range of skill and fitness levels is to encourage everyone to ride in the small chainring. This tends to even out the disparities and promotes a more homogeneous group riding experience, especially when learning to ride in a rotating paceline. The more experienced riders will improve their cadence and form while the less experienced will gain the benefit of a coherent group ride. Surges and decelerations tend to be less harmful.

Thanks to the OP for addressing the issue.

Cheers,

Ian

[Warren Lopour]

I’d like to thank J-No and Ian for your thoughtful replies. By the way, in case there are other that are wondering, I was able to figure out the “OP” means “Original Poster”.

Here are some additional thoughts based on the reply from J-No:

1.“.. when rotating you are riding 4 abreast, and taking up a majority of the lane.” The following PDF shows a picture of this on page 5:
midweekclub.ca/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/paceline.pdf

The other way to do it is to rotate by one column accelerating and the other dropping back. The good news is the group doesn’t take up the entire road. The bad news is that this method is more difficult (and risky) to implement. It is apparently only for very experienced and skilled riders. There’s a picture of that technique on page 2 of this PDF:
www.sdbc.org/core/includes/docs/pacelines1.pdf

It isn’t clear to me that there is a “middle ground” on the rotation technique – you just have to choose one. It seems to me, however, that there are other dangers with the 4-abreast technique. If you are the rider rotating back on the curb/shoulder side, you tend to get pushed off the road as the group pulls past. Also, the aggressive addition of shoulder “rumbles” by our counties to make our roads “safer” just make pace lines more dangerous. A good example would be CR 3 North of Douglas (narrow, no shoulders, hilly, lined with rumbles) makes it just about impossible to rotate 4-abreast without crossing the center line. I’m quite certain any city or county officer that saw this happen would consider it illegal.

2. Slowing down: “If I need to brake, tap the brakes lightly and audibly.” By “audibly”, do you mean that you call out “slowing” or “braking” – or is there a way to have the brakes make some noise. I assume we shouldn’t be watching each other’s brake mechanisms.

3. Never get out of the saddle: “If you practice this you can stand without throwing your bike backwards.” I believe this. How do we get trained? Where do we practice? How much practice do you need? Do you call it out before you do it? If the leaders get out of the saddle, does everyone need to do it?

4. Pulling in: “… last rider can say something like, ‘I’m it’…”. Is this a “can”, or would “must” be a better word to use. And if someone is “sitting on” (meaning they never rotate to the front), what should they say? Is, “I’m it” still appropriate?

5. “People who sit on for a few miles before hills/town signs and then attack up the hills or sprint are tools and should be called out.” While I don’t disagree with you, unfortunately this is Minnesota, and our habit of being “Minnesota Nice” probably prevents this from happening. And, if we don’t have published guidelines or rules, are we calling them out because we don’t personally like what they are doing, or are they really wrong?

6. Racing to a town sign: I get the impression there are some people that like to do this. My guess is some folks think it is great fun, and others just get annoyed to see a pace line break apart and a sprint ensue. Is this type of activity appropriate for a group riding in a pace line? Is it appropriate at all in a group ride environment?

7. "I think single rotating pacelines are the best…”. I’m just not quite sure what this means. Do you just mean a single pace line with one person rotating or a dual pace line that rotates without going 4-abreast (see second link in #1 above)?

Here are some additional thoughts based on the reply from Ian:

1. “… paceline or otherwise requires knowing where you are and where everyone around you is and intends to be.” This requires “… clear communication and following conventions.” Seems to me it would be a good idea if we documented what those conventions are for the club. For example, should people ever be chatting in a dual pace line?

2. “If your experience is limited, start by participating in a single paceline.” I think this is a great idea. Unfortunately, when I had my experience, I thought I was moving up to the group just above Easy Riders – and they weren’t doing single pace lines. In order to do that, we would have needed to split the group up. People seem unwilling to do that. It would also be good to have one rider in the single pace line be an experienced rider to coach the others. Do we have any club members willing to do that?

3. “A local, experienced cycling advocate or coach is a good source for leading a skills clinic.” Another great idea. Any volunteers? Would there be two different clinics for beginners and advanced riders? The remainder of your comments include a lot of good ideas:
-- “Feathering” a brake while pedaling (I assume this would be an advanced technique)
-- Learn to stay upright after a bump – this would be an important skill for everyone
-- Getting out of the saddle (also looks like an advanced technique)
-- Maintain a high speed that all participants can manage – this makes the important point that the stronger riders will need to “throttle back” in a pace line. Their main goal is not to demonstrate their prowess, but to keep the group together.
-- Large pace lines should encourage a “caboose” – I assume that is where the weaker or less experienced riders would be. For dual pace lines, it would be important for these folks to have some minimum set of skills and experience.
-- Encourage everyone to ride in the small chain ring – does that equate to the middle chain ring on a bike with a “triple”?

Thanks again to J-No and Ian for your comments. The two conclusions that I come to are:

1. We need to publish some club guidelines for pace line riding. Maybe there would be two sets, one for single pace lines and a separate, more advanced set for dual pace lines. Any volunteers?

2. It would be great if we could set up some training clinics. Just my opinion, but I think it would be great to have a beginners clinic only appropriate for single pace lines. Those folks could then practice their skills – we might even want to specify that they practice for some minimum number of hours before they would be eligible for the advanced clinic. The advanced clinic would be for everyone that participates in dual pace lines – including all the folks that currently think they are “experts.” Not because they aren’t skilled, but because we all need to be coached on how RASC pace lines are to run. Again, any volunteers?

Please do not misunderstand my intentions here. I realize that pace lines can be fun and very appropriate for experienced riders. We also need to realize that we may have some members that will never be comfortable in a pace line. Either way, we need to encourage safe bicycling techniques. We can have fun and be safe at the same time.

A couple more relevant links:

www.pearlandcyclingclub.org/safety-paceline.html

www.floridabicycle.org/rules/groups.html

Thanks for listening,
Warren

[jno]

7. "I think single rotating pacelines are the best…”. I’m just not quite sure what this means. Do you just mean a single pace line with one person rotating or a dual pace line that rotates without going 4-abreast (see second link in #1 above)?

I meant 2 abreast, one line moving, up, the other moving back. Never 4 abreast. Poor choice of words. Sorry for the confusion.

Ian is much more eloquent than I am. I think we are saying the same thing.

I was half joking about the sitting in and sprinting/attacking the climb. I was serious about the being a tool part, but not about the calling someone out. I would never encourage confrontation on a group ride. It is supposed to be fun. The 200 meters it takes to sprint to the line is no big deal. Usually you have to slow down anyway.

As I have been doing all of my riding solo, I miss the surges up hills and at town signs. I hate doing intervals, so I never do them on my own. I have noticed that I cannot handle changes in tempo like I used to. Unfortunately weeknights do not work for me, so I'll have to deal with it.

I think it's great that Rochester has so many options and such a large turnout for group rides.

[Warren Lopour]

It would be great if one of our more experienced riders would take the information in the links above and customize it for our club. My personal opinion is that if everyone was correctly educated, they would ride more safely and have more fun. In the meantime, I've copied the links to the "Group Ride Guidelines" tab. I've also copied the text into a MS Word document and linked it to the "Recreational Cycling" entry on the main cycling page.

[davegreymont]

A couple of years ago we held a riding clinic on the various types of pace lines. There was a coach that rode with each pace line offering tips, techniques, and perhaps pace line etiquette. As I recall, we practiced the different types of pace lines until we were somewhat comfortable with the technique and all the riders were in sync and knew what to expect. There's always an inherent risk in riding pace lines but it can be reduced if everyone understands and follows the concepts. I learned a lot during the clinic and perhaps it's time to hold another one.
Dave G.

[cgfranzone]

I believe I was in Warren's group last Monday night. It was my first ride with Rochester Active Sports Club, and I had a fantastic experience. I primarily rode with Jacky, Kathy, and Katie, and I tried to follow their lead. I never felt unsafe, but I may have unwittingly caused problems for which I am blissfully unaware... Please feel free to give suggestions to me if I am committing bicycling blunders. I appreciate all the posts about the pace lines. : ) Thanks, Carolyn

[lochrider]

As of Wednesday, August 25 - The answer to the OP is "NO."

Last evening I had the opportunity to observe the intermediate group ride for a few miles. The weather was good so the group was large. When I first approached the group from the rear, it included cyclists who were riding four-across for extended periods, approaching the the road's yellow line(s). Riders were observed maintaining their position riding three-across. The group in these instances was taking up most of the traffic lane ascending hills & rises. During this particular observation, the road included a clear, wide paved shoulder, notwithstanding rumble strips. These practices would be problematic at the beginning of the season, but it is now the end of August!

When an intermediate group includes riders with a wide range of fitness and skills, common sense must prevail. Less strong riders do not need to pull the group, especially as the group approaches hills. The group must police itself to ensure safe riding practices. At first, a gentle reminder is all that is necessary.

Experienced cyclists riding beside each other in a double pace line should be no more than a couple feet, or at most three feet, away from each other.

If the lead riders slow down as they ascend a hill, then everyone must decrease their speed. Riders who pull off the front to recover and rejoin the rear of the group must accomplish the transition with all dispatch and only when it is safe to do so considering road conditions and traffic.

My purpose in posting is to ring the bell of Safety. The group's safety is dependent upon the exercise of every one's safe cycling skills.

Cheers,

Ian