Really big group ride etiquette?

[katinthehat]

So I've found myself signed up for a 45 mile bike ride on Sunday with a very large group of people. There's a 70 mile route and a 20 mile route all rolling out over an hour, so of course, it's not going to be like some thousand person pelaton.

Any special things I should or should not know about before setting out?

I'm most worried because this ride cones off a lane for the riders, but doesn't provide police presence at intersections

[joenali]

Ride in straight line!!

[sadlebred]

1. Hold you line.
2. Don't start at the front if you know you will be slower (not slow but slower than the racer guys/girls at the front).
3. No aerobars. Never ride in aerobars or on a tri bike in a group ride.
4. Stay on your side of the yellow line.
5. HAVE FUN!!!

[sadlebred]

Also, know THE RULES www.velominati.com/the-rules/

[katinthehat]

Mar 13, 2013 21:55:28 GMT -5 sadlebred said:

Also, know THE RULES www.velominati.com/the-rules/

I am hard at work on #7 already!

Thanks girls. This is either going to be epically fun or a cluster. I'm not sure which!

[kams]

LOL at THE RULES!

I did a metric century in October that was just a fun, big, group ride, and I was so nervous. It was so much fun! I never needed to use this advice, but I was glad that I knew what to do: if someone bumps into you, stay loose and calm and keep holding your line. If you get panicky, you're more likely to take a fall. Also, don't let traffic lights bother you. Just follow the rules of the road and be cautious. When I'm alone, sometimes I will stop really far off on the bike lane and wait until I can cross into a turn lane with ease. With a big group, you'll probably just be able to follow everyone else's cues.

I felt like the day I did that ride, I became infinitely more comfortable riding. It was a great experience.

[tuggyruns]

THE RULES and all things cycling and all the matching and rules and etiquette and finckyness of cyclists totally freak me out. Another reason I think I will never really get into cycling past doing it for cross training. I run. That means I roll out of bed at 5a.m. or earlier and pull on whatever top/bottom combination that is clean- it's 5a.m. I really don't care if I match.

[kams]

Mar 14, 2013 9:32:50 GMT -5 tuggyruns said:

THE RULES and all things cycling and all the matching and rules and etiquette and finckyness of cyclists totally freak me out. Another reason I think I will never really get into cycling past doing it for cross training. I run. That means I roll out of bed at 5a.m. or earlier and pull on whatever top/bottom combination that is clean- it's 5a.m. I really don't care if I match.

LOL. We're just in here chatting about something we enjoy, and you bomb us with how weird we are! No need to join the freaks, then! 

I don't own a matching kit, and I follow all of the rules and etiquette because when you don't, you risk tremendous injury and even death. I really love to run in non-matching clothes, too.

[katinthehat]

Mar 14, 2013 9:26:18 GMT -5 kams said:

LOL at THE RULES!

I did a metric century in October that was just a fun, big, group ride, and I was so nervous. It was so much fun! I never needed to use this advice, but I was glad that I knew what to do: if someone bumps into you, stay loose and calm and keep holding your line. If you get panicky, you're more likely to take a fall. Also, don't let traffic lights bother you. Just follow the rules of the road and be cautious. When I'm alone, sometimes I will stop really far off on the bike lane and wait until I can cross into a turn lane with ease. With a big group, you'll probably just be able to follow everyone else's cues.

I felt like the day I did that ride, I became infinitely more comfortable riding. It was a great experience.

I'm really, really hoping that's the case for Sunday!

[tuggyruns]

Mar 14, 2013 9:45:42 GMT -5 kams said:

Mar 14, 2013 9:32:50 GMT -5 tuggyruns said:

THE RULES and all things cycling and all the matching and rules and etiquette and finckyness of cyclists totally freak me out. Another reason I think I will never really get into cycling past doing it for cross training. I run. That means I roll out of bed at 5a.m. or earlier and pull on whatever top/bottom combination that is clean- it's 5a.m. I really don't care if I match.

LOL. We're just in here chatting about something we enjoy, and you bomb us with how weird we are! No need to join the freaks, then! 

I don't own a matching kit, and I follow all of the rules and etiquette because when you don't, you risk tremendous injury and even death. I really love to run in non-matching clothes, too.

LOL, I TOTALLY didn't mean for it to come off that way! I guess I am just SOOOO overwhelmed and intimidated, and mainly, well in awe- my little pea brain is having a hard enough time remembering to clip out!

[kams]

Mar 14, 2013 9:55:58 GMT -5 tuggyruns said:

Mar 14, 2013 9:45:42 GMT -5 kams said:

LOL. We're just in here chatting about something we enjoy, and you bomb us with how weird we are! No need to join the freaks, then! 

I don't own a matching kit, and I follow all of the rules and etiquette because when you don't, you risk tremendous injury and even death. I really love to run in non-matching clothes, too.

LOL, I TOTALLY didn't mean for it to come off that way! I guess I am just SOOOO overwhelmed and intimidated, and mainly, well in awe- my little pea brain is having a hard enough time remembering to clip out!

I gotcha. It can be intimidating at first - I know I was. One day maybe we'll rope you in to the cycling cult...

[tuggyruns]

Mar 14, 2013 10:00:04 GMT -5 kams said:

Mar 14, 2013 9:55:58 GMT -5 tuggyruns said:

LOL, I TOTALLY didn't mean for it to come off that way! I guess I am just SOOOO overwhelmed and intimidated, and mainly, well in awe- my little pea brain is having a hard enough time remembering to clip out!

I gotcha. It can be intimidating at first - I know I was. One day maybe we'll rope you in to the cycling cult...

I think it's possible. I really do get the etiquette thing (and the matching- but don't tell anyone!) I rode horses for years and know how important it is to follow the rules to be safe. It's just hard being the new kid, lol

[RoryGilmore]

Those RULES cracked me up. I'm not a cyclist but I liked the idea of some of them even as a runner who runs in a group.

[gumi]

for large group rides, i think hand singling is important (pointing to stuff on the road, "slowing", "stopping", "rolling", etc). Also, if there are two cyclists side by side and you are behind, make sure your front wheel does not get in the middle of those two cyclist. Pass on the left, say you are on the left.

If someone looks shaky, not riding straight, or not using proper hand gestures, try to get away from them. I like cycling with people I know, so in a group, I try to make surround myself with people who I am familiar with and trust (and preferably fast because I love hanging on a back wheel!)

[joenali]

Also if you are last in line and a car is approaching yell "car back!!" To alert other riders of the car.