Club Ride Etiquette
Best Practices for safer cycling
Helmets are always required. Front and rear lights for night rides
We ride as vehicles on the road: “would I do this while driving my car?”
Respect club leadership instructions
Don’t cross the yellow lane line
Identify hazards for other riders
Come to a complete stop at lights and stop signs
Always Communicate with fellow riders!
better cycling Behaviors
Work With Traffic Not Against It: Make it easy for cars to pass the group, wave drivers by when safe to pass, signal turns, acknowledge drivers who stop for the group at cross streets and take the high road with drivers who are less than courteous. Don’t give drivers reasons to dislike cyclists any more than they may already.
Keep right: You never know when cars will approach from the rear. Keep the entire pace line as far to the right of the road as is reasonably possible. Do not ride down the middle of the road!
Keep Your Ducks In A Row: Don’t ride in a bunch; ride in a line. No more than two abreast at any time. A peloton is fine for the Tour De France, but we have traffic to contend with.
Pulling at the front of the group is not mandatory but it is appreciated by the whole group. You can pull briefly or just peel off after the person ahead of you has.
When coming off the front of the pace line, always peel off to the left.
It is the person that is pulling off’s job to slow down, not the person coming through to speed up. Maintain a consistent pace.
Riders at the back of the pace line are responsible for keeping an eye out for traffic approaching from the rear and letting other riders know.
If you are new to riding in a pace line, let someone know. No one will think less of you and everyone will try to help you learn.
Keep the pace line as tight as possible with the rider in front of you. It will make it safer for cars to pass.
Riding behind others: it can be hard to see potholes, manhole covers, debris, etc. Call out and point out anyhting you wouldn’t want to run over yourself.
Intersection Behavior: People on the front need to stop, people behind can roll after. There are differing opinions on front vs. whole group having to stop, but please, someone stop.
Vehicle Positioning: Don’t roll up to the line beside cars at traffic lights or stop signs. They may not see you and make a last-minute decision to turn right. Also, chances are they already passed you once, let’s not make them do it again, everyone it safer that way.
Group Together: If making a turn or going through a stop make sure the entire group can safely make it.
When coming out of a stop, roll easy until the group is together. Respect what the group ride is.
Our rides are considered “no-drop”. Maintain the advertised pace. We try to stay together on the way out and will regroup several times along the way. Groups may speed up on the return to the starting point but it’s everyone’s responsibility to be sure no one is left behind.
Use Your Ears: Nothing in the ears unless it is a hearing aid. It’s a good thing to hear your fellow riders yell “hole!” Also, a good thing to hear cars coming up behind you.