Group Etiquette
Here are some general tips on riding in groups etc. It's not the last word but if you
keep these things in mind your are on the right track.
 | Warm up at a civil pace. Muscles need warming up and joints needs to be lubricated. |
| Decide on the pace before embarking on the ride. |
| Have your equipment in good working order. |
| If someone has a mechanical, wait for that person and be certain they are OK before abandoning them. Just because they say they are OK doesn't mean they are. |
| Call out Road hazards. Don?t over do this, not all manhole covers are not hazards. |
| Call out "Car Back" if there is a car needing to pass and please pass the message because riders at the front may not have heard the message. |
| Snobby racer attitudes have no place here. Just cause someone doesn't shave their legs and ride an Italian made bike is not a reason to disrespect someone. |
| Before leaving the group, let the ride leader know what you are doing. |
| Regroup at every opportunity. Touring is not racing. If you want to drop fellow riders enter an event (Race) where that?s the goal. There is nothing wrong with some lively sprints etc but keep in mind where you are. |
| Don't Bike off more than you can chew. If you are a B+ rider, don?t do an A+ ride. You will only make the other riders angry with you. Try an A ride 1st. |
| Experienced riders should point out mistakes. One must use tact when doing this however. It's better to say something early that to wait until some unsafe or incorrect behavior causes an accident |
| Use Hand Signals to indicate intentions (i.e Turning, Stopping, Slowing). |
| Use Hand Signals to point out potential road hazards. |
Safety
| Raise your hand to signal to the group if you have a mechanical or other problem. |
| Wear a T-shirt under your jersey, it will save skin if you crash. |
| Don't run through red lights, It's against the law. In General just obey all the traffic laws. |
| Always carry the necessary tools to repair your bike, pump, allen keys, tubes are a must. Those little CO2 cartridges won't replace a pump--once they are gone you could be in trouble. |
| Don't ride "Stupid Light" equipment on regular rides, save that stuff for races or special events. |
Cornering Tips:
| Always look where you want to go, not at the ground. |
| Brake before you enter a turn, not in the turn. |
| Keep your outside pedal down! |
| Put pressure on your outside pedal. |
| Keep your hands on the handlebar drops, not on top. |
| Do not begin pedaling until you've completed your turn. |
| Keep your turns smooth. Don't correct your arc in a turn |
| Don't over estimate your ability. Last Changed 01/07/07 |