Crewe Clarion Wheelers -Group Riding

If you haven’t ridden in a group before (or even if you have), listed below are some guidelines that will help you become proficient at group riding as quickly as possible.

1. Ride directly behind the person in front, and alongside the riders on your outside and as close as conditions safety allow. The group then rides in two parallel lines. 
2. Do not ride off the front, stay in formation. Allow more room amongst the group if the group is descending. 
3. Uphill, go at your own speed and regroup at the hill-top.
4. Watch for hand signals from the front and give them yourself to those behind. The hand signals are generally turning to the left/right, slowing down, obstruction to the left/right and poor road surface.
5. Listen to commands to “single out” from back riders. Single out generally by moving into a gap in the left-hand line of riders.  Riders at the very front of the group should increase speed a little before they move over to help create road space behind them.
6. If you are at the front or back warn the group of approaching or overtaking vehicles on narrow roads by calling out “car down” (your throat!) for vehicles ahead and “car up” (your bum!) for vehicles behind. Please avoid a generic shout of ‘car’ as this gives no indication of direction.
7. Signal bad obstructions, holes or bumps to the rider behind by signalling with the hand or shouting “hole” or “bump” or “on your left (or right)”.
8. Avoid sudden loud shouts that might make riders brake suddenly unless really necessary.
9. Avoid using your brakes sharply unless really necessary. If you have to brake hard to avoid an accident, shout out loudly that you are going to do so. 
10. If you are at the back of a group and you know there is a rider or riders “off the back” let the leaders know. If the group turns off the main road wait at the junction or roundabout to let those off the back know where to go.
11. If you are at the back DO NOT wave cars on to overtake. A mistake could put the whole group in jeopardy so leave it up to the driver.
12. If you are not a strong rider then try to keep as near the front of the group as possible, this will mean less effort for you and the leader as he/she will not need to worry about riders off the back.
13. If you have a puncture yell “puncture” to make sure those in front and behind know and pull OFF the road to the side to replace the tube, the rest will wait for you.
14. As a general safety point always ride with your hands gripping the bars not just resting on top. This ensures that if you hit a hole or a bump you do not lose control and endanger those behind.