The Do's and Don'ts of Group Riding

Halfwheeling.... Nothing good can come of it!!


Ever been pulling at the front of a group ride and the guy beside you is constantly halfwheeling ahead of you.

What I mean by this is that when you try to ride with your front wheels even with each other the person constantly picks up the pace slightly so that they are continually a half wheel ahead of you. This practise drives me absolutely insane when I see it and it is one of the most aggravating things a rider can do in a group. What ever you do DON'T DO IT.

Pulling at the front of the group is a responsibility not a competition. Everything that happens at the front is mirrored and amplified behind you.

Halfwheeling at the front means that every pair of riders behind you is forced to do the same thing if they want to maintain their position in the draft.

When riding at the front ensure that your front wheel axles are side by side and stay there. If you want to pick up the pace, make the decision together and pick up the pace slowly and evenly.

Communication between the front two riders is critical. If the pace is too fast for you, don't be afraid to let your partner know and ask him or her to slow the pace a bit. Remember, riding at the front is not a competition.

If the two of you at the front are having a testosterone fit, then let the riders behind you know that the two of you are going to have a little sprint. This way the two riders behind can maintain control and prevent the main group from splintering.

If you find yourself at the front and the person just outright refuses to ride side by side and continually edges forward then it is your responsibility to return order to the group.

What works for me in this situation is to first ease off my pace. One of two things will happen. the other rider will either slow down with you and get the hint, or they will just keep getting further ahead.

If they fall back in line Great... problem solved. If not ease back even more and motion to the rider behind to come up and fill in the void left by the rider ahead. Now the two of you are controlling the group.

When the rider up front finally realizes that he or she is all by themselves they can either go off on their own ahead of the group or fall back to the back of the group.

If they attempt do drop back and rejoin the group at the front, do not let them. Motion to them and verbally express to them that they are to move to the back of the pack.

They have now given up their privilege of directing the group.

When that person eventually gets to the front again through natural rotation, they will hopefully have learned a valuable lesson.

Halfwheeling in a group riding situation is one of the main causes of accidents and frustration.