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Good idea on the brakes – which brings
up a few more points. When riding in a group, keep your hands on your
brakes, ready to use them when necessary. You can practice feathering
your brakes – lightly braking while still pedaling. Everytime you
stop pedaling, the person behind you stops and on down the line. That’s
how you get that yo-yo effect when you ride in the back. If you slightly
brake while pedaling, you are easing up just so slightly without stopping the
riders behind you.
Sometimes at first, its hard to do –
but try to pedal continuously while riding in a group either by changing the
pressure on the pedal as Beth has suggested or lightly touch your brakes while
pedaling. I use my right hand brake – which is the back wheel –
when doing this. I don’t use the brake on the front wheel.
Bekki
From:
pedlpushers@yahoogroups.com [mailto:pedlpushers@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Beth Heins
Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2008
8:57 AM
To: pedlpushers@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [pedlpushers] Riding
in large groups
Those are great tips! I would add:
try to adjust your speed by easing off on the pedals, rather than grabbing at
your brakes. I've found I ride more smoothly that way, which makes it easier
for the riders around me. Of course brakes are a must for quick stops, but
often just adjusting my pressure on the pedals allows me to slow/speed as necessary,
especially when the pack is just getting moving.
Beth
----- Original Message
----
From: Bekki <vinbek@comcast.
To: pedlpushers@
Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 7:56:04 AM
Subject: [pedlpushers] Riding in large groups
Someone asked me for tips while riding in a group when
you are not
comfortable doing it and here is the response I sent her. If you
have additional tips that you use - please post them! I have been
riding for years and years and while I am comfortable riding in
groups, I also sit back and watch who I am riding with in a new
group. What I will do, is either stay in the front behind the
leader, or go to the back and watch how everyone in front of me
rides. The really good riders will ride in a straight line with very
little movement from side to side and will never make big huge moves
to go around something. They finesse the bike more. The newer
riders that are more uncomfortable than you – will look very stiff
and their shoulders will be in their ears!! When you start and stop,
you can ride with your foot on top of your pedal until you are sure
everyone is moving forward and then clip in – don't clip in right
away - someone might stop in front of you if they have trouble with
their pedal. I also ride on the outside – not the inside if you are
riding two by two. It allows you a place to move to – if the other
rider makes an unsafe move. Get in a habit of watching what is
happening up the road – at least 3 or 4 riders ahead of you. You can
anticipate slowing, stopping, avoiding obstacles by watching their
movement and not just the person in front of you. Bekki
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