A lot of us are new to the pace line and its etiquette. After hearing what Andy said during last Sunday’s ride, and what I experienced, I thought we should post some pace line etiquette here for all to view. Note the VV website has really a lot of good pace line info too so visit there. Here is my input:
1. If you are behind the front rider, and he pulls aside, this means that he is tired and is asking you to come up and take over. Please help him!
2. If you are tired and can’t pull at the front, just rotate through by going to the front and then immediately pull to the side and let the next rider come up.
3. Please do not stay where you are in the pace line and wave the rider behind you to the front. Likely, the guy behind you is also tired and will have to expend more energy just to come around you to get to the front.
4. If you don’t want to pull, don’t be anywhere near the front! As riders rotate back, open a slight gap and yell at him to get into the gap. If this rider does not get into the gap, you close it up immediately.
5. If you are the rider that is rotating to the front, please don’t accelerate too quickly as the guy rotating back, who just expended a lot of energy at the front, still have to get into the pace line.
6. If you are a strong rider, try as much as possible to smoothly transition speed and not an immediate change of speed. Remember, if we drop the riders in the back, we spent more time waiting around for these guys than if we were to stay as a group. Of course, on terrain such as a hill this does not apply. Here you climbers (Trekman and Contador) can attack full out ;-)
7. Yell out any red light, car door, and other obstacle so that the folks behind will know what to expect. For speed above 18 mph, try not to point with your hand but be vocal instead. We want your hands on your handlebar!
8. Please don’t weave in the pace line. Stay smooth and straight behind the rider in front of you. Gaps between should be around 2-3 feet.
9. Be alert at all time! Peek around the front rider once in a while to see what’s coming up, such as park cars, which could be potentially dangerous.
Any other input?
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Note: when riding on riverbed, be mindful of on coming traffic. DO NOT TAKE UP THE OTHER RIDER'S LANE. I often see the expression from on coming rider when one of us overtake their lane. Remember, you're wearing a VeloViet jersey. Please represent us well.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing if you have to spit, please do it in a downward direction and not out to the side. I like to shower after the ride not during.... :)
ReplyDeleteOhhh... Man... Viet, you are too polite and too funny! Most guys would have squirted the spitter (might have been me) with their water bottle to remind him not to do it again.
ReplyDeleteWhen riding hard, guys are spitting, ejecting their snot, pissing (not VV, pro only please), or what ever else since they are working so hard on the bike.
I saw your name on the Palomar rider list. You will see a lot of spitting here as we struggle up this hill.
I will try to remember when ejecting any of my body fluids, that I do it in a downward and outward direction ;-)
Viet, since you have the VV jersey now, sign up to this Blog as an editor (i.e. poster). Getting an account is extremely easy. You don't have to go through extra steps in post reponses.
ReplyDeleteYou can always respond to a post as anonynous if you don't log in, in case you want to be anonymous.
I actually lucked out this weekend. Have to go drop off someone at the San Pedro dock for a cruise on Sunday. Won't have to endure the joys of leg cramps, buring lungs, and nausea I would have experienced had I joined you guys at Palomar. You guys have a fun and safe ride. Can't wait for the recap.
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