Peleton Procedure (or joining a paceline uninvited)

"Safetyboy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Towards the end of my ride last Saturday, I was heading into Manly
(sydney) when I came upon a group of 5 cyclists who I had seen earlier and
looked fairly quick stopped at a traffic light. I knew I was turning off
in about a kilometre, but given that I was on a main road I though the
best place to be would be behind them, given the better visibility to cars
and less likelihood of getting run off the road.

The lights went green when I was about 50m away, so I didn't get a chance
to stop next to them and acknowledge them, but I sprinted up and managed
to get in behind just as they were all getting clipped in and away. They
formed into a two wide line, but since there was an uneven number there
was only one person at the back. Not knowing if it was rude to jump into
that position, just slid in behind the last rider, and stayed back a
little so as not to upset anyone.

That rider glanced back, noticed me and started giving me the standard
group riding hand signals (which I thought was quite nice), then they
pulled off shortly after, so I didn't have a chance to send my regards.

After this, I am just curious as to the ettique for this situation. Should
I have:

1 - Did what I did
2 - Pulled up into the 6th spot and said hi to the other last rider
3 - Hung back and not get involved in case I am unwelcome

On much the same note, is it frowned upon to jump onto a pack going past
you when you are out for a ride? I had this happen plenty to me on the way
out to Church Point earlier in the ride - I was quite happy just tooling
along but am curious as to whether it is OK or not.

In case it applies to the question, I have done a little group riding - a
few training rides out of a bike shop - far from being a regular but
probably enough to not kill myself or anyone else.

SB

Say hi, dont scare anyone and no one will give a rats 🙂

Unless of course they are prats in which case they wouldnt have been giving
signals and when they turned off you would have seen the parked pajero;s
with the bike racks 🙂

Dave

Safetyboy said:

Towards the end of my ride last Saturday, I was heading into Manly (sydney)
when I came upon a group of 5 cyclists who I had seen earlier and looked
fairly quick stopped at a traffic light. I knew I was turning off in about a
kilometre, but given that I was on a main road I though the best place to be
would be behind them, given the better visibility to cars and less
likelihood of getting run off the road.

The lights went green when I was about 50m away, so I didn't get a chance to
stop next to them and acknowledge them, but I sprinted up and managed to get
in behind just as they were all getting clipped in and away. They formed
into a two wide line, but since there was an uneven number there was only
one person at the back. Not knowing if it was rude to jump into that
position, just slid in behind the last rider, and stayed back a little so as
not to upset anyone.

That rider glanced back, noticed me and started giving me the standard group
riding hand signals (which I thought was quite nice), then they pulled off
shortly after, so I didn't have a chance to send my regards.

After this, I am just curious as to the ettique for this situation. Should I
have:

1 - Did what I did
2 - Pulled up into the 6th spot and said hi to the other last rider
3 - Hung back and not get involved in case I am unwelcome

1 or 2 is fine, unless they're obviously doing something specific like
rolling turns (or motorpacing!), in which case you should ask first.

Quoted message said:

On much the same note, is it frowned upon to jump onto a pack going past you
when you are out for a ride? I had this happen plenty to me on the way out
to Church Point earlier in the ride - I was quite happy just tooling along
but am curious as to whether it is OK or not.

No, generally it's fine to jump onto a bunch. The road belongs to us
all, just remember that if you're on the back, that the bunch *may* not
be considering your safety, and *may* not signal hazards etc, but
usually they will.

Enjoy the riding!

NB: A big no no is a rider without lights jumping on the back of a bunch or
any rider with lights when dark . Sounds obvious but had it happen before
now.
Steve
Ideal

quote='Bleve'Safetyboy said:

Towards the end of my ride last Saturday, I was heading into Manly (sydney)
when I came upon a group of 5 cyclists who I had seen earlier and looked
fairly quick stopped at a traffic light. I knew I was turning off in about a
kilometre, but given that I was on a main road I though the best place to be
would be behind them, given the better visibility to cars and less
likelihood of getting run off the road.

The lights went green when I was about 50m away, so I didn't get a chance to
stop next to them and acknowledge them, but I sprinted up and managed to get
in behind just as they were all getting clipped in and away. They formed
into a two wide line, but since there was an uneven number there was only
one person at the back. Not knowing if it was rude to jump into that
position, just slid in behind the last rider, and stayed back a little so as
not to upset anyone.

That rider glanced back, noticed me and started giving me the standard group
riding hand signals (which I thought was quite nice), then they pulled off
shortly after, so I didn't have a chance to send my regards.

After this, I am just curious as to the ettique for this situation. Should I
have:

1 - Did what I did
2 - Pulled up into the 6th spot and said hi to the other last rider
3 - Hung back and not get involved in case I am unwelcome

1 or 2 is fine, unless they're obviously doing something specific like
rolling turns (or motorpacing!), in which case you should ask first.

Quoted message said:

On much the same note, is it frowned upon to jump onto a pack going past you
when you are out for a ride? I had this happen plenty to me on the way out
to Church Point earlier in the ride - I was quite happy just tooling along
but am curious as to whether it is OK or not.

No, generally it's fine to jump onto a bunch. The road belongs to us
all, just remember that if you're on the back, that the bunch *may* not
be considering your safety, and *may* not signal hazards etc, but
usually they will.

Enjoy the riding![/QUOTE]
Jump on - say hi, nice bike etc - follow nose blowing ettiquette - take a turn on the front - you might make some new friends

Don't expect to win friends if there's a big "style" difference, i.e.
if they are kitted up and you are a gumby, or if they are clearly
roadies and you are a triathlete. Of course, you might want to do it
just for the stir!

Donga

My 2c - Do an honest share of the work... if that upsets them then drop the lot while sitting up taking a drink...

Donga said:

Don't expect to win friends if there's a big "style" difference, i.e.
if they are kitted up and you are a gumby, or if they are clearly
roadies and you are a triathlete. Of course, you might want to do it
just for the stir!

Thanks for reminding me. It's nearly time to dust off the big squishy bike
and go do a few Centennial Park laps. Purely to annoy the roadies who
haven't ridden since about a week after last year's Tour.

--
Dave Hughes | [email hidden]
"Hey, watch the 'fro" - Danny Glaze

I can drop my water bottle while sitting up and taking the drink, don't
know if that is quite the effect that I am looking for though.....