Naples Velo Cycling Safely and Group Ride Etiquette

Naples Velo Cycling Safely and Group Ride Etiquette Group Ride Overview and Benefits Group Ride Overview and Benefits Group Ride Etiquette Group Ride Etiquette General Safety Guidelines General Safety Guidelines Area Group Rides Area Group Rides Questions / Answers Questions / Answers

Naples Velo Cycling Safely and Group Ride Etiquette Group Ride Overview and Benefits Why do cyclists ride in groups? Safety and visibility Safety and visibility Camaraderie / fun / fellowship Camaraderie / fun / fellowship “Pushes” you to improve “Pushes” you to improve Mechanical assistance Mechanical assistance Racing is done in large groups Racing is done in large groups “Touring” is done in large groups “Touring” is done in large groups

Naples Velo Cycling Safely and Group Ride Etiquette Group Ride Overview and Benefits Misperceptions about group riding: Isn’t drafting “cheating?” Isn’t drafting “cheating?” Aren’t I more likely to be involved in an accident in a group setting? Aren’t I more likely to be involved in an accident in a group setting? Don’t groups generally “frown” upon new riders joining the group? Don’t groups generally “frown” upon new riders joining the group? What if I can’t “hold” the advertised group ride pace? What if I can’t “hold” the advertised group ride pace? As a triathlete, isn’t group riding counterproductive to my training? As a triathlete, isn’t group riding counterproductive to my training?

Naples Velo Cycling Safely and Group Ride Etiquette Group Ride Overview and Benefits Bottom line benefits to group riding: Pick the right groups and you WILL improve your performance Pick the right groups and you WILL improve your performance You’ll definitely become a more knowledgeable and safer rider You’ll definitely become a more knowledgeable and safer rider Groups are visible! Groups are visible! You’ll be fully-prepared for mass organized rides You’ll be fully-prepared for mass organized rides You’ll meet new friends You’ll meet new friends

Naples Velo Cycling Safely and Group Ride Etiquette Group Ride Etiquette Maintain a group-rider “mentality” YOU are responsible for the stream of riders behind you YOU are responsible for the stream of riders behind you Stay cool, calm, relaxed and observant Stay cool, calm, relaxed and observant Be predictable. No sudden movements! Be predictable. No sudden movements! Pedal smoothly and in a straight line (“hold your line”) Pedal smoothly and in a straight line (“hold your line”) Look “through” the rider in front of you Look “through” the rider in front of you

Naples Velo Cycling Safely and Group Ride Etiquette Group Ride Etiquette General group ride guidelines: Pick the right group ride for you Pick the right group ride for you Observe and follow group “protocol” Observe and follow group “protocol” Pace / speed limits Pace / speed limits Single vs. double paceline Single vs. double paceline Rotation Rotation Respect the ride start time Respect the ride start time Respect the designated ride marshal(s) Respect the designated ride marshal(s)

Naples Velo Cycling Safely and Group Ride Etiquette Group Ride Etiquette General group ride guidelines: Be prepared, but be willing to share Be prepared, but be willing to share Never ride on your aerobars in a paceline Never ride on your aerobars in a paceline Hands ALWAYS on your bars Hands ALWAYS on your bars Ride no more than two abreast Ride no more than two abreast Minimize “gaps” Minimize “gaps”

Naples Velo Cycling Safely and Group Ride Etiquette Group Ride Etiquette Group ride communication etiquette: Use hand signals to indicate: Use hand signals to indicate: Turns Turns Slowing Slowing Stopping Stopping Road hazards Road hazards Runners, riders Runners, riders Flats Flats

Naples Velo Cycling Safely and Group Ride Etiquette Group Ride Etiquette Group ride communication etiquette: Use clear and audible verbal warnings: Use clear and audible verbal warnings: Turns Turns Slowing / stopping Slowing / stopping “Heads up” to hazards / traffic “Heads up” to hazards / traffic “Runner up,” “rider up” “Runner up,” “rider up” Traffic circumstances Traffic circumstances “Car up” “Car up” “Car back” “Car back” “Car left”, “Car right” “Car left”, “Car right” “Clear!” “Clear!”

Naples Velo Cycling Safely and Group Ride Etiquette Group Ride Etiquette Group ride “positioning” etiquette: Pulling Pulling Pulling off and drifting back Pulling off and drifting back Pulling through; smooth acceleration Pulling through; smooth acceleration Re-entering the paceline Re-entering the paceline Calling in Calling in Sitting in Sitting in Off the back Off the back

Naples Velo Cycling Safely and Group Ride Etiquette Group Ride Etiquette Getting “dropped” in a group ride: Happens to everyone Happens to everyone Know the course, sprint zones, and short-cuts Know the course, sprint zones, and short-cuts Minimize your chances: Minimize your chances: Avoid “red-zone” pulls Avoid “red-zone” pulls Know your limits Know your limits Keep gaps closed Keep gaps closed Watch for gaps ahead of you Watch for gaps ahead of you Stay “tight” in corners Stay “tight” in corners Avoid drifting back too slowly Avoid drifting back too slowly Understand the “accordion effect” Understand the “accordion effect”

Naples Velo Cycling Safely and Group Ride Etiquette Group Ride Etiquette Other group ride safety tips: Touching wheels Touching wheels “Soft”, controlled breaking “Soft”, controlled breaking Entering corners and turns Entering corners and turns Handling a flat tire or mechanical mishaps Handling a flat tire or mechanical mishaps Over-taking a runner or slower bike Over-taking a runner or slower bike Out-of-the-saddle considerations Out-of-the-saddle considerations Eating and drinking in the paceline Eating and drinking in the paceline Avoid looking back in the paceline Avoid looking back in the paceline

Naples Velo Cycling Safely and Group Ride Etiquette General Safety General ride safety tips: Properly-fitted helmet, positioned FORWARD Properly-fitted helmet, positioned FORWARD Glasses, regardless of conditions Glasses, regardless of conditions Gloves Gloves Lights, front and rear Lights, front and rear Mechanical supplies Mechanical supplies Speedometer in group rides Speedometer in group rides Quick inspection weekly Quick inspection weekly Food, water, cell phone Food, water, cell phone

Naples Velo Cycling Safely and Group Ride Etiquette Group Ride Etiquette and General Safety Questions?Comments?Thoughts?

Naples Velo Cycling Safely and Group Ride Etiquette Area Group Rides Ride Information Sources: Naples Velo “flyers” Naples Velo “flyers” NaplesVelo.com NaplesVelo.com Local area shop flyers Local area shop flyers Choose a ride consistent with your ability: Pace/speed Pace/speed Distance Distance

Naples Velo Cycling Safely and Group Ride Etiquette Area Group Rides “Beginner” ride: Monday 6:15pm, the Bike Route Monday 6:15pm, the Bike Route Easy / recover pace rides: Monday, 6:15pm, the Bike Route Monday, 6:15pm, the Bike Route Monday, 7:00am, the Beanery Monday, 7:00am, the Beanery Tuesday, 6:30pm, Naples Cyclery, B ride Tuesday, 6:30pm, Naples Cyclery, B ride Thursday, 6:30pm, Naples Cyclery, B ride Thursday, 6:30pm, Naples Cyclery, B ride

Naples Velo Cycling Safely and Group Ride Etiquette Area Group Rides Moderate / tempo rides: Wednesday, 7am, the Beanery Wednesday, 7am, the Beanery Friday, 7am, the Beanery Friday, 7am, the Beanery Saturday, 7:30am, 5 th Ave. parking garage Saturday, 7:30am, 5 th Ave. parking garage Sunday, 8am, Lowdermilk Park Sunday, 8am, Lowdermilk Park

Naples Velo Cycling Safely and Group Ride Etiquette Area Group Rides Fast, “race-pace,” no speed limit rides: Tuesday, 7am, the Beanery Tuesday, 7am, the Beanery Tuesday, 6:30pm, Naples Cyclery, A ride Tuesday, 6:30pm, Naples Cyclery, A ride Thursday, 6:30pm, Naples Cyclery, A ride Thursday, 6:30pm, Naples Cyclery, A ride Saturday, 7am, the Beanery (North, South) Saturday, 7am, the Beanery (North, South) Sunday, 7am, the Beanery Sunday, 7am, the Beanery

Naples Velo Cycling Safely and Group Ride Etiquette Area Group Rides Questions?Comments?Thoughts?

Naples Velo Cycling Safely and Group Ride Etiquette Final Thoughts Observe, learn and become a role model Blend group riding with solo riding efforts Step out of your comfort zone, introduce yourself Get stronger and enhance your cycling performance