Riding in a Group

I have had a lot of questions about how to ride in a group. Let me start off by saying that I used to be really scared about riding in a group. I didn’t have a hard time riding together with a few friends, but the idea of riding very close to 100 people really scared me. Of course now that it’s been 25 years, I guess I’m not so scared anymore, and I actually like being in a group because it is social and I can save a lot of energy.

Even though I have been riding for a long time, I still keep my eyes open and look for trouble. In that sense it is just like driving a car. If you’ve watched Nascar or Formula One, you notice how the drivers spend a lot of time drafting and conserving fuel. Well it is exactly the same on the bike. We can save 40% energy by sitting on a wheel. Sometimes it is just like being pulled along. Your legs are spinning, but you are putting out very little energy. It’s one of the ways that cyclists can ride so far and quickly. We take turns in the wind, and then rest when we are behind. Once you get the hang of it, it is really fun.

As I said before, keep your eyes open. By that, I mean keep an eye on what is going on around you. Most of us second guess our own skills, but trust yourself. If you see someone not paying attention or moving erratically, make sure you give that person more room or better yet, find a way to get away from him. RELAX, we are much more able to react to things when our bodies are relaxed. When we tense up, the bike movements become erratic and don’t flow as well. Focus on keeping your upper body loose and take some deep breaths if you get nervous. I promise that you will be much more comfortable.

If you are really nervous about your skills, you can practice some drills that will help you prepare for anything. It is best to practice on a field or any grassy area. Have a friend join you for the skills session. The first thing you can practice is to bump elbows. Then take it a little further and lean into eachother. You will find that the more RELAXED you are the easier this skill is to pick up! Next have your friend ride in front of you and touch your front wheel to her rear wheel. See how it feels. There is nothing to be scared about. You are going slow, and the grass is soft. After you are comfortable, switch places. By the end of a ½ hour you will both be pretty comfortable and more experienced then most people out there! Trust me on this one…

Getting comfortable in a peloton takes time. The beauty is that there is a certain motion and movement to the group that once you learn how to use it you will always be able to save energy. Go out and try something new! The great thing is that if you waste too much energy, you can always go back and rest a bit before trying to move up again.

Good luck!
Mari