How to Cycle In A Group For Faster, Safer Sportives
If you are looking to take part in your first cyclosportive then one of your first steps is to start learning to ride comfortably around a group of cyclists.
It's important you feel comfortable while riding in a group because if you are nervous and unsure of yourself, you could be the cause of an accident due to swerving, hitting brakes erratically, or simply just making unwise decisions.
Now, this isn't meant to put you off entering cyclosportives, but it's to highlight the fact that you may at times be riding close to other riders and you will need to know how to handle this competently. Riding in a group also has a couple of other advantages you might not be aware of:
1. Cycling and 'sheltering' behind another rider can conserve as much as 30% extra energy - now that's impressive over a 100 mile sportive when you need every ounce of energy to get you round!
In cycling, we call sheltering behind a cyclist "drafting," and over a long event this can be a significant 'energy saving' strategy.
2. You'll need group cycling skills the most at the beginning of a sportive event. At the beginning of a sportive everyone tends ride fast and erratic with quite a bit of 'stop and start'. This can cause problems for you if you are not confident riding closely around other cyclists.
However, it's not necessary to glue yourself to someone's wheel so closely that you are a potential danger if he or she happens to tap on the brakes!
Your goal is to 'get used to' riding in a group and feeling what it is like to draft another rider. Your aim here is to feel relaxed, even when riding round corners together.
How to ride within a group of cyclists:
To prepare for group cycling, begin by riding with a few of your friends or joining your local cycling club. The more you practice, the better and more comfortable you will become.
Note: There a two milestones you should try to achieve before your first sportive. The first is to make sure you're comfortable riding in a group along a straight road. The second milestone is to ride in a group around a corner:
Milestone 1:
- Approach the rider in front of you leaving a wide gap of about a meter.
- Slowly, approach the wheel a little closer and allow other cyclists to ride on each side of you.
- Relax and only focus on following the cyclist in front. When I say relax, I mean release tension and go with the flow.
- Learn to keep off your brakes as much as you can.
- If you feel ready, close the gap further until you're about half a meter or so from the person in front. This is a good starting distance if you're new to group riding.
- Concentrate your view 'through' the cyclist in front to a position just in front of his/her bike. This is important because by gazing 'ahead' you will wobble less.
Milestone 2:
- To go around a corner, simply follow the rider in front and relax. Never try to ride for someone else, or take your eyes off the road ahead.
- Relax and go with the flow of the corner. Never slam on your brakes in a corner because riders are usually following closely behind you.
Wind direction to maximise drafting:
You need to decide which 'side' of a cyclist to follow, depending on the wind direction. For example, if the wind is pushing a strong crosswind from your left, you need to stagger yourself to the right of the cyclist's back wheel in front of you.
There is a little more on this subject of drafting, but for now begin to take note which direction the wind is blowing. Then think how to position within a group of riders to conserve as much energy as possible.
Trust the rider in front:
Another essential key to group riding is learning to trust the rider in front of you. Cyclists leading a group should know that they are responsible for leading their group safely. Trust the rider in front and try not to sit out in the wind for the sake of 'seeing where you're going'.
Concentrate and try not to get distracted:
Concentration is of utmost importance when following a wheel. If you take your eyes off the cyclist in front, you may end up clipping their wheel, or causing yourself and everyone else to crash behind you, similar to a game of Dominoes!
Accidents happen near the end of events when most riders are tired, if not exhausted. A tip here is to distance yourself a little from the wheel in front if you know you're tired and concentration is waning.
It's important you feel comfortable while riding in a group because if you are nervous and unsure of yourself, you could be the cause of an accident due to swerving, hitting brakes erratically, or simply just making unwise decisions.
Now, this isn't meant to put you off entering cyclosportives, but it's to highlight the fact that you may at times be riding close to other riders and you will need to know how to handle this competently. Riding in a group also has a couple of other advantages you might not be aware of:
1. Cycling and 'sheltering' behind another rider can conserve as much as 30% extra energy - now that's impressive over a 100 mile sportive when you need every ounce of energy to get you round!
In cycling, we call sheltering behind a cyclist "drafting," and over a long event this can be a significant 'energy saving' strategy.
2. You'll need group cycling skills the most at the beginning of a sportive event. At the beginning of a sportive everyone tends ride fast and erratic with quite a bit of 'stop and start'. This can cause problems for you if you are not confident riding closely around other cyclists.
However, it's not necessary to glue yourself to someone's wheel so closely that you are a potential danger if he or she happens to tap on the brakes!
Your goal is to 'get used to' riding in a group and feeling what it is like to draft another rider. Your aim here is to feel relaxed, even when riding round corners together.
How to ride within a group of cyclists:
To prepare for group cycling, begin by riding with a few of your friends or joining your local cycling club. The more you practice, the better and more comfortable you will become.
Note: There a two milestones you should try to achieve before your first sportive. The first is to make sure you're comfortable riding in a group along a straight road. The second milestone is to ride in a group around a corner:
Milestone 1:
- Approach the rider in front of you leaving a wide gap of about a meter.
- Slowly, approach the wheel a little closer and allow other cyclists to ride on each side of you.
- Relax and only focus on following the cyclist in front. When I say relax, I mean release tension and go with the flow.
- Learn to keep off your brakes as much as you can.
- If you feel ready, close the gap further until you're about half a meter or so from the person in front. This is a good starting distance if you're new to group riding.
- Concentrate your view 'through' the cyclist in front to a position just in front of his/her bike. This is important because by gazing 'ahead' you will wobble less.
Milestone 2:
- To go around a corner, simply follow the rider in front and relax. Never try to ride for someone else, or take your eyes off the road ahead.
- Relax and go with the flow of the corner. Never slam on your brakes in a corner because riders are usually following closely behind you.
Wind direction to maximise drafting:
You need to decide which 'side' of a cyclist to follow, depending on the wind direction. For example, if the wind is pushing a strong crosswind from your left, you need to stagger yourself to the right of the cyclist's back wheel in front of you.
There is a little more on this subject of drafting, but for now begin to take note which direction the wind is blowing. Then think how to position within a group of riders to conserve as much energy as possible.
Trust the rider in front:
Another essential key to group riding is learning to trust the rider in front of you. Cyclists leading a group should know that they are responsible for leading their group safely. Trust the rider in front and try not to sit out in the wind for the sake of 'seeing where you're going'.
Concentrate and try not to get distracted:
Concentration is of utmost importance when following a wheel. If you take your eyes off the cyclist in front, you may end up clipping their wheel, or causing yourself and everyone else to crash behind you, similar to a game of Dominoes!
Accidents happen near the end of events when most riders are tired, if not exhausted. A tip here is to distance yourself a little from the wheel in front if you know you're tired and concentration is waning.
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