Etiquette for Group Cycling

Group cycling can be a blast, or it can be very frustrating.  Here are some reminders (or maybe new information for cyclists who haven’t ridden in groups very much).  When in doubt, ask the ride leader for instruction, and don’t be offended if the ride leader or other experienced riders give you tips to ride safely in the group. NO ONE wants to go down, and small errors in communication or movement can be very expensive to bodies and equipment.

1.       Communicate!  It is impossible to communicate too much.  The first cyclist in line should signal turns well in advance as well as caution the group of approaching danger (car up! Warns that a car is approaching, right turn, left turn called out verbally and signaled with left arm for left turn, and right hand for right turn.  Waving straight ahead when not turning, and holding hand up or down to signal slowing or stopping. Calling out stopping, car right, car left).  The cyclist in front is the point man with a lot of responsibility to protect the group.

a.       Likewise, the last cyclist in line protects from the rear (car back! Echoes calls from the front by saying what they heard the lead rider say, “right turn” ensures that all riders in the group hear the call. 

b.      All riders are responsible to echo directions and to point out danger.  For instance, when a rider ahead of you points down to their right, they are pointing out danger such as pothole, road kill, etc.  They are signaling to let you know to avoid that line.

2.       Be Smooth! Small movements can have a big effect.  Sudden moves to the right or left, or sudden slowing without letting the riders know you are slowing can cause a domino effect.  Make gentle changes in speed and direction, and always know where riders are around you.  Keep your head on a swivel!  Look over your shoulders and don’t be afraid to reach out to touch a cyclist gently on the side to let them know you are there, especially if you are in their blind spot.  Overlapping wheels without others knowing you are there is a great way to get side swiped.

a.       Accelerate gently.  Pretend that you are connected to the group by a silk thread, and don’t snap it by racing ahead to take your turn at the front. If you have been sitting in the draft you have been using 30% less energy than the riders ahead of you.  The temptation is to give it the gas, but that will put a gap between you and the lead rider who has been working for you.  Look at your speedometer before you move to take the lead and match the speed to keep the group together.

3.       Use your strength for the good of the group – In cycling, everyone accomplishes more together.  When you are particularly fit and you are having a great day, use your strength to stay on the front, or to pace up riders who’ve been gapped.  Likewise, don’t be afraid to sit in.  It is better to take advantage of the draft than to be a hero on front for awhile and then to bust off the back. 

Group cycling is a blast when it is well choreographed, but that takes great communication.  You can’t over-communicate in a group, because it’s just when you take something for granted, like thinking “everyone knows which way we’re turning”, that you’ll have a pile up.  A few of us have been in those, and they’re no fun; bandages and dollars are used very quickly when riders and bikes go down.

Until the next group ride . . . “Rides on Two Wheels”
*If you want to connect for a great group ride, check out Champion City Cycling  in Springfield, OH on facebook, or send a note to jeff.gtre@gmail.com.

Off the Back, and Providing Support

Five of us finished a 27 mile loop just before the rains came this morning.  Last Wednesday we weren't so lucky, but it was a warm rain and we survived it.

One brother was off the back a bit this morning (we won't name him, because it could have been any of us; bad days on the bike make their way around), but he wasn't abandoned.  Just like the fellowship of believers should work, we took turns providing verbal encouragement, and practical support in the form of drafting (about 30% energy savings when you follow the wheel of a rider in front of you) to ride him back to the group.  Those who had extra strength today loaned it to our friend.

TEAM - Together Everyone Accomplishes more.  Years ago one rider in our group of four became impatient while another fixed a flat.  We told our friend to wait and we'd ride fast together to help him make his time deadline to be home, but off he went to fight the wind alone.  Seven miles later three of us working together roared past him, making the point that 'two are better than one' (Ecclesiastes) when it comes to dealing with adversity.

Who supports and encourages you?  Do you wait for it or do you ask for it when you're facing adversity? 

Yet another lesson from the bike.

Rides on Two Wheels

Bearing Burdens

It was a bit too dark to start a ride, but us "roadies" (bicyclists/cyclists that ride on the roads) didn't want to say goodbye to the daylight of summer and the highs that fast riding in a group provide.

So there we went, three of us down state route 334, lit like a Christmas Tree with flashing red and white lights designed to prolong our lives while we share the road with early morning commuters.

A mile into the ride I hit (another) rock placed strategically to hit my 1/2 inch tire tread dead center. "Oh no" I groaned. twice in a week I had attempted to crush a rock with a 700x23cm tire pressurized at 120lbs; not a good plan if you want to maintain the integrity of tire, tube, wheel, spokes and rider!

Thankfully, I didn't fall, but I did experience the squishy sensation and squirrelly steering of a "FLAT". So, I hollered to alert my two-wheeled brethren, hoping for a little help.

Help they did! Butch asked for the new tube to pre-inflate a tad so that I could install it quickly. Rob rolled up the old tube and pocketed it for disposal. And I worked as quickly as possible to remove the wheel from the bike and the tube from the tire. Finally (about 3 minutes to change a flat) we were ready for inflation. Butch offered his second Co2 cartridge in 7 days to expedite the final step prior to remount and resumption of the ride.

Several aspects of this circumstance reflect cooperative and sacrificial Body Life.

1. Brothers on the journey stopped to help a disabled brother
2. Everyone offered a unique service to hasten the healing and my return to service
3. Sacrifice of time to ride, unexpected effort and parts that cost, freely offered

In some groups the other riders would have continued the ride. Their thinking and practice is "Every man for himself". While a flat may sound trivial, it's pretty disappointing when the hopes you have for a refreshing and life-giving jaunt are interrupted. It makes a world of difference to have compassionate companions at your side. And they receive joy to make meaningful contributions.

With prayers for Godspeed on your Journey,

Rides on Two Wheels (my Indian name)

Why I'm Writing about Riding

I've decided to write this blog to share thoughts about how cycling in a group provides opportunity to learn and practice living in fellowship with other Christ followers. I will also use this as an outlet to celebrate numerous joys of the great sport of cycling, and to provide insights to other cyclists and "not-yet" cyclists to attract them to the sport.

I love cycling. Why? Freedom, speed, the beauty of nature, physical challenges... To me it's like flying; wind in my hair and on my skin, peaceful rhythms of circular pedal strokes, soft and consistent sounds of tires purring on the pavement and the joy of moving through multiple miles of astonishingly beautiful and beautifully scented countryside under my own power.

Cycling allows freedom from the realities of adult responsibilities, superb total body exercise, and last but not least, wonderful opportunities to fellowship with God and friends. It's one of my favorite things to do. So as an inveterate writer I can't help but to write reflections about the joys of life and relationships. Now I'm going to share a few of those with you.

Why Christ Centered Cycling? Well, because the title has a poetic ring to it, and because in reality I want to focus on what Jesus wants cycling to be for me, and for those with whom I share it.

Recently I've experienced a personal renaissance in cycling. This came as a result of moving back to the midwest which has provided opportunity to ride with old friends and to say hello to some of my favorite roads. Upon moving to the east coast in 2005 I thought I'd lost both friends and familiar countryside forever. My grief over both was more severe than I'd imagined, so the opportunity to experience both again is a gift.

Eric Lidell celebrated running as a gift from God, "When I run I feel the pleasure of God". That's exactly why I ride, and ride and ride...I enjoy the wonder of the machinery He gave me that can put pressure on the pedals for hours at a time, perspiring, panting, straining (hard), spinning (easy), and soaking in the sights and smells of the midwest U.S. during any season of the year. And, I'm never as well spiritually as when I'm simultaneously caring for mind, body and spirit in the saddle of the brilliant two-wheeled invention called the bicycle.

You'll be disappointed if you hope to find a logical progression of topics about cycling in this blog. I'm going to try to make it as joyfully spontaneous as a ride which provides ongoing opportunities to decide where and when to turn, and how fast to go. I just wanted to get the ride of writing underway after a long period of thinking about it.

My hope for you is that you might at some point find a nugget that will inspire your ride through life or your riding on a bike, and hopefully to integrate both as one in the same.

Ride on,

Jeff