Musings from the Back – (or “Teaching Granny”)  

During the recent “Les Twistes” trip to the Ardennes it was apparent that some of the riders were not fully aware of some of the
nuances of group riding and how it differs from solo riding. The following are some personal thoughts aimed at stimulating further discussion on how to ensure enjoyment and safety when riding in a group and are not intended to imply any particular SAM policy or approach – if you think it is condescending, skip this article!  

For any Group Ride the fundamental requirement is to make sure you are in the appropriate group so that the declared pace matches your expectation and capability. If you have not ridden with a particular group of riders, before you start the run discuss the pace with the run leader to make sure everyone knows what to expect. 

SAM runs are normally categorised ‘Leisurely’, ‘Moderate’ or ‘Advanced’ and the overriding principle is that everyone should ride at their own pace, not to feel pressured to keep up with the rider in front, but if you find yourself in the wrong category it can be frustrating and stressful for both the rider and the remainder of the group!  (In other words, “Advanced” is for confident Green Badgers who are prepared to make safe, rapid progress) 

Fuel
Aim to start the run with a full tank of fuel and know the range at the predicted pace and refuel well before it becomes a necessity. Take into account the likely availability of fuel with respect to location/type of road/opening hours/public holidays etc - a good rule of thumb is “never miss an opportunity” (same goes for coffee & loo stops!).   

Before going on a group ride it is a good idea to establish the range of your bike on a full tank and then use that value (best to discover that with a spare can of fuel on the back!) to indicate when you should be looking to refuel – reset the mileage trip (or note) each time you refuel and ride to that range (for example refuel at least every 150 miles).  It is worth remembering that whilst some bikes have clever computers that are able to display fuel status and range based on current speed and predicted consumption, the tried and tested trip distance system is normally more dependable! Even if your tank capacity is designed for crossing continents, avoid becoming smug or complacent and remember that it will also need refuelling at some time. (NB GS Riders!) 

Riding
Understand the Marking System (a ‘given’). Know how many are in your group and, when you are Marker, count them past and be prepared to move off as soon as you see the Back Marker so that you can maintain smooth progress.  If you cannot pull out cleanly the Back Marker may pass you but will allow you to pass him as soon as it is safe to do so and enable you to take up your position in front of them. Know what to do in the event that one or more of the group get lost or breaks down.  Where & when were they last seen?  If it is decided to send a search party, ensure everyone knows where and when the next rendezvous will be. 

Exchanging mobile phone numbers before the ride is a good idea but remember that radios and mobile phones are vulnerable to Sod’s Law when it comes to reception and therefore plan for the worst case.  

When riding on the straight, don’t ride in a single line (as in the picture) but stagger the sequence of riders in tyre tracks 1 and 2 so that not only can you maintain a clearer view ahead (to improve your response times) but the leader & back marker can see how the group are progressing. Obviously, as you approach a corner you can break the stagger and move to your optimum line but revert to the stagger once straight. When approaching traffic lights or junctions, close up in pairs in line abreast and try to stay together to increase the probability of getting the group through on a single light sequence.  Anticipate changes and maintain the ride order once you move off. 

Overtakes
Plan ahead and although everyone is ‘responsible for their own ride’ it is good to consider the others and think what you can do to help them through.  When you are overtaking don’t back off as soon as you have passed the vehicle, think of the rider behind, keep the speed on and pull over into tyre track 1 to leave room for them to complete their manoeuvre and slot in beside you. Be aware of the capabilities of the bikes and riders around you and make the appropriate allowances (not everyone will be able to – or want to – accelerate/brake at your pace)   If you can see the road ahead remains clear, consider staying in the overtake position to signal the fact that the road is still clear to those behind. On a dual carriageway, if you are behind other riders and you can see an overtake opportunity approaching, consider pulling out to the other lane early to block other traffic from behind and allow those in front to complete their overtake. 

Radios
The use of radios can be a positive addition to any group ride. In particular radio contact between the Leader and Back Marker can keep the group moving smoothly – for example; if all the group are together and in sight of one another the Back Marker can call that there is no need to mark the next junction.  If the Back Marker reports when all are clear of the junction/lights etc it can allow the leader to open up the pace, conversely if the group is getting separated because they are baulked by traffic or lights etc, a call from the Back Marker can allow the Leader to cut the pace until the group has reformed. Radios can also be used to warn of obstructions and hazards (speed cameras!), road conditions or non-group riders overtaking. If you think you or those behind you are dropping back, call before you/they drop out of range and be prepared to act as a relay between dispersed members of the group. 

Make sure that if you are using voice activated transmissions (VoX) rather than Press to Talk (PTT) that you have adjusted the levels correctly.  It can be very annoying for other members of the group if your VoX cuts in with just wind noise above a certain speed. (Remember that the pace may at times be higher than your usual solo cruising speed). Test the radios before the start and after each fuel/coffee stop – don’t assume that if the radio worked before the stop it will work after! The first part of a transmission is the most likely to be missed as transmitters and receivers align so it is good practice to repeat directions (e.g.: “Left, Left, Left”) or make an initial noise before speaking. 

One doesn’t need to sound pompous or militaristic when on the radio but some radio discipline makes a distinct improvement in effectiveness. This is particularly important when other groups are on the same frequency (channel). An example was seen during the SAM Ardennes ride where several groups were in the same vicinity and the use of statements such as “Blue Leader, second exit at next roundabout” helped to avoid riders attaching themselves to the wrong group. 

FilteringEstablish before the start whether filtering is expected when the opportunity arises, align expectations, it is no good if some of the group are uncomfortable with filtering as it will only exacerbate delays. When filtering in a group, all the precautions for solo filtering apply with some important   additional considerations:

·         some drivers will resent the fact that they have been passed and will ‘shut the door’ to those following
·         some drivers may be ‘spooked’ by a bike passing close to them and may behave erratically (consciously or unconsciously)
·         Gaps may appear differently to different riders (particularly if some have panniers and others don’t!)
·         In a three/four lane carriageway filter between the same lanes as the bikes ahead,
          passing on both sides of a row of cars can cause a driver to pull over to allow a rider to pass on one side and
          in doing so  he has ‘shut the door’ for the rider on the other side.  

General
Be aware of the speed differential caused by delays at junctions, overtakes etc – for example if the leader is riding at a steady 70mph and a bike behind is held up for 2 minutes, the rider behind will have to travel at 84 mph if he is to catch up with the leader in 10 minutes. If you find yourself in a quicker group, don’t be intimidated but observe what is making them quicker – their lines, their braking points, their anticipation, their overtaking etc.  Why not try and emulate what is making them faster than you  – remember every ride is an opportunity to extend your experience and improve your capabilities. 

If you find yourself in a slower group, resist the temptation to leave the group and blast off into the distance, match the pace of the group and concentrate on making your ride 100% to set a good example so that the others can follow you and gradually increase the pace once the others appear comfortable.  If nothing else you can take the opportunity to observe the scenery! 

Summary
Group riding has its’ own special demands and rewards. A good group ride making rapid fluid progress, riding as one, can be a definite high, as well a providing good conversation of the shared experiences at the stops. A group ride with riders who are significantly faster or slower than others can cause unnecessary tension and dissatisfaction. The answer is to align expectations. 

If you haven’t tried a group ride yet – have a go, you are missing an important facet of club life! Start with a ‘Newcomers’ Saturday ride or choose a ‘Leisurely Pace’ ride before embarking on the ‘Advanced’ rides – remember the categories refer only to the pace / degree of difficulty of the route, not the competence of the rider! As a final word, Run Leaders expend considerable time and effort in planning, practicing and executing their runs and there is a comprehensive range of runs throughout the year to account for most tastes, yet too often one hears of complaints that a particular run was too fast, too slow, too long, too short etc etc. 

 If you are unable to find a run that suits you the answer is simple – volunteer to be a Run Leader and plan your own!  

Back Marker