The Paceline — by Bill Stevenson

This article was written several years ago by Olympia's Bill Stevenson. It originally appeared in the newsletter of the former Capital Bicycling Club.

At several key junctures in my early days of cycling people went out of their way to teach me the inner workings of road riding.  Two of them, Jerry Baker and Bob Kaye, were particularly influential and important to me.  Both men are local legends. Neither they nor the uncounted others who helped me learn the ropes of cycling had any good reason to spend their valuable time coaching a callow youth from Olympia.  But they did, and their help opened the mysteries of road cycling to me, providing one of the greatest joys of my life in the process.  It is in memory an appreciation of this help that I sit down today with paper and ink to try and pass on the wonderful gift they provided.

To the uninitiated, road cycling can seem like a province of some secret society inhabited by a strange race of Lycra-clad humanoids. Many of the things which make road cycling more enjoyable and efficient are not intuitive. Case in point: riding in a paceline. The very idea that one might ride in a large group, inches from other riders, sometimes literally rubbing elbows at relatively high speeds seems to defy the very laws of good common sense. That you can do so in relative comfort and safety is a result of the riders in pacelines following a series of often unspoken rules of etiquette and procedures.

Most of us long ago learned that by riding closely behind another rider we can reap the benefit of the front rider “breaking the wind” allowing the following rider to do less work for that period of time. Riding behind another rider is usually referred to as drafting. When a group of riders agrees to ride together and take turns riding at the front of the group, sharing the work they are generally referred to as a paceline, pack or peloton. Pacelines are the most efficient way to move groups of riders on the road with both speed and safety.  The most common type of paceline is the single paceline. Assuming there is adequate room on the roadway, double and rotating pacelines are also common.

Following are some secret codes of the “roadies.” Even after you learn these rules, to remain proficient in their use, you will need to continue to practice.  While I hate to use the word, you will need to have the discipline to behave in a predictable way all the time.  Otherwise, you become a hazard to both yourself and your friends and fellow riders.

Paceline Rules

1.       Always, always do your best to ride in a straight line. Failure to do so knocks you or friends down.

2.       Never, never make sudden changes in speed or direction at any point in a paceline. Doing so greatly endangers you and other riders.

3.       If you are at the front of the paceline, anticipate obstacles and gradually move over well before you get to them. Think of it as if you’re driving a train, smoothly, with no sudden changes in speed or direction.

4.       Come to an understanding with your paceline companions as to which side the lead rider will rotate to as they relinquish the lead position. For most intermediate groups, rotating to the left works best. More advanced groups may prefer to rotate based on wind direction. The important thing is that everyone understands what is expected. Smooth, easy and predictable are the key words for safe group rides. If you are changing protocol during the ride, be sure everyone understands and will comply with the change.

5.       Do not spend too long on the front. Pacelines are most efficient when there is always a “fresh” rider at the front. “Pulls” should rarely exceed 100 pedal strokes, or approximately a one-minute duration.  In fact, the most efficient paceline is the circular, or rotating paceline where riders are constantly rotating.

6.       Never stop pedaling in a paceline. To do so causes gaps to form, with the resultant surges to close the gaps causing the back end of the line to “rubber band” (stretch and snap back). This requires riders at the back of the line to expend more energy than if everything is working smoothly. If you find yourself rolling up on the rider in front of you, soft pedal and move slightly to the left so you can overlap if necessary. As a last resort, lightly use your front brake. It is not surprising that the smoothest, safest pacelines are on the velodrome where everyone has similar gearing, cannot coast due to fixed gears, and cannot tap the brakes (because there are none). Once again, ride smoothly, predictably and with no rapid changes of speed or direction. Do not coast.

7.       Do not ride off to the side.  Part of what makes riding in a pack of riders safe is the implied understanding that everyone will behave in a prescribed manner. If you are riding in a single paceline, riders will ride one behind another, rotating down one side as decided by the group. Riding off to the side (other than the leader coming off the front) is extremely dangerous as a rider rotating back has no expectation for a rider to be anywhere but where they should be —riding single file in the line.  If for some reason you need to move up or next to a rider, loudly and clearly announce your intention of doing so by saying “on your left” (or right).

8.       While it is not a bad thing for the leader to point out hazards (holes, gravel, debris, etc.), it is not a requirement. The front rider is expected to find the best possible line through a series of obstacles. The leader’s expectation is that you are following exactly, or nearly so, behind. If you are riding a foot off to the side and hit a hole, do not complain; no one expects you to be there.

9.       Nothing marks a paceline rider as a novice more than accelerating when taking the front position. Not only does it disrupt the flow of the line, but the poor rider who just took a hard pull often gets spit off the back of the line. If you think your buddies can go a little faster, by all means accelerate but do so in a way that the group can most benefit from. Give the departing leader time to get securely on the line, then gradually accelerate.

10.   As a rule of thumb, simple good manners require that we take up as little room on the roadway as possible. If there is a paved shoulder, use it. If placed correctly on the shoulder, even the rider moving from the front to the back should not have to use the roadway itself. When you are at the front, you can make this easier by moving the paceline to the right side of the shoulder before you drop back. Six inches is plenty if everyone is smooth and predictable. To use more of the roadway than necessary indicates at best a lack of proficiency, and at worst an insensitivity to other roadway users. This, in my thinking, is just as mindless and rude as the drivers who yell or honk at cyclists for being on the roadway. Just because you are a big group does not give you the right to take up any extra space or wander around the roadway like a gaggle of geese. Riding unpredictably and taking more space than necessary for safety is not only dangerous but sends the wrong message to the public. In high traffic situations ride single file as close to the road edge shoulder edge as possible. Do not wander around. We need to be seen as safe, efficient and predictable road users. When making a left turn it is the person riding at the front of the line who is responsible to judge if the land is free of traffic and move the group into a position to turn, and to judge if oncoming traffic is far enough away for the group to cross safely. Do not bunch up, stay single file. Be responsible for yourself. Oncoming traffic may have been travelling faster than the leader estimated. Getting gapped is better than getting run over.

A few rules are simply good manners. Some riding groups fail to follow any of these rules. You might say they simply do not have any experience or manners, or are boorish twits only interested in their own ride. In any case, they give the rest of us a bad name.

Paceline etiquette

1.       If someone you are riding with flats or has a mechanical problem, good manners say that at least some of the riders remain with the one having the problem. After the issue is resolved, the riders can work together to catch up to the main group or finish the ride together as a separate group if the gap is too great. It is not necessary, nor wise, for the entire group to stop. Sixty people standing on the side of the road watching one poor soul fix a flat is not only a fool's errand, but creates dangerous congestion and distraction to roadway traffic.

2.       If the person with the flat is less than proficient at repairing their flat or dealing with a mechanical breakdown, it is considered good form to give them the opportunity to complete the repair successfully, with a little kind advice, before offering to undertake the job for them. Take over as a last resort, and then with permission. We all need to practice our personal roadside repair skills.

3.       I believe no one should ever have to ride in from a group ride alone. Someone in the group needs to be responsible for the last rider. Certainly some riders require less support than others and exceptions can be made if it seems like the last person would rather suffer in solitude. However, in my memory I can recall only one instance in 35 years of riding when the person I waited for or rode back to find did not seem glad to see my smiling face. Besides, the Good Samaritans get more miles than their ride buddies and meet some really nice people they may not have gotten to know otherwise. Strangest of all, they will often get to ride in a paceline that, while not as fast as the ones at the front, are occasionally of a higher overall quality.

4.       The chaos that often results following the simple act of stopping at a stop sign or traffic light or simply going around a corner never ceases to amaze me. Why does everyone bunch up, wander around, or ride in the other lane? All that should happen is that you maintain the formation were in when you arrived at the obstacle. Stay behind the person you were following. If it is a stop sign or a light stay as far to the right as possible. Do not block or mix with traffic. Do not change leaders. When the light changes move off smoothly. If gaps open do not panic, they will close up quickly as everyone gets back up to speed. If you are simply turning onto a new road you should barely notice any changes. Again, stay behind the person you are following.   Do not overlap. Do not coast. Do not wander around. Lack of paceline discipline is not only inefficient, it is dangerous. Often the person who causes the problem is not the one who suffers the consequences of their actions.

5.       Sometimes on a regular ride you will realize that some riders consistently violate paceline etiquette. They do not maintain a steady pace or do not ride straight; they brake or coast in the middle of the peloton or change direction randomly without warning. They probably are not evil persons. In a non-cycling situation, they may be really nice people. But in a cycling venue their behavior is evil. Eventually someone will get hurt, maybe seriously. When you first notice any inappropriate behavior, a mild friendly admonition pointing out the offending act is in order. If the behavior persists, perhaps talking to the ride leader so that the problem can be discussed with the offending party is a good idea. In the meantime, give the person in question extra space. Put as many riders between you and the offending party as possible. After a few rides you will know who is smooth and solid. Make these people your group. Surround yourself with as many of these competent riders as you can. Avoid the flakes as much as possible. They can help it, but they don't – and this makes them a danger to themselves and others.

In writing this down I am making numerous assumptions. First and foremost, that we are discussing friendly club/group rides held on open roads. This is obviously a very different situation than racing held on a closed circuit. It is, however, how many of the traits that make a solid and respected racer are transferred directly to a solid and respected club or fitness rider.

Summary (or desirable traits)

A competent paceline participant:

·       Rides in a straight line, virtually never changing direction rapidly with or without notice.

·       Does not change speed rapidly either by accelerating or decelerating.

·       Always behaves predictably.

·       Picks the best line when at the front of the group, avoiding obstacles by anticipating them far in advance and moving the group gradually around them.

·       Does not coast or surge in a pace line. Is smooth and predictable, no gaps, no overlaps.

·       Has an intuitive feel for how fast the group can ride and sets a pace to accommodate the needs of all the riders, not too fast, not too slow. It is OK to make people stretch a little, but we do want everyone back alive. If you are one of the weaker members of the group do not kill yourself when you are at the front. Do a good honest turn but save enough to get back on when you go to the back to recover. If you are on the verge of being dropped don't be ashamed to take a short pull. Everyone has off days. Maybe with a couple of shorter pulls you can contribute more later in the ride.

·       Gives appropriate but not excessive verbal and physical warnings.

I suppose it seems sort of complicated, but it isn't really if you think about it. Probably fewer rules than driving on the freeway requires in order to be performed safely. Many of the rules, if you think about it, are even the same. Do not accelerate or decelerate quickly without warning. Do not change direction without signaling. I guess the difference is there is not “Drivers Ed” for cycling.