How To Cycle In A Group | Tips From The Pros

Whether you're planning a social spin to the café, a training ride with your cycling club or riding a sportive with thousands of other cyclists, understanding how to ride in a group safely and efficiently is essential.

If you're now asking yourself the question “Am I riding safely?”, we have you covered. Laka Bicycle Insurance has teamed up with Laura Winter to create a guide on the correct skills and etiquette to practice when cycling in a group.

Follow these tips to keep yourself safe when cycling in a group. And of course, when cycling on the road always follow the highway code.

Ride behind the rider in front

Try to avoid "half-wheeling" - it's hazardous. This happens if you have half of your front wheel overlapping the rear wheel of the rider next to you. To avoid this make sure you're riding directly behind the rider in front of you.

If the cyclist had to swerve to avoid a pothole a close pass or road debris, they might swing straight into you. The result? You go down. What if you are in the middle of the group? Not only will you hit the deck, but so will the cyclists behind you.

It's best to ride on the wheel in front of you, leaving a big enough gap so you can stop in time, but also close enough to get the benefits of drafting.

A critical thing to remember when riding on the wheel is to look “through” the rider in front of you; to anticipate the road hazards ahead, rather than looking down at their wheel.

Relax as much as possible in the upper body, and always have your hands covering the brakes - either on the hoods or on the drops, so you can react as quickly as you need to.

Communicate hazards & remember your hand signals

When you are on the road, don't forget to use your voice. We can't emphasise enough the importance of communication. For example, calling out road obstructions, directions and obstacles. Make your group aware!

If you see a pothole, shout “hole” and point to it, so your cycling buddies know what to avoid.

Car parked on the left? Shout “out” and signal out from the kerb behind your back. This means riders following you know there is an obstruction that they need to move out for.

If you are slowing down or coming to a halt, it is crucial to call it. Let your group know in advance so they can slow down gradually.

Other terms you need to communicate on the road:

• “Car Back”: Coming from behind you!
• “Car Up”: The car is coming towards you.
• “Under”: Used when the road surface is terrible.
• “Single File”: When a large vehicle is approaching or you're riding on a narrow road
• “Gap”: If a rider has been dropped (left behind). This one's important, so let's cover it in a bit more detail.

Stay as a group

The perks of riding in a group count for nothing if your group is splintering on the road.

Sprinting for road signs (you know who you are) could mean riders at the back of the group will suddenly see a gap appear in front of them. You do not want to see those gaps. It will be challenging to close the gap, especially when the riders in front are benefiting from drafting.

Once an extreme effort has been made to get back into the group, the rider will be more fatigued, so gaps are

Another way to avoid being dropped yourself or leaving riders behind is to make sure you choose a group that fits your speed and fitness level.

Often hills are taken at one's own pace, but make sure you always regroup at the top.

Riding in a group enables you to ride faster, longer and stronger, and most importantly you will enjoy the ride a lot more and the time will go by more quickly. If you want to encourage more people to ride with your group or club, you have to think of others and make sure everyone is looked after.

Remember, there is no time for egos in group riding!

Bring spares

Mechanicals are a part of riding, so make sure you have a puncture repair kit with you. Make sure it includes an inner tube, tyre levers, and a pump. There is no excuse not to pack one! You can easily fit this equipment in either a saddle bag or back pocket.

Always accept help, as someone in your group may be more experienced and quicker in handling a repair.

Advanced Group Riding

Through and off

Once you've mastered group riding, “through and off” is a great way to train. Trust me, you'll get fit quickly! The fluid, continuous motion of the group allows you to always keep the pace high.

The perfect group?

Best done in groups of six or more, you will ride two abreast, with the outside line of riders travelling faster than the inside.

The rider at the front on the outside will move to the inside once past the front wheel of the rider next to them. It is important to maintain a consistent speed, so you don't pull away or cause the riders behind to pile into the back of you. The rider at the back of the inside line moves across to the outside line to fill the gap formed as the outside line moves up.

Turns at the front should be short to keep the speed high, and riders should only switch when road conditions allow it to be done safely. If a rider is struggling, someone else can move up to take the lead instead. Communicate and listen to the riders around you.

Through and off is an important race technique which can be incorporated into training for everyone. It is all about teamwork and communication. The speed must be smooth and consistent to ensure safety and to prevent any gaps in the lines.

Riding in a group is what cycling is all about; a sense of camaraderie rarely matched in other sports. In a sportive, it is inevitable as thousands will be riding the same route. To maximise your experience, you must ride safely. Remember: Be nice to others, check your ego, have fun & communicate.