Cycling etiquette help, please!

[SimonJKH]

I'm such a noob, I need help with a few basics. This'll sound silly to a lot of you old hands, but anyway...
On my ride today, I was caught by a group of three guys. As they were passing, one of them gave me a friendly "Hop on, mate!". Much as I would have loved to, I was worried that a) I'm pretty slow, and would have held them up, and b) I've never ridden in a group, so I had visions of it resulting in AT BEST they leave me thinking 'What a pain. Doesn't he know when it's his turn up front?' AT WORST I collide with someone. So I gave them what I hoped was a cheery "No, I'll never keep up with you guys. See you."
So off they went. Which is my first question. You think I actually came over as a stand-offish nerk, rather than a nervous nellie?
Anyway, story continues. When I got to flat bit, I DID catch them. So I'm thinking "Am I quicker than I thought, or did they slow down to let me catch up?"
So my second query is, should I have acknowledged to them that I'd caught them? I felt a bit of a twit to be honest. On the next climb they left me for dead, and that was that. But still, I'd appreciate some advice. And in the unlikely event any of those guys are reading. Thanks again for the offer. I'd love to take you up on it when I'm a bit slimmer and faster.

 

[Rob3rt]

You have nothing to worry about, give yourself some slack

 

[ianrauk]

As what Rob says....

 

[Reece]

As Robert said, cut yourself some slack.

I went on my first group ride today, bit nervous at first but the more experienced riders let us know of any dangers etc and all us newbies caught on pretty quick.

Phrases they used were "Car front/back/left/right", "Stopping" and "Keep left" etc. Also a few hand gestures to passing cars that acknowledged us and gave us adequate space etc. Also hand gestures if something on the floor. For example wet mud, potholes etc.

After we split up to make our way home at the end I really surprised myself following a more experienced rider from our club. Was doing a steady 21-22mph along the road home in his slipstream. weather it was the slipstream helping or the fact I wanted to keep up I don't know.

 

[Rob3rt]

If there is one thing you need to know about group riding, it is "dont do anything sudden"! I shoot my pants today when some lad decided to jump out from the inside line to the outside line suddenly without looking back, just as I was moving up outside line. Nearly went up his arse at about 27mph!

 

[Reece]

If there is one thing you need to know about group riding, it is "dont do anything sudden"! I s*** my pants today when some lad decided to jump out from the inside line to the outside line suddenly without looking back, just as I was moving up outside line. Nearly went up his arse at about 27mph!

We had one moment to. They club was using a new route for the first time so the leaders were a bit unsure. At one point all we heard was next left 10ft from the junction. In a slight panic turned left without looking. Luckily chap behind had some great reactions. A quick apology but he was very good about the situation.

 

[Rob3rt]

Yes, I feel bad about the shout I let out to this guy, it was just mistake (club intro ride), the same sort of mistakes I could have potentially made not so long ago but while soiling my undies I let out an almighty "woah woah woah, hold your line" as I swerved around him!

 

[ufkacbln]

Some people are not group riders........ no-one will take it wrongly if you want to ride solo.

 

[oldfatfool]

If there is one thing you need to know about group riding, it is "dont do anything sudden"! I s*** my pants today when some lad decided to jump out from the inside line to the outside line suddenly without looking back, just as I was moving up outside line. Nearly went up his arse at about 27mph!

I think I gave some poor sole a heart attack on a fast descent this morning, Just saw a shadow to my left and thought shoot he's taking me on the inside on the bend but the sun was low and shadows long he was about 6" to my right as I pulled over to give him more room I should have been more aware but it is a problem with riding with strangers and not knowing what stunts they might or might not pull, having been cut across several times myself earlier in the ride.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

The first time I rode with a group I was pretty nervous, but I stuck to my usual no frills persona and said 'if you think I'm being lazy and should lead please tell me as I'm new at all this!'


The first time I went out with a couple of fellas from this forum the whole pointing out dangers was new to me, so when at speed 4F of this parish pointed out loads of sand at the entrance to a side road I thought he was signalling and I shot up said side road like a rat up a shoot pipe

 

[Fab Foodie]

There's no hard and fast answer. If they asked you to 'hop-on' that's great, my first view would be to join-in but not to interefere with them i.e hang on the back unless invited to take part in the action (if a true pace-line), different groups ride in different ways and it's good to figure pace and dynamics for a while.
If you catch a group and want to ride with them, I think it's good ettiquette to ask if they're happy with that.
Don't be too keen to ride the front unless you can comfortably hold the pace otherwise it'll wreck you and you'll struggle to keep up.

Our Sunday groups are pretty loose affairs of various pacings, but as we're not a 'racing' club but a social club, we're happy for others to join us - in fact we encourage it! We have a leader and a sweeper but other than that obey the rules of the road and call/point the usual signals for cars/holes yadda yadda and you'll be good.

I agree that in any group, don't do anything sudden ... soiled lycra is not a good look!

 

[SimonJKH]

Well thanks for all the advice. I feel less like I messed up now. I think if it happens again I'll accept the offer Andrew Culture style

The first time I rode with a group I was pretty nervous, but I stuck to my usual no frills persona and said 'if you think I'm being lazy and should lead please tell me as I'm new at all this!'

And just try to stay with them as long as I can!

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Well thanks for all the advice. I feel less like I messed up now. I think if it happens again I'll accept the offer Andrew Culture style




And just try to stay with them as long as I can!

Hang about! I've only just noticed that you're local to me! If you want to give riding in a small group a go I'll cheerfully come out for a ride with you, I dare say a couple of other Ippo locals on here would too!

 

[BrumJim]

Interesting.

If I ever said "Hop on the Back" it would be an open invitation to take advantage of my/our draft, not an invitation to be part of the ride. Particularly useful in the event of strong headwinds. I've invited people before to take advantage of a bit of wind protection, just because I was feeling generous and helpful. However I don't think that it would be offensive to refuse, as everyone has their own natural pace. Mine might be too strong, even with aerodynamic assistance.

Some people don't like drafters that just take advantage, but do no work themselves. Its a bit of a hot potato, but essentially there is no loss, and even a slight benefit to those in front. However some still think of it as freeloading.

 

[biggs682]

riding solo is good as you can have a serious chat to yourself and sought out all or some of your own issues if you have any ?

as well as sing to yourself out of tune