Singling up - help please.

[PpPete]

As I've just joined AUK, and I'll be doing a group JoGLE later in the year, I've been reading a lot on the internet about group riding etiquette.

I have one question though to which I have yet to find the answer. Hoping someone on here can help.

When "singling up" (moving from two abreast to single file) which rider drops back and which pulls in front?

I'm talking about a large group here, not just a pair of riders. Having read all the rest of the commonly accepted "rules" (some of which might seem a little pedantic until you understand the reason for them) I feel sure there must be a right and a wrong way to do this.

 

[ASC1951]

Common sense would suggest that the outside rider moves forward, so that he always knows his relative position, rather than dropping back and hoping that the person behind him is doing the same. The AUK rules may suggest something different, of course.

 

[P.H]

With the groups I've ridden with it's usual for the outside rider to pull in behind. That way the outside rider can see when to pull in without looking behind.

 

[HLaB]

I didn't think there was any rule to it but it just seems natural for the outside rider to fall behind in most cases but sometimes its the otherway, it all seems to work out in the groups I ride in.

 

[vernon]

I'm talking about a large group here, not just a pair of riders. Having read all the rest of the commonly accepted "rules" (some of which might seem a little pedantic until you understand the reason for them) I feel sure there must be a right and a wrong way to do this.

On most of the Audax rides that I've been on, there have not been large groups of riders riding two abreast. When moving from double to single file the process seems to 'just happen'

I'd not worry too much.

 

[Arch]

On most of the Audax rides that I've been on, there have not been large groups of riders riding two abreast. When moving from double to single file the process seems to 'just happen'

I'd not worry too much.

+1

I've only ridden in informal groups of friends, but it's normally obvious which way to go (whoever seems to be spinning most freely speeds up goes in front, I think), and if it's not obvious, one of us will say "I'll drop back" or whatever.

 

[jimboalee]

"Singling out".

Usually, the more experienced and stronger rider takes the outside position in a 'two-a-breast' formation.

When there is a shout 'Singling out", the rider on the outside will give a little signal ( such as point between the inside riders). The rider on the curbside will let a gap grow ahead of him to let the outside rider in.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

With the groups I've ridden with it's usual for the outside rider to pull in behind. That way the outside rider can see when to pull in without looking behind.

Yup and the outside rider hasn't so far to go for that. If he needs to get in front then he'd need to speed up.

 

[Ian H]

It should be the outside rider dropping back so that the following car can't start overtaking before the maneouvre is completed. In practice it's whatever happens at the time. Doesn't seem to make much difference.

 

[Philip Whiteman]

As said above, it depends upon the circumstance and communication between rider. Strength of either the inside or outside rider is possible especially where the creation of a gap is involved.

On sportives, I have discovered that a different rule applies. The outside rider simply knocks the inside rider into the nearest ditch or hedge. And yes, I do have a bitter experience.