Just got this forwarded from my friend Doug who rides with Alameda Velo in the East Bay:
As Ride Captain and most-times ride leader I find it unacceptable that most people go on our most remote rides with minimal equipment. WE ARE NOT RACING HERE, BIT WE ARE PREPARING AND TRAINING FOR THE HARDEST RIDES IN THE WORLD. So, what we must do is NOT rely on the generosity of others but prepare yourself appropriately to be self-sufficient on our longer, more remote rides like today.
I will EXPECT, from here on out, that EVERYONE will carry at least THREE inner tubes appropriate to their wheelset (deep rims need long stems or have the appropriate stem extenders and tools), four or more CO2 cartridges or frame pump, and mini-tool with chain tool and appropriate MasterLinks.
I DO NOT WANT TO SEE ANY MICROSCOPIC SADDLE BAGS ON OUR RIDES. COME PREPARED SO YOU CAN DEAL WITH MULTIPLE FLATS, LOOSE BOLTS, AND A BROKEN CHAIN.
I carry a 4 POUND saddle bag...hey, more weight is better for my training! We do not have SAG on our rides, so, as the Boy Scout motto says, Be Prepared!
Here's my saddle bag...buy one, dammit! Sports Basement has them. Don't rely on your ride leaders or your team mates to get you out of jams.
So I propose that we become "Velo Club Burt"!
Amen William!
5 Ways to Win Friends on a Group Ride
By Josephine Allen • Cycling Camp San Diego
Sometimes group rides can be daunting and can feel more like a battleground than a group activity.
The good news is it doesn't have to be that way. Here are my top five practical ways to improve your own group riding and influence other cyclists to do the same (without resorting to verbal abuse).
Pick a Formation and Ride it Correctly
The road that you're riding on at a particular time will determine if you ride single or two abreast i.e. depending on traffic flow, local laws and road width. Someone in the group should call the formation and the group should follow suit.
If you're riding single file: Leave about half a wheel length between you and the rider in frontâ€"enough to react to pace changes, but not so much that you may as well be riding alone. Stay behind the rider in front and trust them to call out obstacles or hazards (more on that later). If you drift to the side of the rider in front DO NOT position your front wheel alongside their rear wheel and overlap it. This is a highly dangerous position to be in should they suddenly have to maneuver unexpectedly.
If you're riding two abreast: Do exactly that; handlebar to handlebar, shoulder to shoulder. Don't be "that rider" who sits two feet ahead, constantly looking backwards to try and make conversion but steadfastly refusing to ride alongside you.
Communicate Obstacles and Hazards
If there is an obstacle in the path of the group, point it out (e.g. large potholes, seams in the pavement, glass, sticks, rocks, parked cars etc). It's also good etiquette to shout out and make it clear if it's on the left or right since, if you're 10 riders back, you may miss someone pointing, and just hearing "glass" doesn't give you much idea where to start anticipating the group flow to move.
However, wild gesturing towards glass in the middle of the car lane, runners on the sidewalk, holes in the road that no rider should be anywhere near, etc. might get you some funny looks. Pointing things out unnecessarily also results in other riders starting to ignore your warning calls (bad news when they really are about to disappear into a wheel-trashing pot hole!)
Use Your Turn Signals, Brake Lights and Hazard Warnings
Okay so we don't have them on a bike, but you wouldn't drive your car if they weren't working would you? So: If you're slowing, signal and call out "slowing." If you're stopping, signal and call out "stopping"(a hand at your side with palm facing backwards is a standard stopping gesture). If you're turning: signal and call out "right turn" or "left turn." You get the idea...be predictable and if you're going to do something unpredictable make sure people know about it.
Also, don't assume everyone becomes telepathically "tuned in" after mile 10. Use these signals from the first second of the ride to the moment you pull into the coffee shop at the end. If you do it, other people with follow your lead and good group communication will become the norm.
Call 'Car Up' or 'Car Back'
"Car up" or "car ahead" means there's a car traveling towards the group or the group is traveling fast enough to overtake a car from the rear. "Car back" means there is a car following the group closely from behind or overtaking the group.
If calls of "car back" or "car up" send cyclists repeatedly scurrying toward the shoulder, you should consider practicing tip one and ride single file for a while. If you have to move over when a car appears, it's probably wise to be out of their way in the first place.
Win Friends and Influence People
If you practice good group riding yourself others will learn from you. Be diligent and keep demonstrating such skills, even if everyone around you appears to have adopted an "every man/women for him/her self" attitude. Persevere and a disciplined group will emerge. When it works properly it should feel like a flock of birds moving together in perfect harmony and less like stampeding cattle.
One final word of caution: riding hands off in the middle of a pack of riders doesn't look so cool when the pace suddenly slows without warning, sending you hurtling into someone's rear wheel. Although this is a highly recommended skill to learn, one which can save you from hours of riding in too many clothing layers because the group isn't stopping, please use caution: move to the back of the group to remove your jacket, or warn your fellow riders and move out the side slightly.
Ready to ride? Search for a cycling event.
Josephine Allen is in charge of business development for Cycling Camp San Diego. She is a level 2 USA cycling coach and an experienced endurance cyclist.
I take Bill's comment as a complement, but I have switched to my "summer bag", which is still giant, but about 2 inches shorter. I just don't like stuffing things in my back jersey pockets.
Bill,
Thanks for the forward from Alemeda Velo.
Clearly this policy should be written into NCCC by-laws but I would expand it a bit. In addition to 3 tubes appropriate to ones wheel set and the proper method of inflation, I think NCCC's by-laws should require all members to carry: 1) three spare bikes in the event of catastrophic failure, one bigfoot repellant device, a sewing kit for kit repairs, a repair kit for sewing repairs, three french hens, the Queen Mary, a petite filet to distract the violent bigfoot (or dogs) in the event the repellant device fails, Diana’s phone number because she is the rider leader and she will solve all our issues, enough pies to cover Bill’s pie ride cravings without stopping, a few dozen spokes for Anthony’s ever spoke popping wheel set, a six or twelve pack of your favorite beer, and finally a bike repair stand so we don’t have to sit on the ground to change tubes/tires.