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ExxonMobil Cycling Team

2005

Bicycle Riding SafetyGroup Riding and Pacelines

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• Safety Equipment Ready?– Helmet inspected & on your head– Have your i.d.

• Bicycle Ready?– Tires inflated & inspected– Quick releases tight– Brakes working

• Rider ready?– Obey traffic laws– Be assertive & confident– Don’t impede traffic– No headphones– No talking on the cell phone

Before we get on the bicycle....Before we get on the bicycle....Before we get on the bicycle....Before we get on the bicycle....

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Group Riding BasicsGroup Riding BasicsGroup Riding BasicsGroup Riding Basics

Why ride in a group?– Ride farther, faster

• Use less energy- 30% savings!• Allows time to recuperate

– More visible to motorists– Camaraderie!

Group riding can also be dangerous!– Many riders, various abilities, potential

for contact– Limited line of sight for riders in the

pack

A few guidelines can increase the safety

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Riding in a GroupRiding in a GroupRiding in a GroupRiding in a Group

#1 Rule- Be predictable

“Hold your line”

– Constant direction• Ride a straight line• Hold a constant radius when turning• Stay off the aerobars

Parallel lines never cross!

– Constant speed• Stay off your brakes unless

absolutely necessary

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Riding in a GroupRiding in a GroupRiding in a GroupRiding in a Group

#2 Rule: Ride defensively– It may be the front rider’s fault, but the

rider behind usually goes down first!

Protect your handlebars• Keep your elbows “in”

Protect your front wheel• Never overlap wheels

– Stay off the aerobars when in a group• You can not ride as straight of a line• You can not react to obstacles as fast

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Riding in a GroupRiding in a GroupRiding in a GroupRiding in a Group

#3. Be the eyes & ears for those behind– Call out when slowing, stopping, or turning– Communicate Road Hazards

• Holes, water, cars, bumps, other riders, etc.• Call: “OBSTACLE, LOCATION”

GLASS RIGHT!

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Group Riding- Pacelines!Group Riding- Pacelines!Group Riding- Pacelines!Group Riding- Pacelines!

What is a paceline?

An organized, efficient group, designed to:

– Maximize benefits of the group

but.... It also increases group’s inherent hazards

Why?– Riders closer together– Moving faster

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Group Riding- Pacelines!Group Riding- Pacelines!Group Riding- Pacelines!Group Riding- Pacelines!

Safe paceline guidelines– Hold your line- be steady and

predictable!• Riders behind you are depending on

your line

– Focus several riders ahead• Do not stare at the tire in front of you• You may see obstacles that the

leaders don’t call

– Watch for other riders’ mistakes• Follow only as close as you feel

comfortable• Try to ride with people you know• Always leave a “way out”

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Basic Types of PacelinesBasic Types of PacelinesBasic Types of PacelinesBasic Types of Pacelines

Single / Echelon Double Paceline

Single-– Most efficient for small groups– Useful in any wind condition– Larger group may break into

several single lines on narrow roads

Double Paceline– Use for larger groups on wider

roads– A.k.a.: Conversational rotation,

since you can easily talk to rider beside you when in the pack

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Single Paceline How-To

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Single PacelineSingle PacelineSingle PacelineSingle PacelineWind

When in front, aka “Pulling”– Stay as far on the UPWIND side

as safely possible • I.e.: stay left if the wind is from left

– Call road hazards• Riders behind can not see

– Hold a steady speed• Watch the computer- it is easy to

accelerate when you get to the front• Changing the speed by only a few

mph can disrupt an entire group

– Don’t stay on the front too long• Many new riders work too long on the

front, and are soon dropped• Your line will suffer as you tire

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Single PacelineSingle PacelineSingle PacelineSingle Paceline

Wind

Ending your Pull– Loudly state that you are “out”– Accelerate 2 hard pedal strokes

straight ahead• Just in case the rider behind has

overlapped

– Pull to the headwind side• Careful not to move into traffic or

cross the yellow line

– Gradually reduce speed and move back in line

• Allow riders behind to maintain a straight line

– Re-join the line after the last rider

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Single PacelineSingle PacelineSingle PacelineSingle Paceline

Wind

When in the back or middle– Hold your line

• Riders behind may overlap your rear wheel

– Watch the riders ahead– Don’t overlap wheels– Maintain a steady speed

• Variations in speed cause a line to oscillate like a spring!

– NEVER cross the yellow line

and most importantly….– Recover and enjoy the tow!

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Double Paceline How-To

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Double PacelineDouble PacelineDouble PacelineDouble Paceline

Wind

When in front, aka “Pulling”

Same Rules apply: – Hold a steady speed– Don’t pull to exhaustion- even if

pulling with a stronger rider– Call road hazards for those behind

Don’t “Half-Wheel”– Keep your front wheel even with

your partner, don’t ride a “half wheel” ahead

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Double PacelineDouble PacelineDouble PacelineDouble Paceline

Wind

Ending your pull:

Both riders pull off together– No matter who calls “out” first– Both riders signal “out”– Accelerate 2 hard pedal strokes

straight ahead– Pull to the outside of the lines– Gradually reduce speed and move

back

Note: the downwind rider must continue moving away, as the line trails downwind

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Double PacelineDouble PacelineDouble PacelineDouble Paceline

Wind

When in the back or middle– Hold your line

• Riders behind may overlap your rear wheel

– Watch the riders ahead– Don’t overlap wheels– Maintain a steady speed

• Variations in speed cause a line to oscillate like a spring!

– Leave room for other riders• The group can be 4 riders wide as

riders move back

and, while recovering….– Get to know those around you!

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Paceline passing a rider or groupPaceline passing a rider or groupPaceline passing a rider or groupPaceline passing a rider or group

Overtaking another group– Call out WHAT & WHERE

– Ensure you are heard• Mention that it is a group as you

pass

– Leave room between groups• Riders may be moving towards the

back after a pull, or• Your paceline may be angled to the

right

– Don’t immediately cut back• Remember the riders behind you

Passing on your

left!

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Getting Started in a PacelineGetting Started in a PacelineGetting Started in a PacelineGetting Started in a Paceline

• Ride with an experienced group– Riders near your physical level

• You can’t learn as well when “over your head”

• Ask experienced riders for advice or critiques– If you are doing something wrong, most tell you immediately!

• Practice with your training partners

• Participate in an ExxonMobil On-The-Bike Safety Session

With riders moving faster and traveling closer together,

Think about what you are doing when in line

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ConclusionConclusionConclusionConclusion

Please remember the following:– Ensure you and your bike are ready for each ride

– Ride in a safe and defensive manner

– Stay hydrated

– and, most of all,

Be safe and enjoy the ride!

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References:References:References:References:

ExxonMobil Cycling Team Website:– http://www.emcycling.com

ExxonMobil Communications group:– http://groups.yahoo.com/group/emcycling/

BP MS-150:– http://www.ms150.org/ms150/

Questions/comments: J. M. Wright, 281-834-0992