Don't be a Group Ride Squirrel
By: Clinton S Tomasino

Getting out of work early on a Tuesday I was excited to be able to attend a local group ride, which is near and dear to my heart. It was one of the first group rides I ever attended, and I remember those days of showing up on my mountain bike with slicks. Now I always knew that ride has a reputation for being a little aggressive and reckless but safe. But I wasn’t prepared for what I witnessed. In my absence over the past couple of years it had turned into pure chaos! Much more than it ever was or should be, and consequently it was not a very enjoyable experience. It makes me wonder if I'm the only one reading the headlines and keeping up with what is going on in cycling? Two local cyclists killed last year, other local rides stopped because of running a stop sign and complaints? C'mon people isn’t anyone paying attention? 

The kind of stuff I saw tonight is what gives cyclist a bad name and is going to get people hurt and the police continually on our case because of complaints. Afterwards it was clear to me many people leading the ride either aren't aware of the unwritten rules of cycling or relatively new to group rides. I know that it is a common ride for new cyclists to attend and their inexperience showed but also what disturbed me was an apparent lack of willingness for experienced riders to speak up and lead by example. Below is just a quick list of things I witnessed and some simple unwritten rules of road riding etiquette, which in my experience are practiced everywhere I’ve ever been to ride. I know many know these rules but for those who don’t please read and practice and for those who do I ask you to pass them on to others who don't know or don't follow them. 

1. NEVER ride on the wrong side of the road! I saw on 2 instances of people cutting corners in oncoming lanes. This is going to get the people behind hit not the idiots who do it so don't do it! Not to mention the complaints from motorists. Just ask the guy who lost an arm a couple years ago after he crossed the yellow line and crashed through the windshield of a car. Slightly different instance but regardless that’s what can happen on the other side of the yellow lines.

2. DON'T go around cars at stoplights unless you are leaving the ride. I saw people go around them and then when the group stopped they sat up and waited. If you're going to wait on the group then why the hell go around in the first place?!

3. Never let a gap open up in the group. It becomes dangerous at intersections. Cars can't determine where the end of the group is. If you can't follow the wheel pull off to the left or right and let someone through who can. 

4. If you DON'T know the ride route, then FOLLOW. DON'T ride ahead and shout back "which way?" We are not there to be your personal NAV system! I saw two people almost collide because a “newbie” went straight and almost hit a rider making the left as you’re supposed to. I have also seen several accidents caused by this as well.

5. Lastly COMMUNICATE! Point of pot holes, turns, cars, and when you roll through an intersection let the group know if it’s clear or if there are oncoming cars in either direction and pass it on.

Remember it’s up to the rider in the front to guide the group all others are there to follow. So if you find yourself in the front of the pack leading you need to follow these simple unwritten rules of the road. If you do everyone else behind you will learn and hopefully do it too when they find themselves in front. It will also be a much better and safer ride, I promise. 

Remember many group rides are intown and are bike rides not critical mass rides which makes following these simple rules all the more important. If you want to get your jollies by dropping a group I’m sure someone can direct you to a number of group rides which will gladly take all you want to give. Besides I've never been in a race where the break got away because they ran a red light, rode around a car or cut the course. If you don't have the skills to drop the pack when the group is together then suck it up and don't cheat or do something stupid trying to do it. 

These are my observations and insight from riding over the past years in Atlanta, Dallas, New Jersey, Philadelphia and France. I think most anyone with some experience in cycling will agree. I also think most will agree these are easy, logical and won't cause you to lose coolness but instead gain you a lot of respect. If you just can't bring yourself to do them then so be it please don’t lead the ride and I hope you don't end up on the short end of the stick.