pace lines? When to flick the elbow

r3 guy

A bit confused about summat!

When i ride in a pace lines with my mates, we give the elbow flick to indicate someone to take a pull, i also see the pros doing this.

but..

I also see people who are pulling, move to the right and drop to the back, allowing the next person to pull

Which is the right way?

jimycooper

it can be both.
but mainly when in a line going at a fast pace, you flick your elbow to indicate that you are pulling off, and the next person in liine to come through.

hope that helped :roll:

Monty Dog

Keep the elbow flick when you're on the rivet and need to maintain the high pace e.g. when working a race breakaway, whereas on group / club rides sitting up and moving over is sufficient.

softlad

in a race situation someone will usually shout "come through, you lazy fcker" - at which point you know it's time to do a turn on the front....

To be honest, I never ever saw any elbow flicking - maybe that's why they ended up shouting..

Smokin Joe

Moving to the right and dropping back may be ok in a race on closed roads, but when out with the chaingang it is a bit dodgy as you are moving out in front of any overtaking traffic. Best to flick the elbow and let the guy behind check if it is safe to come through.

nolf

On a chaingang usually we have 2 lines, 1 going up and 1 going down. You just move into the left hand line and slow down a bit.

Elbow flicks can be handy, but sometimes they're not noticed immediately.

sheffsimon

Smokin Joe wrote:

Moving to the right and dropping back may be ok in a race on closed roads, but when out with the chaingang it is a bit dodgy as you are moving out in front of any overtaking traffic. Best to flick the elbow and let the guy behind check if it is safe to come through.

Been in plenty of races on open roads and pulled over to right when going thru and off.

Depends on wind direction, but must admit it doesnt feel quite as natural as moving up on right and dropping in left.

inseine

If there are enough of you then ride in two lines. You don't elbow fllck because you move over as soon as you hit the front, making sure you don't turn into the guy who just pulled over. Whether the line goes up the right or the left depends on the wind.
When there are less of you then go to the front for 30-60secs. You all get into a rhythm pretty quickly so usually no need for a flick. You don't really ease up until your on the back of the group again.

nosmo-king

I was pootling along the coastal cycle path here in North Wales. I caught up with a bloke on an old boneshaker. As I waited for the right moment to pass him he turned and saw me, faced forward again and then gave me the elbow flick! I raced past him at about 14mph!!! Eat my dust old timer!