Is this the norm for a club run?

redvee
redvee Posts: 11,922
edited December 2009 in Training, fitness and health
dscf018.jpg

Came across this chaingang on the road from Congresbury this morning, six riders spread across the road. On the right of the yellow road sign there is a turning which they rode into but the picture was taken after seeing them 200 yds ahead of us so the turning excuse can't be used really. Is anybody of BR pictured above?
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Comments

  • mikeeye
    mikeeye Posts: 162
    That looks like three pairs of riders to me - i.e. they're two abreast. Is that not allowed?
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  • Bronzie
    Bronzie Posts: 4,927
    Looks suspicously like a herd of triantelopes (doing their impression of riding on a wheel). :wink:
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  • LittleB0b
    LittleB0b Posts: 416
    mate - you're posting images 1500px x 2000px to a forum, and you're moaning about other people taking up space...

    how very alanis morisette :roll:
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  • giantsasquatch
    giantsasquatch Posts: 381
    Thats a similar scenario pic of some cyclists using standards about to be overtaken by a highly trained compact rider.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    LittleB0b wrote:
    mate - you're posting images 1500px x 2000px to a forum, and you're moaning about other people taking up space...

    how very alanis morisette :roll:

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  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    redvee wrote:
    Came across this chaingang on the road from Congresbury this morning, six riders spread across the road. On the right of the yellow road sign there is a turning which they rode into but the picture was taken after seeing them 200 yds ahead of us so the turning excuse can't be used really. Is anybody of BR pictured above?

    Apart from their very amateur ability at riding in formation, I can't see what you think they are doing wrong?

    Really what is the issue?
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  • jgsi
    jgsi Posts: 5,062
    So 'chaingang' ...?
    speed ,well in excess of 20mph ??if so
    don't you get slower tractors in your whereabouts?

    Were you just peeved that they 'held' you up a few moments?

    You have posted a lot on this forum and it is worrying that you take time out to criticise other cyclists who as far as the picture shows are not doing anything incorrect or obviously dangerous.

    bad form, sir
    :roll:
  • page23
    page23 Posts: 182
    seems fine to me; looks more like a (poor) echelon attempt rather than riding 6 wide. they may have been riding like that to reduce face spray since they don't appear to have any guards.
  • Infamous
    Infamous Posts: 1,130
    Looks pretty normal to me.
  • markos1963
    markos1963 Posts: 3,724
    Don't forget its winter and they might be out of line after avoiding a pothole/manhole. Looks pretty normal and non dangerous to me, do you ride in groups often?
    Norfolk, who nicked all the hills?

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  • Sirius631
    Sirius631 Posts: 991
    From what can be seen in the photo, the surface is not great by the curb, so it's not advisable to ride close in. In fact the inner most rider could do with being further out to comply with the minimum recommendations of the National Cycle Training Standards.

    Considering the tightness of the upcoming bend, it is wise that the outer riders are that far out in order to disuade any overtaking manouvers by drivers whose view of oncoming vehicles would be shrouded by the riders as they attempted the move.
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  • softlad
    softlad Posts: 3,513
    two abreast is the norm - so if they held that apparently 'four-abreast' formation for any length of time, then it does show a lack of awareness, IMO...especially when there is clearly a car behind them.....

    either way, it doesn't look much like a chaingang....
  • TornadoTom
    TornadoTom Posts: 129
    softlad wrote:
    so if they held that apparently 'four-abreast' formation

    It's definitely two abreast
  • mrchrispy
    mrchrispy Posts: 310
    nothing wrong with that my friend.
    Just wait untill its clear, pull out and pass them giving pleanty of space, you'll find you still reach your destination at approximatly the same time.
  • softlad
    softlad Posts: 3,513
    TornadoTom wrote:
    softlad wrote:
    so if they held that apparently 'four-abreast' formation

    It's definitely two abreast

    it definitely 'isn't' two abreast - you only have to look at the pic to see that. Granted, it is not four-abreast side by side, but the riders behind are not exactly following the wheel in front, are they..?
  • mrchrispy
    mrchrispy Posts: 310
    just had another look at that picture...if they were further in then you could have squeezed by without really slowing down. you probably wouldn't have hit them and I'm sure they wouldn't minded.

    :-|
  • page23
    page23 Posts: 182
    they are riding two abreast, just not directly behind one another. i think people whom regularly ride in racing team clubs would find this fairly typical. i would agree though that they could be 'neater' but it's not always appropriate or safe to ride in such a strict fashion. i think their road presence is good and that's pretty important.
  • softlad
    softlad Posts: 3,513
    Page23 wrote:
    they are riding two abreast, just not directly behind one another. i think people whom regularly ride in racing team clubs would find this fairly typical. i would agree though that they could be 'neater' but it's not always appropriate or safe to ride in such a strict fashion. i think their road presence is good and that's pretty important.

    you can't miss their road presence - because they are all over it.. ;)

    this is two-abreast - the pic in the OP is just a mess....

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  • SBezza
    SBezza Posts: 2,173
    That pic above is two abreast, but also line astern, the OP pic is two abreast, but they are just not line astern. As mentioned above a bit messy, but nothing too abnormal.
  • will3
    will3 Posts: 2,173
    Yes that's the norm, I find van drivers often follow me unneccessarily close behind. If one of them had wiped out for some reason (tripped over his clubmate for example) you'd have had difficulty avoiding at that range.
    Well done.
  • softlad
    softlad Posts: 3,513
    we're getting into semantics here, but surely 'two abreast' implies 'line astern' - or it does to me, anyway...

    If your group is two abreast and not line astern, then you are effectively more than two abreast...and whether you think that or not, that is certainly how it looks to other road users - as evidenced by the original pic....
  • markos1963
    markos1963 Posts: 3,724
    softlad wrote:
    we're getting into semantics here, but surely 'two abreast' implies 'line astern' - or it does to me, anyway...

    If your group is two abreast and not line astern, then you are effectively more than two abreast...and whether you think that or not, that is certainly how it looks to other road users - as evidenced by the original pic....

    Agree with that but don't forget that a picture is only a snapshot of time and they might have been very neat up until the pic was taken. Even the best peloton can have its untidy moments and thats why cars shouldn't get too close to a group of cyclists.
    Norfolk, who nicked all the hills?

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  • nasahapley
    nasahapley Posts: 717
    By 'eck, it must be a right barrel of laughs going out for a ride with some of you on here - you'd be better off joining the band of the Coldstream Guards if you're that pernickety about correct formation. As for the picture - I do sometimes get peeved with groups riding right across the road, but can't see anything wrong in this instance.
  • SBezza
    SBezza Posts: 2,173
    softlad wrote:
    we're getting into semantics here, but surely 'two abreast' implies 'line astern' - or it does to me, anyway...

    If your group is two abreast and not line astern, then you are effectively more than two abreast...and whether you think that or not, that is certainly how it looks to other road users - as evidenced by the original pic....

    Well in a way, but you can be two abreast, and line astern, and be on the white line, you are still two abreast and using up the same usable amount of the road.

    Two abreast means two cyclist riding side by side, and that is all in all honesty, it doesn't take into account of how many rows you may have.

    Anyhow it is not abnormal to come across a group ride looking like that. I would think alot of club runs, with a varying degree of abilities this is quite common.
  • jacster
    jacster Posts: 177
    Was the pic taken while you were driving? :?
  • SBezza
    SBezza Posts: 2,173
    jacster wrote:
    Was the pic taken while you were driving? :?

    Looks like it is from the passenger seat ;)
  • pastasauce
    pastasauce Posts: 221
    ..... were they riding two abreast ?

    .... no, just a club run.
  • will3
    will3 Posts: 2,173
    SBezza wrote:
    jacster wrote:
    Was the pic taken while you were driving? :?

    Looks like it is from the passenger seat ;)
    so it was taken whilst driving and leaning over to the passenger side :wink:
  • jacster
    jacster Posts: 177
    SBezza wrote:

    Looks like it is from the passenger seat ;)

    Yes, probably best to hold the camera there if you're driving and then wanting to post it on an internet forum!
  • will3
    will3 Posts: 2,173
    pastasauce wrote:
    ..... were they riding two abreast ?

    .... no, just a club run.

    don't you mean:


    ".... were they riding two a breast ?

    .... no, just one per bike "

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