Riding Rules

gareth2134

Was watching the Giro yesterday an noticed that the leading men at the front don't point out pot holes in the ground if they are coming up to any or they mite be but I never see any shouting from front man or hand signals.

When riding in a group/peloton is it your job as lead man to point out an obstacles or do you expect that the riders behind will already have it coverd and not say anything because whenever out on a bike even 2 of us I will point out everything even if a car is coming up from the back I shout it ahead to the front guy. Am I doing more than I should.

One problem I have found with shouting ahead about cars coming up from behind is that the lead man has the wind blowing and can't properly hear you so then slows down to hear what im shouting and I feel kind of silly for slowing the pace down for something trivial.

To safe?

nferrar

Pro riders don't point out much, just traffic islands and stuff but it's still worth doing on club runs etc. IMO. I don't think you're being too safe although people calling out cars coming from behind can annoy me unless people are 2-abreast and it's a narrow road but when it's single-file I can't see the point.

gareth2134

nferrar wrote:

Pro riders don't point out much, just traffic islands and stuff but it's still worth doing on club runs etc. IMO. I don't think you're being too safe although people calling out cars coming from behind can annoy me unless people are 2-abreast and it's a narrow road but when it's single-file I can't see the point.

Yeah I think your right and we usually do single file more than double ride so I think I will stop that uless in a situation that needs it.

I don't think I would feel to comfortable not pointing out an obstacle at the front though even if they are on my tyre, I mean I still keep the same pace and not slow so i don't think it hampers us to much.

Thanks

softlad

gareth2134 wrote:

Was watching the Giro yesterday an noticed that the leading men at the front don't point out pot holes in the ground if they are coming up to any or they mite be but I never see any shouting from front man or hand signals.

are you serious..?

they are not on a club ride, fella - they're racing. You will also probably find that there aren't any potholes anyway, because the local council have probably filled them all in before the TV cameras turn up....

gareth2134

softlad wrote:

gareth2134 wrote:

Was watching the Giro yesterday an noticed that the leading men at the front don't point out pot holes in the ground if they are coming up to any or they mite be but I never see any shouting from front man or hand signals.

are you serious..?

they are not on a club ride, fella - they're racing. You will also probably find that there aren't any potholes anyway, because the local council have probably filled them all in before the TV cameras turn up....

front runners race and the peloton are keeping the pace and if you see they all talk to each other throughout the race in the peloton so I'm pretty sure pointing out an obstacle isn't a problem either.
I don't expect lance armstrong sprinting to the finish line to slow down and point out a hole :roll:

page23

gareth2134 wrote:

One problem I have found with shouting ahead about cars coming up from behind is that the lead man has the wind blowing and can't properly hear you so then slows down to hear what im shouting and I feel kind of silly for slowing the pace down for something trivial.

we never bother communicating cars overtaking when out on the club run, maybe occasionally on very narrow country lanes.

softlad

gareth2134 wrote:

front runners race and the peloton are keeping the pace and if you see they all talk to each other throughout the race in the peloton so I'm pretty sure pointing out an obstacle isn't a problem either.
I don't expect lance armstrong sprinting to the finish line to slow down and point out a hole :roll:

if you're in the bunch surrounded by 100 other riders, you won't see any obstacles anyway. I just thought the question was a bit naive, that's all....

gareth2134

Page23 wrote:

gareth2134 wrote:

One problem I have found with shouting ahead about cars coming up from behind is that the lead man has the wind blowing and can't properly hear you so then slows down to hear what im shouting and I feel kind of silly for slowing the pace down for something trivial.

we never bother communicating cars overtaking when out on the club run, maybe occasionally on very narrow country lanes.

Thanks it was niggeling at me for my first few runs and didn't know the best thing to do, but I think what we will do is agree on as group what we will shout ahead on and what we wont unless it's unforseen and obvious that needs to be called out.

thanks

gareth2134

softlad wrote:

gareth2134 wrote:

front runners race and the peloton are keeping the pace and if you see they all talk to each other throughout the race in the peloton so I'm pretty sure pointing out an obstacle isn't a problem either.
I don't expect lance armstrong sprinting to the finish line to slow down and point out a hole :roll:

if you're in the bunch surrounded by 100 other riders, you won't see any obstacles anyway. I just thought the question was a bit naive, that's all....

Thats why I am on a beginners section so I can ask questions like this and once I know then I don't need to ask again but interesting points raised.

Pross

On a club run always point out hazards, there's nothing worse than the rider in front suddenly swerving out to avoid a pothole and you have no chance to react before hitting it. IME the same applies in amateur races. Don't take it to extremes though, if it is a minor rut just ride through it. I'm sure the pros do communicate any major problems and when it comes to fixed hazards there will usually be a marshall or copper with a red flag. On the really wet stage of the Giro (Monday) the riders were warning each other of the deepest puddles on the road. As for cars behind - if 2 abreast on a narrower road and there is little chance for cars to overtake safely on our club runs the rear man will give a shout of "car up" and we single out and call them through as soon as we can see it is safe to do so. A little courtesy towards other road users can go a long way and drivers usually give a wave of thanks. On a two lane road we don't bother as it is safer (and often easier) for them to go onto the other side of the road and pass the shorter double line than a longer single line.

gareth2134

Pross wrote:

On a club run always point out hazards, there's nothing worse than the rider in front suddenly swerving out to avoid a pothole and you have no chance to react before hitting it. IME the same applies in amateur races. Don't take it to extremes though, if it is a minor rut just ride through it. I'm sure the pros do communicate any major problems and when it comes to fixed hazards there will usually be a marshall or copper with a red flag. On the really wet stage of the Giro (Monday) the riders were warning each other of the deepest puddles on the road. As for cars behind - if 2 abreast on a narrower road and there is little chance for cars to overtake safely on our club runs the rear man will give a shout of "car up" and we single out and call them through as soon as we can see it is safe to do so. A little courtesy towards other road users can go a long way and drivers usually give a wave of thanks. On a two lane road we don't bother as it is safer (and often easier) for them to go onto the other side of the road and pass the shorter double line than a longer single line.

Thank you really interesting response and yes seen mondays race good sportmanship if you ask me.

Thanks