Riding somebodys wheel

Chefshaw

hi guys, your answers to my questions always help!! so here i go again...
a couple of questions about riding somebodys wheel, help will be usefull

how do you keep your concentration when riding someones wheel
where do u look? do u just follow there back wheel
what sort of distance do i need to keep, to benefit from riding there wheel
is it again a time thing, the more miles in the saddle the more my confidence will build?

whyamihere

Firstly, only do it with someone you trust. You need to have your front wheel within a few inches of their rear wheel to get the best effect from it. The rider in front will give hand signals if there's anything you need to know, but these signals may change from group to group, so make sure you know what they are. Bad surfaces, parked cars, etc, so make sure you watch out for these and pass them down the line as well. This doesn't mean that you don't have to look around and look for hazards yourself though. Basically, look everywhere you can.

Monty Dog

Genrally within a foot is ideal, but you don't overlap your front with the rear as a change in direction will wipe you out. Likewise, try to avoid touching the back tyre because you'll stop very suddenly! It takes practise and try and follow a more experienced cyclist - they tend to keep the pace more even and keep in a straight line. Likewise, if you're in front, avoid sudden changes in direction and try and point out hazards in front e.g. parked cars, peds, potholes, debris, glass etc. After a while you develop the confidence and it becomes second nature as well as implicit trust in the guy in front.

Airwave

100% concentration,no half wheeling&be ready for the guy in front getting out of the saddle as his bike will come back toward you slightly if he is'nt smooth.

cougie

And keep to one side by a cm or two of the wheel. You will get the hang with practice.

mattward1979

I wasnt confident with this approach, yet ended up kind of forced onto someones back wheel due to the group closing up on a nice flat stretch...

I learned pretty fast that trust is key!

Stay a tad to the the right of your leaders rear wheel, try to match cadence and watch their body language like a hawk! Scary at first, but the benefits are amazing!

nferrar

Don't assume the guy you're following will give hand signals (although they should...), stay within a foot of the wheel, slightly off to the side to give you more margin for error. Also beware of the rider standing up in front (for a hill etc.) as the wheel will appear to come back at you by as much as a foot. Also don't over-use your brakes (and certainly don't brake sharply) trying to stay a specific distance from the wheel, just let it fluctuate a few inches back and forth (that way someone trying to follow your wheel has an easier time). Pass any hand signals along to, don't assume people following your wheel saw the person at the front's signals.

As for where to look, to start you'll spend most of your time switching between looking at the person's wheel to looking ahead down the side of the chain of people to spot hand signals and hazards. Once you get used to it you can usually judge where your wheel is by looking at the back/shoulders/head of the guy in front so you end up looking down less.

ridelikeapro

All good advice above. Ride straight don't veer sideways. Offset a couple of cm to the right so if the rider in front does slow you won't hit his back wheel.

Try a "soft focus" by watching the head of the line of riders, then you'll be aware of any likely changes in pace - and you'll still see what the rider directly in front is doing. Stay off the brakes as much as possible, and if you need to take some speed off... try moving out into the wind a bit or making yourself more upright for a few seconds.

If you're really uncomfortable riding close, then try doing it in short bursts say 20 seconds, then back off to your comfort distance for a minute or so, then go in closer again for another 20 seconds. Gradually increase the time on the wheel, and start to reduce the "rest" interval when you're backing off. Try it - it works.

http://www.gregarios.co.uk

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PeeDee

Tell the person in front and behind that you are inexperienced at this. Then they can make allowances and try to help you.