Chris asked:
I’ve signed up for a local bicycle race. I’m riding in the shortest distance 30 miles. I have experience riding, I ride about 20 miles each evening but I’m worried about riding around a group of people for the first time. Are there any rules of the road I should know, things I should being doing or not be doing. I have know idea how to ride in a draft, am I going to be expect to take a turn at the front in a very non-competitive race? Here is a link to the ride i’m doing. http://www.shermankiwanis.org/
Conceiving Baby
I’ve signed up for a local bicycle race. I’m riding in the shortest distance 30 miles. I have experience riding, I ride about 20 miles each evening but I’m worried about riding around a group of people for the first time. Are there any rules of the road I should know, things I should being doing or not be doing. I have know idea how to ride in a draft, am I going to be expect to take a turn at the front in a very non-competitive race? Here is a link to the ride i’m doing. http://www.shermankiwanis.org/
Conceiving Baby
Myspace Friend Adder
The link says its a rally. Not a race !
Just enjoy it go with the speed you comfortable with.
Or get in with a group of riders and go with them.
I often stick with a group and then if I am feeling good I speed up and try and catch the next group
Custom Cycling Jerseys
there is a difference in a tour and an actual race. this is a tour. it wont be like you see in the tour d’ france or something. you sign up and the riders just kind of meander out in small groups or alone. usually drafting is reserved for friends, and not so much like one big group.
Backlinks
What you’ve signed up for is a ride, not a race. There may be some people in a hurry to finish first but that won’t mean much since the start is staggered.
Since you don’t have experience riding in groups this is the time to get it. An actual race is a lousy time to learn how to ride. Just ride at your own pace and I guarantee there will be lots of people around that will be going the same speed. Groups will form by themselves so just relax and ride along. You don’t have to think about drafting. Just being part of a group will pull you along. Don’t get overly close to the wheel in front of you and don’t half wheel anyone. That’s when you overlap your front wheel closely with their back wheel. A sudden move by either rider in that situation will cause a crash.
Take a turn at the front if you want to but no one will expect it. If they do, just decline and drift off the back. You don’t owe anyone a pull. If you get uncomfortable in a group, gradually ease up and drift backwards until you feel you have more space. Don’t brake hard or make sudden moves.
Basically, just ride predicatably and safely. Watch other, more experienced people and you’ll do fine.