QUESTION: When cycling with a group, when do road-hazard and traffic warnings from fellow riders become excessive? I’ve done a lot of solo cycling, so I’m used to watching for road hazards and traffic myself. But recently, I joined a bike club and have started riding with a group, which I mostly enjoy, but the number of verbal or hand-signal warnings from other riders often seems excessive, and it becomes annoying to have to pass back every warning about small road cracks that aren’t likely to trip anybody up, or when on a busy highway, to keep calling out “Car back” when motor vehicles are passing every few seconds, and every rider should be expecting the traffic. —Harry H.
RBR’S STAN PURDUM REPLIES: It’s difficult to set hard-and-fast rules for road-hazard and traffic warnings when cycling in a group because a lot of it relies on judgment calls by riders near the front of the group (for road-hazards) and riders near the back of the group (for traffic coming from behind) and riders in the middle (for what to pass along). One rider’s caution is often another rider’s excess. And, of course, it’s possible that too many warnings can cause you to become complacent and then not take seriously an alert about a real danger.
But the fact is, when riding with others, unless you are at the very front of the group, your line of sight is restricted, and so without a warning, you may not see significant hazards — broken pavement, scattered debris, holes, longitudinal cracks, sewer grates, roadkill, loose dogs, etcetera — in time to avoid them, and even seemingly insignificant ones can trip you up. Or you may be in conversation with another rider and not watching for passing traffic.
You may find it helpful to ask what the group policy or expected etiquette is regarding such alerts. Ask whether in the case of a prolonged patch of broken payment it’s sufficient for the lead riders to call out “Rough road!” and then not bother pointing out every crack. Or when in a high traffic area, to call out “Continuous traffic. Stay alert!” and then only shout warnings about drivers behaving erratically.
It’s understandable that many riders err on the side of too many warnings. Nobody wants to be responsible for a fellow rider having a crash or even a flat tire. And nobody wants to have a problem that could have been avoided if only another rider had signaled or called out about a risk.
My own experience with group rides is that no one ever ostracized me for signaling or calling out a warning. Likewise, I’ve never been criticized for not passing a warning on, though I did once receive a well-deserved scolding for stopping suddenly and forcing the rider behind me to practically stand his bike on its nose to avoid colliding with me. In other words, I created my own road hazard.
So a lot of this comes down to judgment calls and common sense. But generally, when riding in a group, we’re better off having too many alerts than too few.
Readers, what’s your take on this? Tell us in the comments section below.
Stan Purdum has ridden several long-distance bike trips, including an across-America ride recounted in his book Roll Around Heaven All Day, and a trek on U.S. 62, from Niagara Falls, New York, to El Paso, Texas, the subject of his book Playing in Traffic. Stan, a freelance writer and editor, lives in Ohio. See more at www.StanPurdum.com.
Stan answers this question perfectly: “When riding in a group, we’re better off having too many alerts than too few..”
Harry H, if that’s annoying or excessive to you, let me suggest that you go back to riding solo. In a group dynamic, communication, cooperation and mutual support are necessary. These are fundamental aspects of road cycling etiquette, because safety is paramount. Hopefully, you’ll get used to others incessantly calling out hazards and looking out for YOUR safety. God forbid you learn the benefits of this “excessive” practice the hard way: by witnessing – or having – an unfortunate and possibly unnecessary crash because somebody didn’t. I know that sounds harsh, but it’s up to you to adapt to the group you’re with, not the other way around.
“But generally, when riding in a group, we’re better off having too many alerts than too few”
I couldn’t agree more.
I run a (rather unstructured) cycling club. I few years ago, I said “Mike, you often call out about a possible hazard. And I’m really grateful to you for doing so.” Mike said that he’d thought that I was about to criticise him for too many hazard notifications. Not at all, I said, if there’s a hazard then I’d rather know about it twice than not know about it at all.
The same warning, ie, “Car back” become excessive once all the riders in the front have moved into single file. Not a standard reply, but when I am up front and hear that more than once, I give a thumbs up to acknowledge the warning. On the other hand, there needs to be a “2 syllables” rule. I was on a ride where someone a bit further back decided to screech a full lecture on all coming on the road ahead. I could not understand one bit of what was said! (I did, however, know something bad was ahead and was alert…) Again though, keep the warnings short, and acknowledge them!
Stay 18″ to 3′ behind ;my rear wheel, exactly in my wheel track. I will usually ride steady and straight.
I will dodge all road hazards. No calling out necessary. Callouts can’t always be heard or understood.
It is a pleasure to ride with predictable skilled riders that manage to silently “point” to hazards to be avoided and motion which way to move. On a heavily traveled road there is no need for “car back” because it is expected. Occasionally someone will drift out a bit and that warning is appreciated. The alarm screamers are to be avoided.
I ride with a group that started about 40 years ago. If all are there it’s up to 7 or 8 which most of us consider to be too many on our roads. Makes it hard on the cars, Usually it is 5 or less due to schedules and such. It’s a treasure and privilege to ride with people you know, also where they will be on the road! Of my best mate I have often said ‘we could ride all day with our eyes closed and not take out each others wheel’. Though that’s changed a bit of late as his dodgy shifters can cause problems as I draft closer than most and he’s remarkably tolerant of his derailleur doing strange things…. Heaven on Earth!