Advice for riding in tight groups

have you ridden much in a group of experienced riders working together since you started this thread? or have you been nobbing around with a bunch of random fixie skidders with 'follow me i liability and fuck you up wiv irrational moves' printed on their t-shirts?
:-)

1. Hold your line. learn to pre-empt obstacles and hop small holes rather than swerving at the last second.
   
2. Agree who's leading the group and follow them, both direction / pace and advice. This may be one person or several experienced riders
   
3. if your following someone's wheel, don't just assume they will look out for obstacles. use your own eyes and ears too
   
4. Relax
   
5. (if you have gears) copy the cadence of the other riders, it'll feel much more "right"
   
6. Let others know if you're changing pace or overtaking. A clear "on your left / right" if you're coming through, for example.
   
7. Respect the experience of better riders. You may be fast but they will have more miles under their belt
   
8. Warn others of hazzards. do it clearly and quickly, without wobbling and causing another hazzard :-)
   
9. if the group splits, it's up to the group leader to get the group back together. Usually this happens at the top of the hills
   
10. Let the experienced riders manage traffic and act as a backstop. don't try and play traffic cop without the group leader's ok.
    
11. take your turn at the front, but don't be a hero
    
12. make sure your bike and you are prepared for a long ride. you won't be popular if your bike fails due to a simple maintenance problem
    
    
    

none of this mentions the basics though, about being able to ride on a wheel in the first place.

Look ahead, not down at the wheel in front, look several places up the line, or over the shoulder of the rider in front.
Do not overlap wheels, if the rider in front has to swerve he will take your front wheel with him.
Always look over your shoulder before making any moves.

Re; fixed and gears.
a mixed group will always be difficult to keep together, as the freewheelers will tend to run away on every descent, this is less of a problem on the flat and the responsibility falls with the geared riders to adjust to what the fixed guys are doing. I've ridden in groups of very experienced riders with a mix of gears and fixed with no problems before.

i often have images of the domestic bliss of Mrs Myth and RPM sitting side by side on the sofa, tv dinner to hand, whilst they discuss which threads or people they will tag team today

It'll probably go something like this:

"Did you see all these young people today?"

"Yes. Aren't they horrible!"

Their love-making is surprisingly tender.

HOLD YOUR LINE, ROOKIE

i often have images of the domestic bliss of Mrs Myth and RPM sitting side by side on the sofa, tv dinner to hand, whilst they discuss which threads or people they will tag team today

i'm sorry to shatter your fantasy but the reality of the situation is we are usually residing in different postcodes or like today in different counties.

lol @ Nhat.

If the fucker in front is annoying you then nudge his rear wheel with your front wheel ;) side ways

That usually ends up worse for the nudger.

That usually ends up worse for the nudger.

you are an amateur

You are a fucking amateur.

Anyone who pronounces 'amateur' as /am-a-chur/ is a fucking amateur. Just saying.

I do.

You are a fucking am a tur too.

Do you enjoy a bit of /ad-ven-ter/ in your life too?

I do.

So do I

:(

I'm wall king to the par ruk now for a pic in nik. I live my life to the ex tree mee eemm eeemmeee meememmme mmeeee

Actually more liek "am-a-cha"

Actually I say it more like "ama chuh"

'amyoutuur'
hm-kay.

I like Pol Ish girrrlz

Actually... more liek am-chu

Shits me when people say "syewt" instead of suit.

I found myself saying amatchuuure the other day. The shame.

have you ridden much in a group of experienced riders working together since you started this thread? or have you been nobbing around with a bunch of random fixie skidders with 'follow me i liability and fuck you up wiv irrational moves' printed on their t-shirts?
:-)

quitting smoking has had the effect of increasing my weekly mileage from 50k to about 300k+ a week, some of which has been with other riders. Some fixed, some geared.

and think of the money you saved not buying cigarettes. treat yourself to some disco slippers and some euro-fluro coloured lycra.

I found myself saying amatchuuure the other day. The shame.

Quel dommage.