WHO THIS IS FOR
IS THIS YOU?
The rider joining group rides for the first time
You have mostly ridden solo and want to know the rules and skills before joining a club or chain gang.
The experienced rider wanting to be safer in bunches
You ride in groups regularly but want to refine the skills that prevent crashes.
THE ROADMAN VIEW
The Roadman view
Group riding is the fastest way to improve your fitness and the fastest way to break a collarbone if you do it carelessly. The difference between a safe bunch and a dangerous one is not speed — it is predictability. A group of strong riders making smooth, communicated movements is safe at 40 km/h. A group of beginners making sudden, uncalled movements is dangerous at 25 km/h.
The skill that takes longest to develop is riding smoothly at close quarters. Holding a steady speed through corners, over crests, and when the pace changes requires you to pedal continuously rather than freewheeling and then surging. The freewheel-surge-freewheel pattern is what creates the concertina effect that causes crashes at the back of a group.
EXPERT EVIDENCE
WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY
- Phil BurtFormer head physiotherapist, British Cycling
The majority of group riding incidents are caused by a rider making an unexpected movement — sudden braking, pulling off line, or overlapping wheels. Teaching riders to be predictable, to communicate, and to look ahead rather than fixating on the wheel directly in front eliminates most of the risk.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
DO THIS WEEK
Look past the rider in front, not at their wheel
Focus your gaze 3-4 riders ahead in the group. This gives you earlier warning of pace changes, braking, and hazards, and allows you to react gradually rather than grabbing your brakes when the wheel ahead suddenly slows.
Pedal through every transition
Over crests, through corners, and whenever the group slows slightly — keep pedalling lightly rather than freewheeling. This maintains your speed and prevents the gap-surge cycle that destabilises riders behind you.
Practise half-wheeling with a trusted partner
Ride side by side with a friend at moderate speed, maintaining consistent spacing. Gradually reduce the gap until you are comfortable at 30-50cm apart. This builds the spatial awareness that group riding demands, in a controlled environment.
COMMON MISTAKES
WHAT CYCLISTS GET WRONG
MISTAKEGrabbing the brakes to adjust speed in the bunch.
FIXUse soft pedalling, sitting up to catch wind, or moving slightly out of the slipstream to shed speed gradually. Hard braking causes a chain reaction — every rider behind you brakes harder than you did.
MISTAKEOverlapping wheels with the rider ahead.
FIXKeep your front wheel behind their rear wheel at all times. If they move sideways — to avoid a pothole, to let a car pass — and your wheels overlap, contact brings you down. Half a wheel-length behind is the safe default.
MISTAKENot calling out hazards.
FIXEvery hazard you see — potholes, parked cars, glass, pedestrians — should be called and pointed out. The riders behind you cannot see the road ahead. Clear, early calls prevent crashes.
FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are the standard group riding calls?
How close should I ride to the wheel in front?
What if I cannot keep up with the group?
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