Group Riding Guidance
Riding together is one of the best parts of club life — it’s social, supportive, and helps everyone become a safer, stronger cyclist. These guidelines ensure that every group ride is safe, considerate, and enjoyable for all.
Ride in Formation
Group riding is much more energy efficient than riding on your own. The reason for this is that the riders on the front reduce the wind resistance for the riders behind them. As a result, riders who are "in the draft" can hold the same speed as the riders on the front with a lot less power. These benefits are only realised when the group rides tightly together. Riding in formation requires predictable riding and clear communication, so we think it's helpful to set out the standards for Andover Wheelers here.
Standard Group Formation - "Tight twos"
The ideal formation for a group ride is riding two abreast in a group no larger than 8 riders. Such a group will ride in 4 rows of 2 riders each, occupying a similar space on the road as a car, making it easier for a car to overtake swiftly.
Successfully riding in formation requires consideration from everyone in the group.
- Communicate. Every rider has the responsibility to call out any hazard or change in the riding conditions, such as slowing down or changing direction, and every rider has the obligation to propagate that signal or call up or down the group.
- Keep an even pace. Don't surge when you come to take a turn on the front or navigate obstacles such as junctions and roundabouts. Conversely, don't brake suddenly.
- Hold the gap and your line. Ride with approximately 1-3 foot gap between your front wheel and the back wheel of the rider in front in dry weather. Increase this gap in wet weather.
- Keep switched on. Stay aware of riding conditions, always keeping some attention on the road and to calls and signs from other riders.
The riders at the front of the group will be working harder than those behind, so it's expected that the group will "rotate" throughout the ride so that riders on the front change. You should rotate through in accordance to the technique being used by the group.
Ride "single file" on fast or narrow roads
It is sometimes necessary to ride single file, for example:
- On narrow roads where riding two abreast is unfeasible.
- To help other road users to overtake.
- On fast roads where the speed differential with traffic is very high.
- On climbs or descents.
ANY rider can call for the group to move into single file, and EVERY rider must obey the instruction for the safety of the group.
When "singling out" it is important for the riders on the left to make gaps for the riders on the right to pull into. Good communication will ease this process, so please use hand signals or calls as required.
Climbs and descents
Climbs and descents are an exception to the general rule of keeping a tight formation. There will always be different levels of ability and fitness within a group, so it's fine for the group to separate on longer climbs or descents. Our group rides are almost always "non-drop" so be prepared to slow or stop after a climb or descent to allow a regrouping.
Please be mindful of other road users and consider riding single file on climbs and descents.
Communicate
Group riding relies on clear communication. Pass all calls back through the group so everyone hears.
| Call | Meaning |
|---|---|
| “Car down” / "Car front" | Vehicle approaching from the front |
| “Car up” / “Car back” / "Car rear" | Vehicle approaching from the rear |
| “Single out” | Move into single file when safe |
| “Stopping” | Braking to a full stop |
| “Slowing” | Reducing speed |
| “Hole / Gravel / Glass” | Point out hazards on the road |
| “On your left/right” | Overtaking a rider within the group |
| “Clear / Car left/right” | Used cautiously at junctions – each rider still checks |
| "Easy up" | Lower the pace on the front |
| "Split" | The group has split up for some reason. |
| "Back on" / "All on" | The group is all back together after being split |
Use hand signals for turns, slowing, and road hazards; keep them clear and deliberate.
Etiquette
- Respect the advertised pace of the group. Our group rides will always have an advertised average moving pace, and if you're not aware of it then please prompt the ride leader to remind you. If you find the group is too slow for you, then spend a bit more time at the front (at the advertised pace) and move up a group speed next time. Equally, if you find that you're finding it hard going, then sit on the back, hold the wheel of the rider in front closely to maximise the draft, and consider moving down a group speed next time.
- No half wheeling! When on the front, keep your wheel level with the rider next to you. Pulling ahead disrupts the group's formation.
- Please be mindful of other road users. How each of us behaves on the road shapes the public's perception of the club overall. Whilst it's safer to ride two abreast, many road users will be unaware of this. Helping other road users overtake by temporarily riding single file will be appreciated. Never engage with other road users aggressively. An angry driver can be a safety risk. Do remember to thank drivers if they've been accommodating, as it will encourage them to keep doing it.
There is a fuller list of "dos and don'ts" in section 4.3 of the Club Rules, so please familiarise yourself with them.
Rotation techniques
When riding in formation two abreast, riders will rotate by either:
- Both lead riders peeling off at the same time.
- A "double paceline" technique.
How the group rotates is down to a combination of the group's riders and the riding conditions. This GCN video is a helpful guide.
The ride leader may call out a change in the rotation technique at any point in the ride, so pay attention!