CLUB NOTES
Post date: Dec 11, 2012 8:21:27 PM
Youghal Cycling Club Notes – Sunday 9th December 2012
Club Spins Lovely mild weather all weekend saw Youghal Cycling Club hit the roads with large groups all weekend. On Saturday we had a group of 28 riders head off from Lidl shortly after 10am where they took in a pleasant 80km route along the coast road to East Ferry before stopping for the coffee stop in Ballinacurra. From here it was back to Youghal via Mogeely all in time for lunch.
On Sunday we had three groups out. We had two 9am groups of 9 and 17 riders where they took in 105km and 95km routes respectively. While the 10am group took in a nice 40km route with all riders home in time for lunch!
Membership Club membership is now due and we would ask all members to make contact with Club Treasurer, John Walsh, regarding this.
Club Merchandise The leisure kits are in and anyone that booked them is asked to contact John Walsh.
Cycling Etiquette With so many riders after taking up club cycling over the past few months I thought that I would put some brief notes together on cycling etiquette for group riding.
Do
§ Follow the rules of the road at all times – it applies to ALL road-users.
§ Cycle a maximum of two abreast in 2 close parallel lines where appropriate, focus on keeping it neat and tidy.
§ Ride with 1ft approx. between your front wheel and the back wheel of the rider in front. There should also be 1ft between your shoulders and the rider beside you.
§ Be prepared on small or busy roads to ride in single file.
§ Riders at the back of the pack to shout “Car back” if there are vehicles behind. Listen and act on their calls, DON’T look back and check for yourself, as you will move off your line and may cause an accident.
§ Lead cyclists to navigate and point out hazards in the road by either shouting or using hand signals. Listen to them and act on the calls, and most importantly, repeat them for the cyclist behind you.
§ Ride directly behind the wheel of the rider in front. If you cycle in the middle of the two wheels in front of you, you WILL push the cyclist on your outside into the path of passing vehicles.
§ Brake as gently and smoothly as you safely can when riding in a pack
§ Cover your brakes at all times.
§ When on the front keep pedalling, this is particularly important going downhill. If you freewheel everyone behind will have to brake.
§ Talk to each other. Point out either with hand signals or shouts, all potholes, manhole covers and other dangers in the road that could cause punctures or accidents. Follow the hand signals and calls of the riders in front as they will have seen the danger before you and then you can all communicate down the pack.
§ If you are the back of the group and either see someone dropping or are being dropped it is your responsibility to call to the cyclists in front that the pace is too high. The pack must communicate this up to the front. The lead cyclists will not be aware if you start to drop. Ask them to slow down, it is your ride too.
§ When asked to “ease up’ or “slow a little” do not brake suddenly. Gentle ease your pace by pedalling less hard or freewheeling for a moment. Look at your speedo – if someone is being dropped you probably only need to reduce your speed by half a mile an hour to allow them to stay on.
§ Ride at a steady pace, keeping the pack as a compact unit.
§ Check over your shoulder for other riders or traffic before moving out to the right.
§ If you are on the front, remember that people are following your calls. If you make a decision to pull out on a roundabout or junction, you need to call “Clear” or “Wait” to warn the pack of hazards.
§ If you are feeling tired let people know. Accidents happen when people are tired and lose concentration. Everyone gets tired, let people know so they can slow the pace down and tuck you in the pack to carry you home ;)
§ Cycle with confidence. If you’re nervous you will tense up and then are less likely to be able to respond to things quickly.
§ Dress in appropriate clothing for the weather
Don’t
§ Overlap wheels, or nudge in between the wheels of the riders in front. You will come off if they move off their line.
§ Make any sudden movements/changes in direction off your line when in the pack. You are responsible for the cyclist behind you, they are following YOUR wheel they need to trust you.
§ Ride off the front. This is a group ride, not a race. If you want to go faster then let the others know what you are going to do and if no one wants to join you then go off and enjoy your ride alone.
§ Stop pedaling if you are on the front, even on downhills. The cyclists behind you will read this as you slowing and could be forced to brake and bunch up.
§ Pull out at junctions without looking, having heard the “Clear” call from a fellow cyclist. Check whether there is a vehicle coming yourself.
Calls
These are some calls you might hear. It is essential that you repeat them down the pack so everyone can hear:
§ “Car Up/Front/Back” : Keep tight to the cyclist next to you, and be prepared to cycle in single file
§ “Hole” : Upcoming pothole to avoid. This can also be followed by a direction i.e “HOLE LEFT”. The rider calling the hole should move in/out in a smooth line and avoid sharp turns to give riders behind a line to follow safely.
§ “Slowing” : Usually accompanied by a hand signal. The cyclist in front needs to slow down for some reason.
§ “Stopping” : Brake!
§ “Wait” : Usually at junctions to indicate there is a car coming
§ “Clear” : To indicate that a junction is traffic free. You must check yourself and not rely on others.
§ “Heads Up” : Hazard ahead, pay attention.
§ “Single out/ single file” : Get into single file safely and promptly
Hand Signals
These are some hand signals (other than the obvious left and right turns!) It is essential that you repeat them so everyone can see and pass it on:
§ Single hand in the air (up or down) : Rider is signalling that he/she needs to stop or slow down. Usually followed by the call ‘Slowing’, ‘Stopping’.
§ Pointing down at the road : This is to point out hazards such as pot holes, manhole covers etc. PLEASE copy this signal, it stops accidents and punctures
§ Arm out left or right : Everyone in the pack needs to indicate when turning left or right
§ Left arm signalling behind back : Signal the cyclist is about to move out into the road, e.g. to pass a parked car, to go round debris in the road.
Schedule as follows (weather dependent):
Tuesday’s & Saturdays at 10am from Lidl average 60-80km at 24kph
Sundays at 9am from Lidl.
Group 1 covering 60-80km at 24kph
Group 2 covering 80-100km at 28kph.
Sundays at 10am from Moby Dicks – 30-50km averaging 20kph.
Please note that all riders are expected to have road bikes (racer type) of good repair for scheduled spins. Riders must wear helmets, bring a spare tube & pump.