There were a lot of people at the carpark today and I got introduced to Tim who would be riding with us for the first time. When the call for groups came, only 4 people volunteered for T2 (including Shaw who was going to lead the ride) so they ended up joining us to make one big T group. This meant we had about 30 riders, and a lot of new faces, which, I learnt, can be hard to control. Leon and Scott were there to lend their wonderful helping hands too.
Our jaunt along Canning Hwy and North Lake Rd was straight forward and we were looking pretty good. It wasn’t as windy as I thought it would be and we kept together pretty well. I got to talk to Zoey, a new rider from Sydney in Perth for a few months on a fancy Trek. Along South st, a split formed and “ease up” was the call. The lights kepts us apart for a little while before Emma had paced back the last rider.
Once we got onto Bannister, Leon dropped back to where I was in the middle of the group and asked if we wanted to roll through. I told him to start it and the first few riders began. The roll through came to a halt and the front of the group disintegrated as confusion ensued. I rode up to a new rider (apparently Shaw’s brother) who was in no-man’s land in the right lane and asked him if he knew what a roll through was. He didn’t seem to hear me although I quite close and raised my voice quite a bit. I asked for a second and third time and had no meaningful reponse again. I started to try to get him to move out towards the right and let everyone else though as he was disrupting both pace lines. It was at this stage that he pulled out an ipod earpiece from his right ear. I shouted again for him to move out and he once again didn’t seem to understand and kept riding straight ahead.
By this stage, people around us had realised what was going on. Other riders began safely passing to the left and began closing the gaps which had formed. Once a semblance of a roll through formation was made, the group began rolling through. It was a little confusing at the back as some people were just hanging off and not particpating and no one was really sure which wheel they were meant to follow. A couple of times I realised the people behind me weren’t coming through which meant that I had to close the 3 or 4 bike lengths to the person in front of me in the right lane. I’m sure lots of others had the same experience.
In the end, the pace was quite uneven and a smooth roll through couldn’t be created as people tried to close gaps in the right lane and a few calls to ease up were made which needed me to feather the brakes when I was in the left lane. Overall, I give us a 3 out of 10.
The roll through wasn’t any better on Nicholson and once we were on to Albany Hwy, I was glad to see Cervelo Tim and another rider take the front and set an even pace all the way to the causeway. A few early moves (by Andrew, Mike and ?) occurred on the causeway with the tailwind before we caught a group of about 20 riders ahead. Unfortunately, the small chase group including Scott, Leon and I got caught behind this group and due to the roadworks and workmen, we were unable to pass until we were on Riverside drive.
It was great of everyone to show restraint here and wait behind the slower group even though it meant losing the sprint. By the time we could pass, the leaders had an insurmountable lead and it was Andrew, Mike and someone else (sorry, I’m terrible with names) contesting it with Andrew winning. Cervelo Tim shot past me to claim our second group’s sprint.
When we got to the Bell Tower I mentioned to Shaw’s brother that iPods are not cool on a group ride. It’s in the ride etiquette along with how to roll through. If you haven’t read it, please read it. If you are introducing someone to the group, please get them to read it. It’s not just about etiquette but also about safety.
There have been a few crashes recently, thankfully, all “minor” – Davina on boxing day, on the bike path after one of the weekday group rides and in Main 1 this weekend. Unfortunately, I also see what the “major” ones look like at work.
There are lots of things I love about riding – I love the exercise, I love the post ride coffees and debates about lycra fashion, I love the cool gear and watching the pros on the TV, and I LOVE being able to eat just about anything without looking like I do it. But I also know that it is dangerous. In fact, it’s the most dangerous thing I do everyday. And the consequences of poor riding and risk taking can be the difference between sipping latte at the end of the ride and someone going under a bus. So please be safe.
My apologies for that. Within the first 5 minutes into the ride I was already worried. I had briefed him on the ride etiquette but it seems he is used to a very different (suicidal) Beijing style of group riding.
Hi Ronny – seems like a ‘back to basics’ lesson in group riding techniques are needed for some participants in both your combined Sat Trans group ride and a few on the last Sat Main 2 ride . . . . . This reflects comments Davina made on one of the recent P/H rides – where some folks are self promoting themselves up a level because the pace is more competitive rather than slowing down a bit and honing their group riding skills – outcome is that group safety is compromised.
The other issue is group sizes – anything over 14 or so gets unmanageable unless everyone knows what they should be doing and lives and rides by the rules. If next Sat’s T 1 ride has got the numbers – I’ll join in and maybe we can enforce a split in the group as Pete did with the Mains – or at least get the T2’s to ride separately.
i have to admit that being placed in the development group on my first ride with SPR helped me greatly. learning proper etiquette such as hand signals and calls, riding 2 a breast and trying to keep the handlebars level, rolling through etc etc, i learned or was at least introduced to during the development ride.
i think the attention given to new riders by SPR is a great asset and even tho the development ride was at a greatly reduced pace, you get more personal attention and tutelage from the group leaders that will hold you in good stead when you eventually move onto one of the other groups. i would suggest it be highly recommended to new riders especially those that are not familiar with group riding.
No probs Shaw. I’m always happy to see new riders in the group and it’s absolutely fantastic to see the numbers going up.
The problem is that too many of us have the mentality that cycling is risk free.
It is not.
That a few bad habits here and there doesn’t matter.
Well it does.
That showing off how strong you are is better than showing off how safe you are.
It isn’t.
In the end, I’m trying to create a group that is focussed on safety, developing skills and with a little more of a social aspect than the groups above us. By making a safer ride, we make a more enjoyable ride.
Maybe we should encourage all first time riders to do one ride with the development group (within reason). I quite enjoyed the ride on Sat but did notice the out of line, the stop go rolling, the surging(peddle peddle stop !), and the wierd manuevering of the front crew? I think Ronnie did a great job getting the group in line (thanks!). I guess with alot of new people it takes a little while for the informal rules of group riding to be absorbed, added to by differing fitness levels. A modicom of patience as well as a willingness to offer ( and accept) subtle advice goes a long way, Im certainly pleased that so many people offered me good advice when starting up ( thanks Ronnie,Pete and Mark etc) Im probably just as guilty as any of focussing on the ride and maybe grumbling a bit rather than trying to help out, leaving it to the one or two willing. Maybe if we all step up a little we can work at making our rides even safer and more enjoyable. I really loved seeing all the new faces on Sat, thanks!