CyclingRoberto said: I almost always know what’s going on behind me.  I dislike mirrors and find them distracting and unnecessary.  I ride alone at a good pace, so when I see someone sucking on the rear wheel, I have no problem either dropping them, slowing so they pass me, or simply telling the person to find another wheel: “No Free Rides.”  It’s amazing to me that you could have 20+ riders behind you and not realize it.  That’s just hard to imagine.

CR, I wear a mirror and agree that it can be distracting at times. However, due to carrying a mail satchel on my left shoulder for 20 years, I find it impossible to turn to the left to look behind me.  In my case the mirror is a necessity!!!!!

CyclingRoberto said: It’s amazing to me that you could have 20+ riders behind you and not realize it.  That’s just hard to imagine.

I always know when there’s one person behind me.  Beyond that, it’s hard to tell.  I don’t really mind people tagging on.  It’s never caused a problem, and sometimes you meet some interesting people.

KittySlayer has it exactly right. Ride straight and hold your line. Leave some room on your left.

Its just not possible to ride your own pace and stay right without weaving. Rule or not, it doesn’t make any sense.

I don’t agree with the earlier post on using a bell. I was in a paceline where a guy was using a bell and it seemed to confuse people. Saying “left” or “on your left” when needed and in a calm way seemed to be universally understood.

You always see the Air Force guys stopping because they are all required to carry several tubes with them and stop to help anyone they see change a tire (someone’s PR stunt they started a few years back).  Our running joke for this year was “How many airmen does it take to change a tire?”  They have never been able to ride as a group.  Evidently they decided this year to go out in groups of five.

I will not question their riding ability, but I did receive amny complaints about their pacelines and lack of communication this year when I had never heard a complaint about them in the past.

PS: I did hear part of their morning briefing was to avoid the Army guys.  (They really hate us since we’re only their to have fun).

benchcut said: 

I don’t agree with the earlier post on using a bell. I was in a paceline where a guy was using a bell and it seemed to confuse people. Saying “left” or “on your left” when needed and in a calm way seemed to be universally understood.

I’ve been using the bell for about 5-years.  The sound carries much further than your voice, so it’s an ‘early warning’.  A single “ding” results in about 90%
moving to the right, and as we get closer ‘on your left’ takes care of another
5% ~ The rest are just idiots who you need to look out for!

Believe it or not, the bell seems to be a ‘friendly’ sound no-one takes
offense to.  I also use it to acknowledge kids waiving, etc.
In addition, it’s actually an ordinance in Grosse Pointe, MI, as required
equipment for riding on our streets, along with lighting if you ride after
sunset.

SFC JKL2 said: You always see the Air Force guys stopping because they are all required to carry several tubes with them and stop to help anyone they see change a tire (someone’s PR stunt they started a few years back).  Our running joke for this year was “How many airmen does it take to change a tire?”  They have never been able to ride as a group.  Evidently they decided this year to go out in groups of five. I will not question their riding ability, but I did receive amny complaints about their pacelines and lack of communication this year when I had never heard a complaint about them in the past. PS: I did hear part of their morning briefing was to avoid the Army guys.  (They really hate us since we’re only their to have fun).

I was very disappointed with the Air Force riders this year.  After last year’s ride, I sent an email to the team organizer, complimenting their team and the people associated with their ride.  At the kickoff party this winter, I talked with one of the captains and complimented him as well…I won’t after this year.

This year I was shocked by the droppoff in their group.  They had a couple of groups that were leading lines, ragged lines…there were 4-5 Air Force riders then a handful of others.  They were not considerate of the riders around them.  At one point I watched them as they passed a few riders on the left, then aggressively cut back to the right, before they had cleared the riders they were passing.  It wouldn’t surprise me to hear that they knocked out a few riders along the way.

It is correct that they are obligated to carry extra tubes and provide support along the path.  It seemed lke that was an effort for them this year.

The wreckless Air Force group I encountered through the week had a strawberry blonde female that seemed to be quite wreckless, and a little over the top….I encountered them on the Karras Loop, and proceeded to drop them and get as far away from them as I could.  At least out there, they weren’t a menace to others as the loop was wide open!

Heck, you don’t have to ride 20 mph to get klingons! I average around 14-15 and had to laugh one day when I looked back and found I was not only pulling a couple of my female teammates, but several guys too! I took it as a compliment.

Now that’s a Zinger!
Yeah ~ It’s pretty cool to pull a group on a day you’re feeling good.
Other day’s, it’s nice to be pulled!!

ts said:

That may not be their doing.  If you ride 20 mph, you’re going to get a paceline behind you, regardless of whether you want it or not.

Heck, just ride away from them.  That is what my friend and I would do.  Problem solved! 

Zinger said: I was not only pulling a couple of my female teammates, but several guys too! I took it as a compliment.

Happened to me last year in a head hind – STRONG head wind.  People were kind enough to acknowledge being in draft and paid attention to what they were doing.  RAGBRAI doesn’t have a rule against pacelines, but advises that they can be dangerous.  Dangerous when riders of different levels get so close together and don’t communicate.  I think that goes back to one of the other promoted rules, be clear in your communication with other cyclists.  For what it’s worth, here’s an article from Bicycling Magazine earlier this summer regarding pacelines.  http://www.bicycling.com/training-nutrition/training-fitness/9-paceline-rules

I believe that the RIDE RIGHT rule is a good one, but I also agree with the RIDE STRAIGHT suggestion.  If you are going to change your line, even going to RIDE RIGHT as traffic allows, you are responsible for LOOKING first.

I would much rather deal with folks who perhaps are in the “wrong” place on the road, but LOOK before they move right or left, vs. folks RIDING RIGHT and passing on the left without checking over their shoulders.  Every time I have had to pucker up and grab a brake, it has been a rider changing lines without looking.  With so many people out there, you simply can not move EITHER DIRECTION without looking, even if you looked three second ago.

I think pacelines work in moderation, when the space is available.  The key is to be absolutely courteous and willing to ebb and flow with the rest of the traffic.  The pacelines that seem dangerous to me are the ones who refuse to break pace when the road gets congested.  They yell for people to move right when there is often nowhere to go.  They squeeze and push their way through, all to hold a steady pace.  There is just no place for that on RAGBRAI.

I had a goal this year; not to be called an a-hole on the road.  It happened to me last year when I moved in a pinch without looking, and I felt terrible.  To my knowledge, I made it this year without being called any names except Dave. 

RaleighRider said:  I had a goal this year; not to be called an a-hole on the road.  

That, my friend, is a noble goal.

Clive Rider said:

SFC JKL2 said: You always see the Air Force guys stopping because they are all required to carry several tubes with them and stop to help anyone they see change a tire (someone’s PR stunt they started a few years back).  Our running joke for this year was “How many airmen does it take to change a tire?”  They have never been able to ride as a group.  Evidently they decided this year to go out in groups of five. I will not question their riding ability, but I did receive amny complaints about their pacelines and lack of communication this year when I had never heard a complaint about them in the past. PS: I did hear part of their morning briefing was to avoid the Army guys.  (They really hate us since we’re only their to have fun). 

I was very disappointed with the Air Force riders this year.  After last year’s ride, I sent an email to the team organizer, complimenting their team and the people associated with their ride.  At the kickoff party this winter, I talked with one of the captains and complimented him as well…I won’t after this year.

This year I was shocked by the droppoff in their group.  They had a couple of groups that were leading lines, ragged lines…there were 4-5 Air Force riders then a handful of others.  They were not considerate of the riders around them.  At one point I watched them as they passed a few riders on the left, then aggressively cut back to the right, before they had cleared the riders they were passing.  It wouldn’t surprise me to hear that they knocked out a few riders along the way.

It is correct that they are obligated to carry extra tubes and provide support along the path.  It seemed lke that was an effort for them this year.

The wreckless Air Force group I encountered through the week had a strawberry blonde female that seemed to be quite wreckless, and a little over the top….I encountered them on the Karras Loop, and proceeded to drop them and get as far away from them as I could.  At least out there, they weren’t a menace to others as the loop was wide open!