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Your
actions and movements on the bike affect everyone
behind you. Remember that when you stop pedaling
or hit your brakes with 20 riders behind you.
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When
you stop your pedal cadence in the paceline,
it will cause the riders behind you to brake.
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It
is not safe to ride on aero bars in the paceline.
It does not matter how experienced you are,
you cannot react quickly enough to a change
in the paceline when you are in your aero
position. This can result in panic moves when
something happens which will affect the riders
behind you (this is the reason you do not
see aero bars allowed in road racing with
packs of riders). Please don't do it unless
you are in the front doing the pull. Experienced
riders, please set the example for everyone.
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Many
riders will not come to the front of the paceline.
If you can hold the speed of the paceline,
it is best to stay in the rotation all the
way to the front. If you do not want to pull,
maintain the pace for a second or two, pull
smoothly over, and then slow down to drop
back. Slowing down suddenly by braking or
just not pedaling to open a gap for a rider
coming back from the front causes problems
for the riders behind you.
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When
the group is going downhill, the riders behind
will always roll up on the riders in front
because of the drafting advantage. FEATHER
YOUR BRAKES LIGHTLY AND TRY NOT TO OVERLAP
WHEELS. This will avoid a dangerous situation
and will help maintain the paceline rotation
once the road flattens out.
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If
you want to pass riders to come up to the
front or you want to initiate something like
a sprint or breakaway, look behind you and
move smoothly out of the paceline. Make the
move smartly, try to accelerate slightly as
you pull out, and then accelerate to the speed
you want to ride. This will prevent any problems
for the riders behind you.
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Here's
a nice trick I learned at PAC Tour last year.
When you are in a paceline and want to get
out of the saddle for a butt break or to get
more power climbing, signal the riders behind
you by sticking out your right hand and giving
a thumbs up signal. This will alert them that
you intend to come out of the saddle. When
you come out of the saddle, try to increase
the power in your pedal stroke. If you don't
you will actually slow down and cause a problem
for the riders behind you.
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When
your turn comes to pull at the front and you
want to pick up the pace do it in single digit
increments (i.e. don't surge). This will allow
a smooth acceleration at the back and also
make it easier for the rider who just pulled
your butt to get back on.
