Group Ride Etiquette: The Unwritten Rules, Written Down

Every group ride has rules, and most of them are never said out loud. New riders learn them by getting a few looks, or a few shouts. Here they are, written down, so your first ride with a new group goes smoothly.

Before the ride

• Show up on time, ready to roll. Tires pumped, bottles filled, food in your pockets. The group leaves at the posted time.
• Know the pace. Most clubs list rides by speed or level. Pick one you can comfortably finish. It's better to be the strongest rider on an easier ride than to be dropped on a harder one.
• Bring what you need to fix a flat. A tube, levers, a pump or CO2 and a multi-tool. Our pocket repair kit guide has the full list.
• Ask about the route and the stop. Where's the café? Does the group regroup at the top of climbs? Is it a no-drop ride?

Riding in the group

• Hold your line. Ride smooth and predictable. No sudden swerves, even to dodge a small pothole. Point it out instead.
• Don't overlap wheels. Keep your front wheel behind the rear wheel of the rider in front. If they move sideways, an overlap is how crashes start.
• Don't brake suddenly. Ease off the pedals or sit up to slow down. Hard braking in a group causes pile-ups.
• Point and call. Holes, gravel, glass and parked cars: point to them and call them out so the riders behind you know. "Car back" and "car up" for traffic, "stopping" and "slowing" before you do.
• Stay off the front unless you're pulling. When it's your turn at the front, keep the pace steady. Don't surge. When you're done, flick your elbow, move over and drift back.
• No aero bars. Save them for solo rides and time trials. Your hands need to be near the brakes in a group.
• Ride two abreast only where it's safe and legal, and single up quickly when the group calls it.

On climbs and descents

• Stand up smoothly. When you stand on the pedals, your bike moves back an inch or two. Push a little harder as you stand so you don't drift into the rider behind you.
• Climb at your own pace and wait at the top if that's the group's habit. Nobody needs to blow up on the first hill. Our climb pacing guide can help.
• Leave more room going down. Speeds are higher and braking distances longer.

The social part

• Nobody gets left alone with a flat. If someone stops with a mechanical, the group either waits or a couple of riders stay with them.
• Say hello. Introduce yourself at the start, especially if you're new. People remember the friendly rider.
• Don't coach unless you're asked. If someone's doing something dangerous, say so kindly. Otherwise, let people ride.
• Buy a coffee now and then. Especially for the rider who did the long pulls into the headwind.

What to wear

There's no dress code on most rides, but a few things help. Bright colors make the group easier to see. Clean, well-fitting kit is more comfortable over a few hours (see our jersey fit guide). And a jersey people can spot from down the road makes it easy to find you at the café.

Some groups go further and make a theme of it. A plaid ride, a black-tie ride, a holiday ride: they're some of the most fun rides of the year. We've written guides on hosting a plaid ride and hosting a black-tie ride, and our funny cycling jerseys are made for exactly this. Planning kit for the whole club? Read how to order custom team kit.