Cycling with your friends can be incredibly fun—you all work together to reduce drag, and the group goes faster while saving energy. Getting to speeds you can’t achieve on your own is a rush like no other!

 

Still, there’s one slightly intimidating thing about group rides: maintaining a short distance of several inches behind another bike. This can be a little scary, and your body may tighten with nervousness. It’s no secret that I’ve felt nervous while riding in a group or peloton during my cycling career.Riding closely behind someone else takes practice, so I’ve put together a few simple tips to make group riding less overwhelming. Keep them in mind, and you and your fellow cyclists can stay safe and enjoy the camaraderie.

 

Develop your mental connection. You gain confidence through experience— and when you practice patience, your newfound confidence and skill will make you a more capable rider.

 

Don’t let the bike get the better of you. Make your bike an extension of your body. By keeping your body relaxed and not clenching the handlebars, you can remain focused and are less likely to make an error. Sound familiar?As an advanced-level black belt in martial arts, I like the idea of using a bike as an extension of your body; the same idea is used in weapons training. You need to learn to maneuver with the bike.

 

Take advantage of drafting. Drafting doesn’t mean you have to ride inches from someone’s back wheel to gain aerodynamic benefits. Depending on the speed and terrain, you can reap significant energy savings as far back as three bike lengths. So if you’re timid about riding close, don’t worry—you’ll still significantly benefit from drafting.

 

Improve your comfort level with drafting drills. Ride with a partner! It’s best to find someone with similar abilities. Developing smooth, predictable communication can be a team effort between the two of you. The reason for predictability? Sudden, unexpected movements can be alarming for the rider behind you. This kind of proficiency is useful during group rides, and the other riders will be grateful.

• To get comfortable riding with your partner, set up a slalom course in an empty parking lot and then ride two-by-two to practice cornering.
• When drafting, keep your head up. It’s easy to get absorbed in looking at the wheel in front of you, but looking at your partner’s back can help you judge your distance from them. You do need to check your wheel distance from time to time, but you should eventually develop a sixth sense for when to adjust your position.
• Keep your speed under control by feathering the brakes. By doing this, you maintain your speed rather than gaining momentum. Using feathering, you alternate lightly applying and releasing the front and rear brakes to control your speed to avoid sudden jerking movements.

Taking your time and learning the art of group ride dynamics will yield amazing results. As we say, practice makes perfect.