When cycling in a large group, riding in formation can be a lot of fun, allowing you to feel the power of the team and easily reach speeds of 30 km/h. However, in group cycling, you must make sure your teammates clearly and accurately understand the group’s status and road conditions—this is where cycling hand signals come in!
1. Stop: Raise your right fist.
2. Attention: Extend your arm straight down to the ground, with your palm parallel to the ground. Extending your left arm diagonally indicates an obstacle on the left side of the road, and the right arm indicates the same for the right side.
3. Slow down: Bend your arm downward with your palm parallel to the ground and move it up and down. This means there is an obstacle ahead and you need to slow down, while also spreading out the group.
4. Watch the road: Point your finger diagonally toward the ground to indicate the location of an obstacle ahead.
5. Turn: Hold your left or right arm out flat to indicate a change in direction. The left arm means a left turn, and the right arm means a right turn.
6. Follow: Place your palm behind your buttocks and wave backward.
7. Rotate lead rider: The front rider pedals faster for two strokes, then moves toward the side of the road to indicate a change in lead. The following rider should quickly take over, and the former lead rider should slowly fall back to the end of the group.
Things to pay attention to when cycling in a large group:
1. Don’t sway or abruptly change your line, especially if you’re at the front. A small movement by the person in front can cause major issues further back in the group—the first rider is especially important. For example, if there’s a cover on the road, normally you’d just swerve around it quickly, but in a group ride, avoid that. Try to look farther ahead, and make all movements slow, smooth, subtle, and controlled. If you see something you need to avoid, start acting at least 50 meters before. If you can’t avoid it, it’s safer to ride straight over it than to attempt a half-hearted swerve.
2. Make your turning actions clear when turning, so riders behind know when you’re about to turn.
3. When leading, maintain the pace for about 15–20 seconds at 30 km/h. The faster the speed, the shorter the lead time—for 50 km/h, only lead for 4–8 seconds.
4. Stay focused. The lead rider must concentrate to maintain a steady line. Riders behind shouldn’t just watch the wheel in front; they also need to be aware of the conditions on both sides ahead and avoid overlapping with the rear wheel of the rider in front.
5. When moving left to fall back to the rear of the group, be slightly aware of the left rear area. Quickly glance with your peripheral vision to check for approaching vehicles near the roadside.
6. When moving left, don’t go too far—about 1–1.5 meters is ideal. Still maintain a steady line as you slide smoothly to the back.
7. Use the wind to slow down. If you’re about to run into the rear wheel of the rider in front, don’t hit the brakes suddenly. Instead, move slightly to the right, sit up to catch the wind, and once you’ve slowed enough, move back to your original position.
8. Use pedal cadence to accelerate and catch up. If the rider in front is gradually pulling away, don’t rush to change gears. Increasing your pedaling speed is a better way to control and adjust your pace.
9. Practice holding a stable position on the drops (curved handlebar). Riding on the drops is definitely less stable, but this position offers better aerodynamics.
10. Don’t pedal intermittently. Keep pedaling smoothly and consistently—this will make the riders behind you feel more at ease.
11. Practice looking back while cycling. Normally, when you turn your head right to look back, the bike will drift left. Practicing looking back while maintaining a straight line is a very useful skill. If possible, also practice looking back from under your armpit while on the drops.
12. Don’t push yourself too hard. Even the lead rider should be aware of what’s happening behind. If someone is dropping back, gradually slow the pace. If you’re not able to lead, don’t force it—just move left when it’s your turn.
That’s roughly it. Cycling together as a team feels great, and sometimes it’s much more fun than going it alone.