If you have been on a road bike for more than 5 seconds, you already know that you can ride faster with less energy exerted in a paceline. By sharing the wind resistance among multiple riders, the pack can move forward, faster as a whole than one at a time. In an organized pace line, riders take turns pulling the group over the course of the ride to insure proper pacing and energy release.
However, there are certain things that you need to take into consideration when you pull up front into the wind that even a lot of experienced road cyclists do not do and it causes problems down the line. So here are a couple of things to consider:
- Any small change in speed is magnified down the paceline. If you go 3 mph slower suddenly, riders far down the line are hard on the brakes to prevent rear ending the rider in front of them.
- Momentum is everything. If momentum breaks or you sit up, same theory as above takes place. You are smashing everyone together down the line.
- Riders 5 back and longer can not see what is coming up. Calling out road obstacles, turns and other changes in normal straight line riding is always the responsibility of the rider in front of you, so that starts with the rider that is pulling the group.
- No one likes a jackass in the paceline…keep your ego at bay.
How To Pull The Paceline on a Road Bike Ride
As mentioned above, any small changes you make while pulling (speed, turns, momentum) magnifies significantly down the line, so here are some tips to make sure that your pull goes well and you aren’t cussed out as you make your way back through the rotation.
Keep Your Speed Consistent
Consistency is key and it all starts with speed. When you are pulling a paceline, you need to try to keep as consistent a speed as possible regardless of elevation changes. Now, if you hit a large climb or steep downhill, all aspects of the ride are going to change dramatically. But, if you are on the rolling hills or flatlands, you have to keep that speed constant throughout the mileage you decide to jump out front.
- Right before the lead rider pulls out to give you the headwind, pay close attention to how fast the group is riding. When that rider pulls off, do your best to keep that constant speed so you do not disrupt the group. You are going to have to put in some extra energy to fight the headwind that was blocked by the rider, but try to make sure not to pull away from the group or slow down at all. Make everything a smooth transition.
- There are going to come up against rolling hills and other features of the road that will require more effort to keep a constant pace. To combat this, keep a higher cadence while pulling to be spooled up and ready for any elevation changes. A lot of riders like to sit in harder gears, but when changes in effort come up, they end up changing speed suddenly because they were not ready for the change. By keeping a higher cadence, you are able to smooth this out easier.
- When you are pulling, keep pedaling and do not sit up. By keeping the motor spooled and aerodynamic, any changes in wind direction or force will not have as drastic of an effect on your speed.
Call Out Everything
When you are pulling the paceline, you are the front line of defense against upcoming turns, cars, changes in pace and obstacles in the road. It is better to be over cautious than assume, so call out everything as you ride through hand gestures (pointing at holes in the road) and vocally calling it out (car up, hole, dog, etc.). Also be aware of what is going on behind you by listening to the rear of the line. Those riders are going to let you know when cars are passing or there is a wreck/mechanical that needs to bring down the paceline.
Important Side Note: If you come up to a turn that is unexpected or too tight to take at speed, pass the turn and come back for it. If you are leading and have to get hard on the brakes to make the turn, you will wreck everyone behind you. It is better to pass and come back than take the risk.
Smooth Transition Out
There is no rule for when you are supposed to get out of the front and move your way back into the line. Typically, you want to stay out front long enough to pull your own weight but not so long that you start bringing down the speed of the ride. When you feel yourself start to blow too much energy or you see the average speed start to slow when the terrain hasn’t changed, it is time to get out from up front. If you waste everything you have pulling, you are just going to blow up anyway so it is better to be safe than alone.
When it comes time to pull out, smoothly pull out of the line to the left and start to work your way back down the line. If the rider behind you pulls in behind you (they might think you are trying to ride around something), simply wave them forward with a hand gesture to let them know you are pulling out.
Be sure not to decrease your speed too much as you are going to have to match the speed of the line to pull back in without getting dropped or disrupting the pace. If you are pulling back into the line midstream, wave to the rider that you want to pull in front of so they can make a gap.
You Do Not Have To Pull Every Road Ride
Pacelining is a group effort. By pulling your own weight and taking a pull, you are adding to the strength of the group, but…pulling is also not for everyone. If you are with a strong group that you know you are going to have difficultly keeping up with, sit back in the line and let the stronger riders hit the wind.
Image by Keisuke Omi