Proper group rides can be an absolute thrill. Everything from the teamwork, the fellowship on and off the bike and the opportunity to challenge yourself. I hope you enjoy it like I do.

Early in my riding career, I was fortunate to get involved with the Wolverine cycling club in Michigan, a large group where even the non racers were disciplined in the art of rotating double pace lines, a few of the things I quickly learned were: 1) Learn to soft pedal to control speed. Freewheeling was rare. 2)Pulling a bit into wind is ok to slow, or feathering rear brake while pedaling is good practice. (Pedaling against braking rear ensures wheels don’t lock up or skid on rain or sand or whatever) 3) Learn to ride rollers, then you will truly know how to ride a straight line 4) Don’t stop pedaling when standing up or sitting down 5) If someone really speeds up when it’s their turn at front, let them go and keep rotating at same speed. They’ll be back when tired of dangling out front. Just some thoughts on a few things I learned from some really good folks. Keep up the good content sir!

Soft pedaling and not freewheeling also saves a ton of energy. To overcome the inertia of your legs to stop or start pedaling requires quite a bit energy. Keeping your legs moving also makes it easier to respond to changes in pace.

I am 6’4 250 pounds. As a big guy I can run up on somebody’s wheel pretty fast. We normally run single pace line here so sometime I will sit up to catch the wind. I appreciate this video. This is something I need to work on.

I was on a group ride a few years ago where the rider in front of me kept free-wheeling and surging. At the time, I was still getting used to the dynamics of group rides. I kept a bike length between our wheels instinctively. I wasn't as experienced then as I am now, so I did what felt natural to me, and that was to stay away from him. I still love group rides for the challenging and often competitive dynamic they provide. Groups help me increase my fitness level in ways that a trainer can't.

Hi Luis, Thanks so much for covering the accordion problem, and thanks for describing the solutions. Many other videos only mention the problems. For the readers, I would like to add that the majority of accordions are caused by poorly executed rotation at the front the the line. Namely that the rider who has pulled off does not immediately reduce their speed. Not reducing their speed leaves the next rider stuck in the head wind and, if inexperienced, they will accelerate to get around the rider that didn't slow down. Thus, this acceleration triggers the according effect. In this case, as Keven Ward mentioned below, it is the second rider's responsibility to maintain the pace and not chase the inexperienced rider. Maintaining the speed will avert the Accordion effect, keeping everyone safe and less frustrated. In addition to not chasing, the second rider should get next to the rider who didn't slow down and tell them to gently slow down-- no brakes or stopping pedaling. A downward pump of the hand is a good reinforcing gesture. The rider who accelerated should also be instructed to do this next time they encounter the same situation. How to reduce speed? Using the soft-pedal technique, mention by Keven, is key and was well demonstrated on your trainer in the video @5:59. It was also icing on the cake that you pointed out soft-pedalling smooths the reengagement of pedal pressure and steady speed. Switching up to one or two larger cogs while soft-pedaling also helps to slow down after reengagement. If safety is discussed before the group starts, this is a great time to talk about how to pull through. The two take-aways are: maintain your speed, then drop your speed. PS. Your steel videos motivated me. After riding carbon for 25 years, I got back on my Italian steel bike. It was felt like a pair of comfortable, old shoes.

It makes me long for the old days. You could read a rider even before the ride started. Kit, bike, the way they held their bike at stand still, etc. Nowadays everybody looks pro standing around, is on SL7, Rapha-level kit, and deep carbon wheels. It all falls to pieces quickly when the line is at speed of course, but in the past any intermediate to beginner would happily be relegated to the rear and take verbal cues, whereas today the sense of having the right to be on the ride is directly proportionate to wheel section & total monetary investment. Half the time I’m riding I either just move myself to where I want to be and take that space, or leave a bike length like you do. Other half I grab the guy and bring him to the rear and spend some of my ride to teach him the tricks of the trade, cadence adjustment, patience when closing a gap, soft pedal as you come into the slip instead of 400w to position and then brake, etc etc etc. I only ever receive big thanx for making the effort. The unfortunate thing is that all too many of us who are in the know seem to feel that our knowledge was hard earned and others shouldn’t get it for free. Instead we shut up and leave the blind and ignorant to teach other blind and ignorant riders. To our own detriment. Good video. Good points.

I haven't avoided group rides necessarily, but I haven't done many. This is a great video for things to make sure I don't do as I start doing more group rides 👏🏽

Spot on. I haven't done group rides in months and recently joined one again. For 60 miles the guy in front of me was a distracted freewheeler. Insanely frustrating especially considering he weighed about 40lbs less. Looking at power after it was no effort for him to accelerate every time, but for me it was 270-300W bursts every time. Pretty frustrating when you're trying to keep an easy endurance pace

One of the first things I learned about when I started group riding was to keep your pedals moving. Downshift if you have to to keep moving, so that I don’t lose energy and that the person behind me doesn’t think something is wrong if I stop pedaling. Coasters drive me bananas.

THANKS LUIS I AM a- (B GROUP RIDER) with only one group ride under my belt I have rode solo for about 6 months . Luis you have been a big help with your videos in teach the right way to ride in group rides. THANKS

Another excellent segment Luis. Another reason to ride with an experienced cycling group like I do, is for the safety aspect as you mentioned. I recently crashed in January and was unconscious for about a minute. Had I been a solo Cyclist I have no idea what I would’ve done. When I woke up from my crash, one of the buddies was next to me, somebody else was contacting my wife. Another person was contacting fire rescue. Aside from keeping me safe my wife was kept up-to-date on my status and met me at the hospital. I very rarely ride solo now and I appreciate in the aspect of organized group brides

Brilliant content. Thank you

Thanks for this content, Luis. As an aging rider who is coming up on 60 years old and still racing and mixing it up with younger riders, these reminders are always helpful.

Good stuff man👏🏾 two things when riding in groups; learn group etiquette and stay towards the front if you’re experienced. It’s hell at the back🤣

I typically ride alone due to an unpredictable schedule and responsibilities. The safety in numbers would definitely be a big plus.

I enjoy the content on this channel.

Hey man keep doing what you do. I love the OG knowledge. People started looking at me for the stuff I learn in spaces like this! 😂

awesome video Louis very informative the breakdown I been riding for year I am in a group I use to ride very hard into my 30's stopped now I am back riding.. 👍🏻🚴🏼I liked riding in a group because I feel safe and also friendship it brings sore of like a brotherhood once again love your videos stay safe all my fellow riders out there👏🫶🏻

Great vid thank you for making it! Learning to ride in a structured group is a great skill to develop. Also, learning to rotate in a fast pace line is tons of fun when people are really working together. Unfortunately, there are good and bad groups. Some groups are way too strict and end up making the ride no fun. FUN is the reason we do this. Too much structure can be a beating. Nowadays I stick to group rides that are race practice and less structure. That's when the real fun begins!

I'm new to cycling and I found this to be informative. Thanks and keep the videos coming.

lol, the reason I don't do much group riding is because people were jerks when i tried to. I joined a meet and greet easy group ride for new people and when we got out of the city they dropped the hammer and left my ass out in the boonies having no clue where I was. However, great tips for riding in a group.

Fantastic video with great tips to keep a pack smooth and steady. I've coached riders by telling them to anticipate (as you said by looking ahead, and smoothly closing a gap), adjust (as you said by adjusting the pedal pressure) and alway pedalling. In one of my first A ride, I got yelled at for freewheeling, and I was happy she did because it cured me for ever. I would add that sometime a very, very light feathering of the brakes may be needed.

Awesome video once again! I really learned new things that I’ve never seen discussed in other videos. Also congrats looks like you passed 9k!!

Luis, yeah brother nailed it again ! Great advice compressed many years of learning into minutes. Hugely gratifying to see channel numbers increasing rapidly and many benefiting from the knowledge. Outstanding job man. 👏👏👏

I’ve NEVER participated in a “Group Ride” I will be taking a group ride “Training for Beginners “ in 2weeks with a local Trek store here in the Dallas area. I will pay attention to the things you described here in this vid. I appreciate you my BRO! Just Ride well, WELL, just ride! 🚴🏻‍♂️🚴🏻‍♂️🚴🏻‍♂️🚴🏻‍♂️

I’ve been binge watching so many of your videos and I’m loving them. I’m fairly new in the cycling realm and you bring up so many good points on each of your videos. I can tell you’re a very experienced rider. Thank you Luis.

I hate it when someone increase the pace suddenly on their turn.

Very helpful. Thank you

My Fav shoes! I have 4 pairs of those! Great channel btw-

Thanks for the tips. New to group riding, tried them out this morning, especially the technique on how to avoid freewheeling by steady cadence and lightening up on pedals. What a huge difference this makes, both for riders around me and also for saving the matches for the sprints! Can't believe what big difference a small mental adjustment makes. Thanks again!

Best regards from Romania! Love your content🚴

Great topic, your channel is great, I’m confident it’ll continue to add viewers steadily- I share your videos often. Keep up the good work! 🤘🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Another great video, thanks.

I regularly ride with my club, and the slower-paced rides are generally good for teaching group-riding practices. Along with "make sure it's not you", a little humility and willingness to learn the practices is in order. Different groups have different practices and expectations. (Also, I noted your background in the opening. Mr Scott likes him some Bianchi's, eh?)

Great content Louis and an important message too! BR from Germany

Finally a man I can relate to. Thank you for the post.

Thank you for removing the fear and explaining technique. Will take your lessons to next group ride!

Awesome videos. Very helpful information. Have not done a group ride yet, but listening to you helps me build up confidence to try one soon (or so I hope! :)

Love group rides. These are great points to think about !

Loving the audio!

Great video! There's a guy in our local group in super flat area of Texas near the Gulf of Mexico, that is the worst person to get behind. He doesn't keep a straight line. He moves five feet from left to right on a single line. He also gets out of the saddle constantly, which screws up the pace line. Everyone HATES riding behind him. We try to give him advice on how to improve his biking etiquette . We might as well be talking to a tree stump. He rides every group ride he can and hes not a bad guy. When he shows up its joke on who gets to ride behind him. Most of us do extra pulls to avoid being behind him.

You’ve touched on some very good points. I did some of these things when I first started. Am surprised to see such a large pack of cyclists riding in a bunch. In my club, it is single file pace line only, with about 8 riders in a group (several groups spread apart at different speeds). I ride solo now, for the reasons you mention, but also the independence of no schedule. Your videos are very thoughtfully made and nicely narrated.

Great instruction video. I’ve only done one group ride. Was easier than I thought but there was one minor fall/ crash and a second near one at a red light….

Great info. I was in this ride as I was today with you. Good thing I’m being good! LOL. But, on a serious note. The freewheeling drives me nuts. A lot of times it’s me “absorbing” the accordion effect. I’ve had riders behind me at times say thank you when they see our lane is keeping a pace vs the other lane is constantly freewheeling. I’ve had pretty good encounters when I share my observations. I try to inform them that its to help them. But I’ve seen very long time riders do this to this day.

Great video Luis, very good of you that you talk about excessiv freewheeling, i also do/did that alot. There are always things that we can learn and work on. On zwift grouprides my speed also vary's because of freewheeling etc...sometimes let myself drop to the back and then push some hard numbers to go back to the front. So thanks again and keep up the good work. 👊🏻

Great video.

I'm sharing your videos to a cycling group I have and so far you have gained followers.

Great content & topic! I've been avoiding group rides for years. How you explained watching the rider's behavior ahead of you helps a lot. It's good to try different groups. I say introduce yourself to the ride leader(s) & tell them your background. Also, don't leave a no-drop ride without telling anyone. Half-wheeling dangers too!

Excellent information.

Best group riding 101 video on youtube. well done!

Love your videos 💕 I would gladly ride behind you. 🥰

I apologize because I am sure I have been one of those wobbly twitchy freewheeling riders that lacked/s bike control, and in the wrong gear, bad cadence, etc, etc, etc..... I was probably over-excited to finally ride with a group and trying to figure it out, all of it at one time. When a rider told me I was in the wrong gear, I wasn't offended. But I was stuck mentally trying to figure out how he knew. And shortly after that I was dropped, not internationally.... but I clearly didn't know what I was doing and your videos are teaching me a lot.

The video quality, audio, and editing are spot on. Great content

Lots of great advice from a person who clearly has experience. I love group riding and do group rides most days, but that's mainly because I have a large group of very strong riders that I know I can trust with my life on the road. The main thing for new riders to learn is bike control. Holding your line, pedaling smoothly at speed, varying speed in tiny increments without brakes, pulling through smoothly... these are all tough skills it can take years to learn. Joining a group is intimidating because most experienced cyclists have little patience for dangerous or inefficient riding, especially if they're going fast. The best thing is to actively seek advice from experienced riders, asking questions can cut a lot of ice. I learned to group ride in the 80s from a few grizzled and super strong masters racers. It was tough love, they set me straight in uncompromising ways and beat the crap out of me on a bike. I'm a better rider for it, though lol.

Nice vid! I thought this would be more about the personalities and agro-attitude that comes out on group rides, lol! When we see the things in your video, we try to share to the newcomer what they’re doing and how to do it better in-situ. It’s tough, especially when everyone’s working hard and words have to be shouted (and sound angry). One leader will often just neutralize the ride or talk at a rest stop so it’s shared immediately, and often our group’s forum will have a thread if something dangerous happened. Not perfect but helps get knowledge across :-)

Great video. I love group riding for similar reasons: team spirit, sense of fellowship, disovering mew rputes together and group achievement as well as the safety aspect. Pet peeves: people who, desite the ride briefing, get to the front, cycle off and never look back even when they open a gap. when we are rotating in a paceline, people who rocket past the line to the front at a big speed difference so the folks behind feel compelled to accelerate to catch their wheel. The other one is the “freewheeler” who will get on the front and not stick to one speed, forcing the concertina behind them like you pointed out.

My word! This struck a nerve, Luis. The groups I ride in weekly are pretty guilty of this and if I'm being honest, I have been also. You've provided some great takeaways for the next ride and I'm looking forward to trying these. Much appreciated, good sir!

one of my pet peeve's is overly aggresiveness out of corners by the front of the group

These are all great points, but there is one that is the main reason I avoid group rides for the most part. Garbage miles. I train using the polarized training method, meaning 80-90% of my training is done in zone 1 (polarized has only 3 zones, base, sweet spot, VO2). For those using a 5 zone scale, I'm mostly riding in zone 2. The one or two days a week where I hit it hard, I hit it hard. Lots of high intensity sprint efforts followed by some period of rest. Now don't get me wrong, I love a good group ride. The social aspects of it, the safety, the benefit of drafting, I love all those things. But typically I'm training alone because most group rides are done in that middle zone where there's very little adaptation/improvement going on, hence the term garbage miles. And as you've pointed out in other videos, cyclists are very macho/competitive and always want to be going full gas, which is ridiculous, so finding anyone who wants to train like I train, even though it's been proven scientifically for years to be the most effective way to get faster, is pretty much impossible.

I like staying in the back; helps to always be at least one level of fitness above the group standard, so that you aren’t too affected by the yo-yo effect etc. if you lose the draft? No worries, you never needed it to begin with. Plus, you can hang with those who can’t keep up and help pull them back when they drop from the pack. Then where do you get your training you might ask? That’s what the solo rides are for. Group rides are horrid for improving fitness.

great video

Another thing that causes gaps is when the leader will crest a hill, they will get right back on the gas. They need to wait a moment or two for the whole group to get off of the incline before picking up the pace. On another note, I personally avoid the B-group. If I don't want to ride with the A-group, I will usually ride with the C-group and do the majority of pulling. The B-group has a lot of inexperienced cyclists but they are pretty fit overall. They can be scarry to ride around. They are erratic and not smooth on the bike. C-group is actually full of very experienced riders who just don't want to or can't go all that fast. The newbies in C also tend to be more cautious than newbies in the B-group.

This is an interesting subject. On our training rides there were little Rubber band- or Accordion effects. We did’t ride big groups. If there were many people showing up, the group would be split up. There would also be someone being a leader, who would give newcomers a briefing or a mentor to help them. We would also be doing «polarized» training, meaning the big bulk of it, up to 80%, would be zone 2 riding. While the rest would be high intensity interval training, like 6 to 10 runs of 2 minutes on and 2 off, where we would go almost flat out. The Accordion effect would be typical in races, where the group was much bigger and more unorganized. But often, if my team was in some numbers, we would take charge and get the whole group organized, which most people were thankfull for.

I always panic when there’s a gap because it seems if I let there be one I get dropped. I think the hardest thing is when the new leader goes faster then we were going. And if you are at the end, the front of the line slows down to go up hill and the folks going down while they are going up have to go slow downhill and then try to go fast up hill since they are then going down while we go up!!!

Another really good and informative video. Probably the worst thing are the folks that go to the front and raise the speed 3 or 4 MPH then stay in front until they "run out of gas". This stretches out the group initially, then jambs everyone together as the macho person fades. Other things that I have seen: In short rolling hills the front of the group backs off the pace instead of adding a little more power. If the group is more than 5 or 6 people, this can cause a quick jamb-up as the people further back are still moving at the original pace. Folks only looking at the wheel in front of them and not setting up for an upcoming turn or stop properly. This can cause mass carnage. Being overly conservative on a downhill, but not maintaining a consistent line. The folks passing are unsure what line to take.

Also worth a mention is people taking photos when they are in the group, even getting your Phone out of your pocket should be a no, no

I really like the content! I don’t get the thrill to ride in group settings too often. However, from years of experience from riding in groups for 18 plus years, I never lost the natural sensation of where and where not to be. Also I really like your white Adidas looking cycling shoes! Where could I pick up a pair?

Great video..

I've always felt that group rides are only as safe as the least experienced rider. I have a buddy who has spent the last 18 months recovering from a group ride incident. Looks like a blast, just not for me. You do an excellent job with your videos!!!

Group rides is great, do when you can join it since it’s hard to find one since everyone has got different schedules. I usually ride solo, maybe couple guys with me once in a while. Great content Scott , ride safely.

this is a great video for those of us who usually ride solo but want to do group rides. Can you also do one showing common hand signals used in groups?

Great video and very informative. There must be really fast riders there in Florida. Since Florida is so fast, how would you guys practice climbing? I would imagine you can simulate it on a machine.

Luis, just a funny quip! My wife and I attended I guess the world's smallest organized group ride. Elkin, NC was having their first annual "Trail Days" celebration. Vendors, hikes, kayaking, and a "group" ride from the high school to Stone Mountain State Park, NC, not GA. Her friend at the YMCA told her about the group ride. We showed up on the tandem at the designated start time, got registered and waited. Long story short, 2 people, but, only one bike! Is that a "group ride". We were escorted the whole way coming and going and it really was a great ride, about 38 miles with over 3,500' of elevation gain. We will probably sign up again for this year, hopefully we want be alone!

I agree, pedaling technique / dynamic is very important. Too many cyclists will do the pedal-pedal-pedal-coast... pedal-pedal-pedal-coast. Take a look a soccer players, the point is not to kick the ball as hard as possible every time you touch it.

Very informative vlog regarding group ride. Keep it up! I like the 3 stripes cycling shoes you have. Where did you get it? Link in how to get is greatly appreciated. Thanks

I was taught to “feather” the front brake as needed to keep my cadence if changes in speed were subtle.

I stopped group rides because quite frankly, they had become just races. Gone are the days of rotating pacelines at a steady pace. Nobody joins rides after having learned the ways of riding in a pack anymore. Group rides tend to go long and thats a duration where I want to be in zone 2 for the majority of it, but it's simply impossible to achieve such a pace these days in a group.

Luis thank you. Great videos, I use them on my trainer when its too dark to be in the wind. You provide great insight and education. New to your channel . Any videos on nutrition? Thanks Bunkie

I think the only reason I do not go on group rides if my fear of being dropped. So I just ride alone, or with a fellow retiree. 😁

Please share those cycling Kicks? Love them!

Great video again Luis. You've touched on basically all the group ride problems with this one. For me, I especially "hate" the dick measurers who have to take off when they get to the front. Unfortunately the groups I ride with go with them and it's not only frustrating it's bloody dangerous because the group is constantly changing pace. Very few of them race nowadays so they have no idea and just collect bad habits from the bunch. If I get a bit cranky and call it I'm certain they think "What's wrong with that grumpy old fool?".....but you just cannot teach some of them. Thanks for your awesome work mate. It's top shelf.

Riding rollers in the winter will sure smooth out your pedalling. In the late 60's I used to ride in a peloton , if you did something wrong it was quickly corrected in a manner that you would never do it again. Today I ride with seniors over 70, mainly ride as a checker to make sure everybody is ok. Still love group rides, although my speed is 20Km/h instead of 70Km/h. Stopped taking things so seriously.

Hello Luis..great subject..Let's dig in. I am over 60 now and I have always had powerful legs, and cycling was perfect for me. I still skate professionally, and I still can sprint and tear up the track. I say this because I know the three levels and some folks do not want to fact that reality. There are folks who ride and no matter what bike they have, they have to train constantly, to even be decent. Then there's physically gifted riders, who with proper training can actually make somewhat of a living cycling. Then of course you have the freaks who will drop your azz and who can ride the Vuelta, De France, D; Italia, etc,etc.This topic is dear to me because I was riding singletrack ,and this guy kept trying to pass me, as if we were racing. I go off a tabletop, and when my wheel hit the ground it hit a long under the leaves. I went down and as I am getting up the clown was so close to me, he was right behind me. Instead of bailing the bike as we should, he stays on, and hits me, spins me around, and I did a face plant into a boulder. So one guy takes his bare hands and a towel and he is trying to close my face back, shooting blood from my right eyebrow. So he is still pinching it and then we found some guys leaving the park who had surgical tape. So now I leave the park with James, I get some grape juice and he rides with me back to my block.my face covered in blood. I ended up with 7 stitches, my helmet visor saved my eye, and of course the guy who landed on me broke a rib. Point being,folks need to ride according to their actual ability, not what's roaming around inside their heads. I am really wary about who I ride with and intolerant of anyone placing others in danger or even making everyone else uncomfortable. It's a group ride not Stage 16 in the Tour, so make it CLEAR NONE of that trash will be tolerated.

The only part of a group ride I will be a part of is the cafe stop. That's the appropriate place to hold conversations or whatever. I don't like following other wheels because of all the points you touched on and also there are those kinds of people that don't maintain their bikes. Once the guy I was following was riding on tires that had cord exposed and I didn't know that until he double flatted and hit the floor and I flipped over top of him at about 25mph. It cause a bit mess and I got hit by a car when it flipped me into the road. I didn't get hurt badly but my titanium Merlin frame got bent and I had to get a lift back to my car where we started. Maintain your bikes people! 😡Group riding is not for me anymore.

I gave up on group rides in my area because I got sick of the vibe: recovery rides and easy miles turning into hammer-fests and MAMIL weekend-warriors Cat-3-splaining what people should do to "look more pro" (Hint: the hat-trick of Rapha, Specialized, and Oakley). I was like, "Man, this is why I stopped racing!" For the record, this attitude has been refreshingly absent from your channel Luis. I love your material. #steelisreal

A couple of weeks ago we had a bad accident in our group ride. Make sure you are on one accord.

Biggest issue I have is when someone can’t keep the pace but, they refuse to drop back or let anyone pass. Granted they probably didn’t warm up or something but, jeez. Another one that drives me crazy someone leaning and can’t keep a consistent pace. Pace is said to be 20 mph but “they” are dropping to 15 mph on little rollers and then darting up to 27 mph on the other side. Anyway, great content.

I did group rides for years but just stopped recently because of several reasons. Some were a lot of the things illustrated in this video. I realized not everyone is on the same page so to worry about my safety the whole ride just made it a gamble. Then if I went in the faster group, the pace seemed better and the riders were more predictable but the attitudes get worse because it's a bunch of guys thinking they're better than they are because we're going faster than the others. I didn't want to deal with that drama. So, I would choose to go with the slower group because they were a little more easy-going but you have to worry about the unpredictability. It just got too much for me to deal with when all I wanted to do is just enjoy a ride. So, I started going solo again and loving it, alone with my thoughts, any pace I want to go with no one to worry about but me. I think the best situation is to have a smaller group of 4 to 6 that you know really well and can trust how they ride. In any group ride communication is key.

Hello. Anyone riding Saturday mornings near Miramar Florida?

Man I stick to my solo. I’m a loner at heart but was considering on breaking out of it by doing some group rides for summer but the thought of putting my safety in someone else hands. No thank you Great insightful vid though.

Different reasons for me: (1) One of the reasons I like group rides is for the speed and exhilaration from drafting. Unfortunately too often people don't form a pace line and rotate. Staying in fixed positions as shown in the video is boring and slow, rotation makes it roll faster. Another problem is riders that want to be a hero and set a hard pace for miles, never switching off. Nobody else gets to exert themselves. Also people who feel fresh, ride past everybody else, get a gap, and then are exhausted and fall back behind the group. Wearing themselves out for nothing. (2) Other issue is routing. A local Saturday morning ride decides the route when they meet. Unfortunately it's based in a city about a 25' drive from here, so "we're doing the Summit Hill Loop" means nothing to me. I am forced to rely on following them or getting shouted cues. Too many times I have been riding along setting a manageable steady pace, pull over when I'm ready to rotate, and there's NOBODY THERE - and I have NO CLUE where I am. In this era, it's easy enough to create a route and distribute a link to upload it to one's GPS computer (or phone). The LBS has a variety of good rides posted on Ride with GPS, but this group refuses to decide the night before what route to ride. I do agree with not stopping pedaling. So many options: soft pedaling with no pressure while turning the cranks, dragging the brakes very gently (as long as they don't make noise), pulling aside slightly to increase aero drag. If there is a serious problem ahead, you should stop pedaling and pull firmly aside as a signal to the riders behind.

Super-light bikes slow down exactly when your power level drops.

Soft pedaling has a drawback -- it gives the rider behind zero clue that you're slowing. Freewheeling has the potential plus of giving that indication. When I ride in a group, there are two places I'm comfortable: the back, or the front. If I'm not in one of those two places, I'm headed there in such a way that everybody else knows it.

Eloquent. I’m in.

Might be a thing of my area but I don't do group rides because I show up on my bike and they're all like "nah fam, you gotta have a 10k or above bike to ride"

I have ridden many a group ride and many solo rides, the thing we all need to remember is most of us are not professional riders. yelling at riders within the paceline is never well received. I will abandon a group ride if I feel the ride leader is acting like a tyrant.

I love group rides on my long Zone 2 days, cause the others cover a lot of ground w/o me putting out a lot of effort, but TBH, i always worry about other riders skill.. I've been taken out by people not looking or being careful.

Instead of coasting or reducing my leg speed, I prefer to feather my front break. It helps stay on top of a gear.

Heyo luis ! What crankset is that on the defiant? Actually, do you have a bike check for the whole thing anywhere 👀