You have convinced me, continue to ride solo . Its easy when you have no friends. Just a point of interest, on Saturday i put my bike in for its first service after 8 months. I got a good telling off because I had done 7000 kilometres apparently I should have taken it in after 2000 k . Have you heard this, that was my excuse " person ne pas me dit"

Every group ride needs a Jimmy, his enthusiasm is brilliant 😄

Great tips as always. There is a regional distinction with half- wheeling here: in the training rides that start out with a 2 x 2 pace line, the rider(s) that roll just slightly ahead of the adjacent rider is usually called out for half wheeling pretty quickly. And that overlapping wheel thing - exactly why I’ve stopped riding the group rides here. It’s gotten worse through the years. Hopefully a few of those inclined to overlap wheels will watch this. By the way, I’m starting to wonder if the roads are ever dry over there!! You must have had a deluge to get those lagoons covering the roads, lol.

These are fantastic tips! I wasn't aware of half-wheeling but I am now.

The group I used to ride with used oil up or oil down when referring to approaching vehicles and an arm pointing down left or right to indicate potholes

Point 1 "half wheeling" means something else in my club. What you're describing is avoiding wheel overlap. Half wheeling or half wheeler is a negative term to describe a rider who when two abreast keeps upping the pressure / power and thus pushes their wheel out and maintains it a half wheels length in front of yours. You then feel obliged to match their move and make the effort to level up alongside them. They then keep doing it over and over until you blow up. The offending rider usually knows they're stronger or to give them the benefit might be just feeling in good form. Either way unless you're in a real race it's considered a bit rude. I'm not sure of the exact physics, but yes standing on the pedals and putting your weight forward, actually pushes the bike backwards into the rider behind. I think if you keep your weight and body more up right and remain centered over the bottom bracket you can avoid it. Snot rockets IMO should be banned. I just wipe on my glove or sleeve. Nothing more annoying than someone announcing they've got a respiratory illness, who then sits mid pack and without warning blows mucus all over everyone multiple times. Years ago our Club Captain thought it was fine to sit on the front and blow into the air entirely without warning. Once it actually went in my mouth.........ugh 😢

I enjoyed that thanks

As a relative newcomer to bikesickleingningning, I find it's very different to running. That's simply 1, no snot rockets without checking behind first, 2, no excessive farting in crowds. I think I've just found why no one ever runs with me any more (well, that, and the fact that I cannot take it seriously, and me and my buddies usually end up playing snog, poke, smack on the way...) Marathon training can be a soul destroying experience. Anything to lighten the mood at 18 miles...

I tried to cross some flooded path too last weekend with my bike. The problem is it was way too deep, like crotch deep. I had to dismount and walk back while hearing my friends laugh from the border of the water. It made for an interesting ride. From that point on I was the official "Poodle Tester" :D

wow that merc driver 😧

when I grew up, I/we were always taught that only the left arm is used to signal: left straight out for left (as it is everywhere), left arm bent at 90 degrees up: turning right; left arm 90 degrees down: pulling over/stopping; sadly no one seems to know this anymore and iv'e had a few instances of people thinking i'm flicking them off when i'm indicating turning right

The first tip was great 😂

In my club we further distinguish between potholes (a pointed finger in the way you showed) and gravel/hazardous surface (shake your outstretched, flattened hand). Indicating you are slowing can be important too - we wave a forearm up and down for that. Oh, and to add to the regional differences, we call "Car up!" and "Car Back!"😁. Just thought of another one that should be obvious, if one person has a mechanical then everyone stops (physically offering assistance, kit or tools is optional, but you MUST make sarky comments😂).

Wait, are you storing your bikes in a storage shed with no front wall? I can't believe the UK winter weather is good for that? 😯

Eggs and wet socks, the aroma is beautiful!