by Noreen Ritz

A good pace line makes riding a lot easier, especially in a headwind. A bad pace line is worse than riding alone.

My ex-husband taught me how to draft and ride in pace lines. He was a category 1 racer on the track and 3 on the road. Since then I have been coached by other experienced riders and have practiced what I have learned. I get a thrill from the teamwork and the reduction of effort is amazing. Here are some things I would suggest.

Don’t be afraid to try a pace line. It’s good to try it with skilled riders that you know and who are willing to coach you. If you have had some experience drafting and you let the other riders know you are just learning, they can give you some pointers as you go along. You can always drop to the back if you get too nervous or if they go too fast. Let them know what speed you’re comfortable at and ask them to adjust for you if necessary. Start at the back of the line and just draft for a while.

Start by riding 2 to 3 feet behind and a little to one side of the person in front of you. The closer you can get the better, but ride where you feel comfortable until you get used to being closer. Stay relaxed; don’t tense your arms and back. Keep your eyes on the rider in front of you, but glance in your mirror and up the line occasionally, too, to be aware of hazards and changes in terrain.

Pedal smoothly and evenly. DON’T DO ANYTHING UNEXPECTED. Don’t coast. If you need to take a drink, wipe your nose, shift on the saddle, whatever, do it while continuing to pedal smoothly. Don’t stand on the pedals–it will actually make your bike go backwards for a moment. Remember, someone is right behind you who depends on your smooth riding. If the rider in front of you slows abruptly, try to veer a little to the left or right of him or her instead hitting the brakes. You can also slow yourself without braking by sitting up straight; it makes you less aerodynamic and the air friction slows you. Also, try “soft pedaling,” but don’t stop pedaling. If you have a problem, like a dropped chain, warn the riders behind you and pull out of the line. If you find yourself pedaling and coasting over and over because you keep getting too close to the rider in front of you, try shifting up one gear–you will pedal a little more slowly and be able to control your speed better.

If the pace is too fast for you, drop out. You shouldn’t be out of breath or struggling; after all, the reason for riding in a pace line is to reduce your effort. Look at your cyclometer occasionally–you will want to match that speed when you are at the front. You don’t have to go to the front (“pull”) if you don’t want to–just drop to the back of the line if you’re scared to pull.

If you do pull, don’t speed up. Ride about the same speed that you were doing in the pace line. (I’ve seen a whole line get dropped by someone going to the front and suddenly taking off, thinking the effort is much greater for the front rider. It isn’t.) Try to keep the effort consistent, rather than the speed. For instance, when you go up hills or into wind, don’t hammer. Slow down and gear down as necessary to keep the same pedaling cadence. If you speed up, slow down, or change gears, do so as smoothly and gradually as possible.

Again, the key thing is, relax. It isn’t a race or a contest. It’s just a way for a few riders to enjoy a windy day more or to simply ride faster. It’s a good way to improve your group riding skills, too.

This is an excellent website on the topic: http://www.cvcbike.org/club/paceline.html