Cycling etiquette
Group rides are one of the best parts of club life. A few simple habits keep everyone safe and make the ride enjoyable for the whole group, and for other road users.
Before the ride
- A helmet is mandatory on all club rides.
- Bike in good working order: tyres pumped, brakes working, gears indexed.
- Bring a spare tube, tyre levers and a pump or CO2, and know how to fix a puncture.
- Front and rear lights, especially in winter and on early mornings.
- Water, food, a phone and an emergency contact you can be reached through.
- Arrive on time, ready to roll.
- Agree the route, pace and calls before setting off, and let the ride leader know if you are new to group riding.
Riding in the group
- Ride no more than two abreast, and single out when asked, on narrow roads or when traffic needs to pass.
- Hold your line and keep a steady pace: no sudden braking or swerving.
- Do not overlap the wheel in front of you, and leave enough space to react safely.
- When riding close to others, stay off your tri bars and keep your hands near the brakes. If using tri bars, leave plenty of space from other riders and do not draft.
- Pass calls through the group so everyone hears warnings from the front or back.
- If you are struggling with the pace or falling behind, tell the ride leader or another rider early.
- No headphones, so you can hear calls and traffic.
Calls and signals
| Call | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Car back | A vehicle is coming from behind |
| Car up | A vehicle is coming towards the group |
| Single out | Move into single file |
| Slowing / stopping | Brake gently, the group is slowing |
| Surface (point down) | Pothole or debris on the road |
| On the left / right | Obstacle to pass, move out |
On the road
- Follow the Rules of the Road: stop at red lights and junctions like any other vehicle.
- Be courteous to drivers, walkers and other cyclists: we represent the club.
- If you need to leave the ride early, tell the ride leader or another rider so nobody waits for you.
If something goes wrong
- Shout a warning and get the group stopped safely, off the road if possible.
- In an emergency call 112 or 999.
- Let the ride leader know, and report any incident to the committee at hello@3dtri.ie.
