Question of Riding Etiquette



Group rides take on different personalities depending on the participants and groups take on different personalities given the relationships, styles, etc. I've caught myself several times the last few weeks shaking my head in aggravation over something someone has done in the pace line. Some things are obvious etiquette infringements, but others may fall in that grey area. So, I pose the following questions:

1. Should you accelerate on up-hills and coast on down-hills?
I personally find it aggravating to have someone drill it up a hill, only to have them blow and slow several miles per hour over the top, which results in a slower downhill speed and rider chaos. I'd rather see someone hold a constant speed or slowly deccelerate up the hill in order to smoothly reaccelerate down the hill.

2. If you are getting popped on a climb should you hold your line or move out to allow riders through?
People may disagree, but I feel like it is safer if the popped rider just holds their line. Yes, riders back now have to move out and accelerate, but that's better than starting the same move and having the slower rider move into your line. On the flats it's easier for a rider to move out, but on a climb the same move can't be anticipated as quickly.

Just a few thoughts. Leave your comment below.

Kum Bah Ya


There is a gentlemen that we ride with very frequently in Albany, GA whose handle is "Easy Rider". He is one of those guys that is in the right place at the right time, always knows what wheel to be on, and is just an all around good guy. The other day as I was doing my daily web surfing I came across some words of wisdom from Easy Rider on the PCP race team blog. If you have a minute, you should surf on over and take a gander at the words of wisdom of an experienced cyclist.



Sidebar: Kum Bah Ya - In addition to this African-American spiritual’s simplistic tune and meaning, the term “Kum Bah Ya” had now gathered another meaning to it, as well: peace. In many articles regarding world peace, politicians will refer to “sitting around the campfire singing Kum Bah Ya,” or when peaceful demonstrations are disrupted, people will say that it “was not a Kum Bah Ya moment.”

Trail Work

Thanks to Blair and Buck for giving up some free-time Monday and Tuesday to work on the trail.

There's a tentative plan to work on the trail May 21st. All effort that day will go towards making the Philema section more friendly. More details to come.

We want to make sure as we ride and work that we keep the best interest of Chehaw in mind and make as little of a footprint as possible. The less we disturb the better. Stay on the trail. Pack out all trash. If it's not natural, it's out of place.