(UN)WRITTEN RULES OF CYCLING

Life in the Bike Lane

Tom Frady

Somewhere between clipping in and cursing at your bike computer, there’s a secret code of conduct that governs the world of the Avid Cyclist.  It’s not written down anywhere— until now -- and yet we all know it. Or at least we think we do. The trouble is, some parts of this previously unwritten etiquette are so unwritten that half the peloton seems unaware they exist. So, in the spirit of public service and self-preservation, let me shine a little light on the quiet courtesies of the road.

Let’s start with the start of the ride, where an odd ritual unfolds for some.   If the start time says 8:00, that means clipped in at 8:00, not wandering around searching for the energy bar you just had in your hand.  We all have that one guy who arrives perfectly on time but mysteriously needs twelve additional minutes to get ready. Cycling etiquette says we don’t yell at him—but we also don’t wait.  The Lincoln Hills Cyclists have pretty well solved this.  The ride leader pulls out at the appointed time so, unless you want to have to hammer to catch up, you better pull out, too.

Then there’s the matter of being the lead in a pace line. We talk a lot about taking your turn at the front, but nobody talks about the art of not taking a turn. If you’re having a slow day, or the group is just plain faster than you -- no problem—just drift politely to the back and stay there.  Unless it’s a highly competitive group ride, with a “who buys” at the end, no one really cares if you don’t take a turn at the front.

Here’s another quiet rule that needs to be loud: warn people of your intentions.  A loud “stopping” or “slowing!” goes a long way to prevent half the group from piling up because someone spotted a squirrel.  And don’t limit is to just stopping.  A loud “turning” or “rolling” when leaving a stop light helps keep riders’ faces off the pavement.  The more communication, the better.

If you are the “sponsor” of a guest rider or if there is a new rider joining the group, a few words about the “culture” of the group.  How stoppy is the group at stop signs, what about drafting?  There will be a donut stop.

Another unspoken rule lives in the space between cyclists and pedestrians. If you pass a walker and they don’t jump out of their skin, congratulations—you’ve used an appropriate greeting volume. If they do jump, you’ve likely bellowed “ON YOUR LEFT!” with the subtlety of a bullhorn. Etiquette suggests a friendly “Good morning!” instead.  I like “bikes back”, uttered from a distance that will allow the walker to casually move over.

It is not unusual for one’s nose to run a bit on a chilly morning or to breathe in airborne flotsam (or is it jetsam?) while you ride.  Before you launch a snot rocket, a mucous missile or perform a nasal clearance maneuver – PLEASE drift to the back of the pack.  No body needs to see, or feel, that.

And finally, the last bit nobody talks about: don’t be too serious. Yes, cycling is exercise and a challenge and occasionally an ego-bruising battle with gravity. But it’s also joy. It’s shared effort. It’s the simple miracle of rolling forward under your own power. Going for a ride is different than training.  The best etiquette—the one rule that covers all the rest—is to remember we’re all out here trying to have a good ride.  If we can do that, even the unwritten rules take care of themselves.