Sitting in a group means the forward view is often blocked by riders ahead. Everyone behind is relying on you and the riders ahead to make them aware of obstacles, be they holes in the road, pedestrians/joggers, slower cyclists, parked cars, oncoming traffic, metal plates, glass, grates, debris, animals (dogs, etc).

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Hand signals – are the primary way of notifying fellow riders of obstacles from the front and if necessary supported by clear calls.

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Call out –If the obstacle is dangerous enough then shout it out as well as pointing it out. However too many calls or unnecessary calls can be unsettling. Save the calls for key messages or dangers.

Calls up and down the group – Make sure you pass the calls up and down the bunch. Calls cannot always be heard due to wind, noise and spread of the group or softly spoken riders. It’s your responsibility to make sure the next rider in the line has heard the call.

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Calls primarily from the front

• Car Up – a vehicle is approaching from the front. Riders need to be aware, close into the left, or move into single file or pull in and stop.

• Car Back – a vehicle is approaching from the back. Riders need to be aware, close into the left, or move into single file or pull in and stop.

• Horses – be careful, slow right down, keep a safe distance.

• Rider/Pedestrian Front – beware of a cyclist or pedestrian ahead. Also used to alert cyclist/pedestrian to the groups approach.

• Stopping/Slowing – the group must prepare to stop.

• Rolling – the group will keep moving or start moving off.

• Hole Left/Right – avoid by moving left or right of current line.

• Gravel - caution, pick your path and lower speeds with soft braking.

• Going Left/Right/Straight On – group will be turning left/straight/right at a junction. Car or Car Left/Right – indicates cars approaching at a junction and not safe to pull out. Away from a junction Car Left warns for slow/parked vehicle in the road. The group will need to check if clear to go around.

• Single – change to single file. This is done by the rider on the right dropping into a gap created by the person on the left. The front riders may need to accelerate and the rear decelerates.

• Are We All Up? – a question which goes down the group to ask if all riders have regrouped before picking up speed.

 

Calls primarily from the rear

• Easy or Steady – slows the pace momentarily to close gaps and allow riders in difficulty to get back on the group.

• On or all up – all riders are back in the group and the normal pace can resume.

• Car back – a vehicle is behind the group. Hold your line and be aware of cars approaching from behind. (Previously Car Up)

• Coming through – car is overtaking the group.

• Clear – the road/lane is clear to enter. It is the responsibility of riders at the back to determine when clear to change lanes and call this out. Then the riders at the front are not straining to see behind when time to change lanes. The call should be clear... over if clear to change. If a car is approaching/overtaking the call is car back.

• Puncture/mechanical – a rider has punctured or has a mechanical problem and will be stopping. The group must find a safe place to stop.