Cycling Safety

Pacelines

In a cycling paceline, the paceline leader’s role is less about the pull and more about control, judgment, and the ultimate safety of the group. Their main responsibilities are:

Set a steady pace that's appropriate for the surface conditions

- Consistency matters more than speed. Avoid surges or cadence spikes that ripple backward and fatigue the group. "Appropriate" pace and spacing should be significantly reduced for hazardous areas.

Avoid surging

It's a common mistake to surge when it's your turn to take a pull. If the speed needs to increase, slowly ramp it up over time after the previous leader re-joins the back of the paceline.

Maintain speed

Especially when into a headwind, being considerate of overall pace allows for smooth rotations, overall group fatigue and safety. Workload is shared and the group can stay together.

Act as the group's eyes, communicate clearly and early

- - Scan well ahead (think 1 or 2 seconds MINIMUM) for hazards, traffic, surface changes, and road geometry, giving the group time to react.
  - Hand signals: Use calm, precise and EARLY hand signals. Pointing at potholes, debris, or cracks; palm-down waving to signal slowing or rough surface. Signals should be early (at least 1 or 2 seconds MINIMUM in hazardous terrain) and held long enough to be seen by several riders. Late signals are WORSE than none.
  - Verbal call-outs: Short, calm cues like “hole,” “gravel,” “bump,” or “car up/back.” These support hand signals but shouldn’t replace them.
  - Lane positioning: Gradual shifts left or right around a hazard often communicate more clearly than words. Avoid sudden swerves.
  - Speed modulation: Slightly easing pace before rough pavement or tight areas warns the group without causing abrupt braking.
  - Signal propagation: Each rider should repeat the signal so the warning travels through the entire line. Signaling HIGH and EARLY works well to help ensure the signal is seen by back riders.
  - Judgment: Not every imperfection needs a call. Signal hazards that affect line choice or wheel safety to avoid overloading the group.
  - Bottom line: effective leaders warn early, stay smooth, and communicate in ways that keep the whole line calm and predictable.

Shoulder debris

As the paceline leader, which line would you establish? Would you want to slow the paceline? How would you communicate this all back to the group?

Multiple hazards

Take the lane or maintain the line between these two hazards? How would you signal each of these choices?

Pothole and parked car

Follow the contour as much as possible to the right or a straighter line in the lane? How would you lead your group with these two hazards?

Zero shoulder

The shoulder has been intermittently eroded for miles! Which line would you lead? How would you deal with being "in the lane" for an extended amount of time?

Early signaling

Early signaling and signal propagation can be seen in the above video (starting @ 27 sec)

Eroded shoulder

Follow the shoulder contour or take a line which spends more time in the lane? Which line do you lead and when do you move your paceline?

Pointing

Sometimes the speed of the paceline requires very EARLY signalling. How much reaction time should we give our paceline members? Signaling up high, early and dramatically gives the entire paceline warning with one large gesture!

When to point

When should we signal the DBS? (dead bloated squirrel IYKYK) Adjacent to our wheel as in C? Further up the road as in B? Or do we signal the DBS WAY up the road as in A?

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Double flick

When the hazard is unavoidable and the surface requires both hands on the bars, the double flick can be used. Additionally, quickly standing in the pedals can signal to those behind.

Hold a predictable line

- Ride straight, deliberately and smoothly. Swerves or drifting create unnecessary risk, especially in tight formations or crosswinds.

Manage the rotation cleanly

- Pull for an appropriate duration, then rotate off smoothly on the correct side without braking or accelerating. Sit up into the wind and move to the back of the paceline deliberatly, timely and safely.

Pacelines should be abandonded in favor of a slower pace and wider spacing between riders

When the hazards are so prevalent that paceline leader early signally can't be done effectively.
When riding with inexperienced or mixed experience groups.
When visibility is low.
When the group would rather deprioritize the necessary focus for a paceline

Bottom line: the paceline leader is a steward, not a hero—prioritizing smoothness, clarity, confidence and safety so the paceline works SAFE and efficiently for everyone.

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