The Unspoken Rules of a Group Ride

If you’ve ever been dropped on a “no-drop” ride, you know—there’s a whole language in cycling that isn’t in the handbook.

1. Don’t half-wheel – Keep your front wheel even with the rider next to you, not ahead.
2. Signal hazards – Glass, potholes, dogs. If you see it, point it.
3. Pull through, don’t speed up – Keep the pace steady when you rotate to the front.
4. Respect the regroup – If the plan is to wait at the top, wait at the top.
5. Coffee stop etiquette – Bikes outside, helmets off, don’t block the doorway.

The group ride works because everyone plays by the same unwritten rules. Learn them, and you’ll be welcome anywhere.