Comrades!
This Saturday we will do a bit of skills work during the ride. On the out-bound leg of the ride, all riders will stop and regroup after turning onto Camino del Rey off of Hwy 395. We will form into small groups of 5 or 6 to work on pace line skills. Riders will take a maximum of 30 seconds per pull, and speed will be kept to a maximum of 22 mph (this route is back loaded with climbing, so we will save the TTT for another day). A good pace line is fun, fluid, and efficient. Riders are expected to maintain good etiquette and safety, such as:
-No surging. When it's your turn to pull, do not drop the hammer. Maintain the current pace. If the pace is below max, accelerate gently.
-When you finish your pull, indicate by shouting "Pulling off!", slap your butt 2 times, use your left arm to signal, or all of these.
-Do not brake hard. If you you need to slow, soft pedal, lightly feather the brake, or shift slightly to one side and let air resistance slow you.
-The rider on the front needs to watch ahead for obstructions on the road, point or call them out, and avoid them gently with greater leeway. Do not swerve at the last second.
-Ride further to the left than you would normally. Edge riding on Camino del Rey is a bad habit to begin with. Keep your pace line further left to be visible as well as have a greater margin for error when avoiding roadside debris.
-Use of aerobars in a pace line is forbidden. This is not open to debate.
-Do not stand unless you are the last rider in line. This applies to drinking and eating as well.
-Do not overlap the wheel ahead of you.
-After passing W Lilac and making the final right turn, a sprint to the light is appropriate as long as the other riders are in agreement, and traffic is clear.
-Robert
Great idea!