Top 6 Tips When Cycling in a Group/Peloton

Cycling is a sport unlike any other, the wind in your face as you speed down hills north of 60k/h, or suffer up 45 degree climbs on that last cassette, all without the noisy rumblings of any gas-guzzling motorised aid. It is also a sport in which the term 'the more the merrier' applies to and very aptly as well if I may add. The sense of teamwork as your peloton blazes down the highway, eating up the kilometers with graceful stride or the sense of healthy competition and a little frustration as you try to keep up with the wheel in front of you so you don't get dropped by the group. And with the ever growing interest of cycling in Malaysia, more and more cycling groups are being established every day with group rides organised weekly, especially by local bike stores; the Specialized Concept Store in Petaling Jaya and Treknology (Trek Bicycles) in Kota Damansara organise weekend rides along the Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE). Regardless of your predicament, it can't be argued that riding in a group brings it's own unique sense of enjoyment. However, as with any leisurely pleasure, one should know how to enjoy it responsibly. So, here's my top 5 list of tips when it comes to riding in a group.

Don't be late
Among the many ways to make a bad first impression, being late is arguably close to the top of the list and riding in a group is no exception. Be courteous and respectful towards your fellow riders and understand that their time is precious too. Punctuality is especially more important when riding in a group as groups tend to plan to cover long distances during their rides and long distances equal large amounts of time spent in the saddle. An decent hour of running may equal a respectable 10 km to 15 km but only a mere 30 km for a cyclist. So you can imagine how long a weekend century or 100 km ride might take, taking into account the occasional rest stop and the post-ride nasi lemak breakfast.

Malaysians are infamously known for their satirical 'Malaysian Time' but in my honest opinion, it's a terrible excuse for being inconsiderate about others and my blood boils ever so slightly whenever I have the misfortune of dealing with such people. So, a good tip would be to be certain about the meet up point, determine via Google Maps or Waze or any other reliable GPS app the duration of travel from your house to the said meet up point, and allow yourself an extra 15 minutes or so in the event unforeseen circumstances arise. Pack your bicycle and other necessary equipment into your car the night before and get a good amount of sleep so as to be able to wake up fresh and on time. Let's put a stop to inconsiderate tardiness.

Know how to signal
Just because our bicycles don't come with built in indicator lights like our cars or motorcycles, that doesn't mean we have no means of signaling other road users, especially other cyclists, and forewarning them about what we're about to do next, thus making us more predictable to them as well as safer. Our own 2 hands are all we need. Even though there are lists of different cycling-related signage out there to learn, here is a brief list of the most used by groups on our roads based on personal experience (Images taken from Road Cycling UK):

Signaling to turn:


Slowing down:

Stopping


Oncoming hazard (objects usually on the left side of the road as that's the side we ride on, so point towards the right like so):


Pothole/other road irregularities (point to the potential danger on the road):


Move up or come through:


Thank you:

In the event you're passing a cyclist, please be mindful of the rules of the road as they apply to us too. This means only over taking on the right. An additional safety measure which can be taken is letting the cyclist in front of you know that you're passing by shouting out 'on your right' or by ringing a bell if you have one.



Go easy on the brakes
Drafting is perhaps unique to the sport of cycling. Essentially, it is the process of aligning yourself behind a rider so as take advantage of his or her slipstream, thus reducing the overall drag that's placed on us. In other words, you won't have to deal with the brunt of the air resistance ahead. This effect is even more noticeable in headwinds. When you're resting behind the wheel of the rider in font of you, you be'll be putting out less effort, 30% less theoretically speaking, to maintain a particular speed than compared to riding at the front or riding one your own. While this all seems nice, one of the most daunting lessons a cyclist will ever learn when cycling in a group for the first time is staying off the brakes while one's front wheel is within inches from the wheel of the rider in front. Plus, the fact you'll going at speeds upwards of 30 km/h won't be doing you any favors.

While emergency braking is definitely warranted in certain situations, most of the time however, if you ever find yourself going a little too fast when in a group, all you really have to do is stop pedaling. Once you've adjusted your speed, you'll find that braking would've been an unnecessary and potentially dangerous overcompensation. Of course, I'm not saying you'll never have to use your brakes when in a group. In fact, it is generally frowned upon to be cycling with both hands on the tops of the handle bar when in a group as your hands are far from the brakes. But, most of the time, minute adjustments in speed can be made by simply not pedaling.

Once you've mastered this little skill, you'll become a more predictable rider, which translates to a safer riding experience for both you and your fellow companions.

Service your bicycle
Nothing screams annoying like a squeaking bicycle. And as discomforting as it is for you to bare with, it's not at all easier for your fellow compatriots who want nothing more than to drop you as soon as possible. Not only that, a poorly maintained bike is going to cost you more in the long run as far as maintenance and riding pleasure go. So it's good to service your bike regularly, not only for group rides but riding in general. Fret not, I'm not expecting you to swap out your chain, bearings, cables and what not everytime you're about to embark on a group ride, but just spend a good 15 minutes to look over your bike from top to bottom and make sure everything is in working order. Here's a brief list of what I usually go through a day before a group ride:

• I'll usually assess the chain and gears first, if they're filthy and full of gunk, I'll give my bike a wash from top to bottom along with some degreaser for the chain and gears, followed by a fresh new application of chain lube.
• Break levers and shifters - check to see if they're in working order
• Break pads - check to see if they're worn out or have bits of debris in them which may need removing
• Wheels - check to see if they spin buttery smooth when lifted off the ground and given a spin
• Tyres - are they at their optimal pressures?
• Bottom bracket - if I'm experiencing unwanted noise coming from the bottom bracket (BB), I'll remove my cranks, clean out the BB and apply some fresh new grease, which usually sorts the problem out.
• Pedals - squeaking may originate from pedals which haven't been serviced for a while
• Equipment - ensure all lights and tools you're bringing along on your ride are in working order

Ensure your tyres have no surprises waiting for you

Be prepared
In essence, it's always advisable to be prepared for your ride by going over a map or a set of directions given to you by a group member or ride organiser, especially if you're riding a particular route for the first time. Inquire about road condition, rendezvous points or rest stops, as well as what their protocol is in the event you can't keep up with the group. This way, if you were to get lost or suffer a mechanical problem and you're on your own, you maybe able to call for help if you have a phone with you or make your way back to the starting point on your own.

Try not to get lost

Apart from that, bring along additional food and drink with you in the event your ride is going to take you an excess of 2 hours and always remember to have something light to eat before your ride, a banana or energy bar would be good choices. Regardless of how pleasant the company your share or the view along your route are, your ride is going to be far from enjoyable if you're lightheaded, drowsy, irritable and plain lacking energy from hypoglycaemia.

Have a decent meal before going out on a long ride

Next, ensure your tools and spares are all accounted for and in working order. Nothing like being stranded 50km from the nearest town due to a puncture, only to find you forgot to pack a spare tube or patches. If you're interested, here's my top 5 list of things to have with you when cycling, which should pretty much fit the bill. 

Apart from that, ensure any and all lights you maybe using are in working order and have a decent charge left in their batteries if you expect to be riding out before dawn or until after dusk. Our roads aren't exactly worldclass and neither are our road users. So don't be another road-accident fatality statistic. 

Be nice and have fun

Some may say this isn't so much a tip as it is common sense, but I stand by my point. I don't quite know what it is about Asian culture and our disinterest in socializing with others, but we as Malaysians are no exception to this. When we're put into a new situation, we tend to think so much about ourselves and how we're going to fit in that we forget about the other human beings around us. Relationships and bonds aren't built in an instant . So learn to step out of your comfort zone if you're the type of person who's even mildly introverted and talk to the other riders you meet. A "Good morning!" here or a "How are you?" there combined with a couple of "Have you eaten yet?"s in between (we're Malaysians aren't we?) will most certainly take you a long way. It will convey approachability and concern about others as well as expand your circle of friends.

Specialized Concept Store weekly Saturday grouprides - myself at the far left

It will also make other more inclined to look out for you when you're riding, making sure you're ok and checking on you from time to time. They may even work with you in the event both of you get dropped, allowing you to form a little team of your own and take turns drafting behind each other and hence, going faster too. Not only that, you may get to know of other cycling-related events through your mates that you may not have heard of that might interest you; equipment sales, other group rides, upcoming races, trouble shooting tips, etc.

And last but by no means least, have some fun! You may treat it as a competition if you'd like, but group rides are more of a means of socializing and bonding over a common interest. So use it as a means to enjoy yourself, improve your cycling, make new acquaintances, expand your knowledge, get healthier and blow off some steam from a long week's worth of work.

That's it for this post guys. As always, leave any and all comments of questions you may have in the comment section down below and I'll try my best to reply. Thank you for reading!

Top 5 Most Important Equipment to Have When Cycling

It doesn't matter if you're new to cycling or a full-time professional, accidents can happen to us at any time when we're out on the roads regardless of our respective skill levels. This is especially more apparent here in Malaysia with our relatively sub-par road conditions and driving ethics in comparison to our more developed neighbors across the pond. The risk is only amplified the further we cycle from home on our occasional solo weekend epic century rides. Whether the fault falls on us, an errant driver. a sneaky pothole or mother nature herself, the best kinds of accidents are the ones we can walk away from in one piece without too much of a hassle. Even though there's no such thing as being too safe, one can still be prepared for the worst. With that in mind, here are my top 5 essential items to always carry without when you're out for a ride (helmets go without saying, duh!).

Identification
In the event something does happen to you *touch wood* and you end up lying by the side of the road, unconscious, it would be best if you carry with a decent amount of information about yourself. Things like your IC (Identification Card), a card with your blood type and other medical ailments such as known allergies and chronic conditions like diabetes mellitus, emergency contact numbers and anything else which you may think is relevant in the unfortunate circumstance you need emergency treatment. This will alert the relevant medical personnel regarding any significant medical history as well as allow them to contact your family or friends and update them on your condition. Most cycling jerseys have 3 pockets at the back, anyone of which would be more than sufficient to hold all your necessary info cards. I'd recommend keeping them in a waterproof ziplock bag or just a plain plastic bag so as long as it's intact.

IC, Blood group card, Organ donor card

Phone
Nowadays, it's hard to imagine being able to get through a day without our phones. They've become such integral part of our day to day dealings. From doing online shopping to GPS navigation (thank you Waze and Google Maps) to mapping our rides on Strava and snapping high-res pictures of our beautiful bikes and posting them on Instagram, all while being portable enough to fit into our pockets. In fact, some would even argue that living without a phone is an entire way of life on it's own. With it's multitude of functions, is it any wonder that a phone is on this list? In the event the explorer in you takes your ride a little too far and you get lost with day light fading away or you've suffered an irreparable mechanical problem, a friend or family member is just a call away or, at the very least, a taxi or an Uber (I'd go with the Uber). As with you're relevant info documents, you can stow your phone away in a ziplock bag into one of your back pockets. Alternatively, you could carry it in a saddle bag or a top tube bag that's not to crammed and cluttered with spare tubes and tyre levers, which brings us to the next item.

Emergency repair kit

A handful of more seasoned riders would say you've not riden you're bike enough if you've never had a puncture before. Regardless if that statement holds any weight at all, being able to mend a simple puncture or replace an inner tube should be within a cyclist's repertoire. After all, wouldn't it be embarrassing to be riding that expensive S-Works but not have a clue about basic bicycle care? If you don't already know how, then fret not for there are thousands upon thousands of tutorials on the mighty interweb, just take a little time and go do some research.

Saddle bag

In the even you're already well versed in the art of the punctured tyre, knowing how to solve your problem won't do you any good if you don't have the necessary tools with you at the time of the emergency. A couple of Allen keys, 2 spare inner tubes, 3 tyre levers and a mini-pump that's mounted onto my bike are what I carry with me all the time, just enough to get me back on 2 wheels and ride home. You may also consider picking up some tyre patches although I personally favour replacing a damaged tube immediately rather than mending it, purely for peace of mind so I don't have to worry about it acting up later on down the road. A CO2 (carbon dioxide) pump with a couple of CO2 canisters are the choice of some riders I know but I'm more traditional. Plus, in the event you don't securely attach the pump to the tyre valve, you may release all that CO2 into the air, wasting an entire canister. In the long run, a mini-pump is more economical. However, if you choose to go the CO2 pump way, make sure you know how to use it first.

Mini pump

3 generic tyre levers and 2 inner tubes = RM50

Apart from tyre complications, there is also the troublesome albeit uncommon issue of chain failure. In the even that does happen, having a chain-breaker along with a couple of emergency links with you will most definitely come in handy. You might not be able to shift through all your gears with the newly shortened chain, but it should at the very least get you home safely, following which you may look into installing a new chain. As I've already mentioned, having your chain snap on you is quite a rare phenomenon and I myself have had mine snap maybe twice throughout all my 12 odd years as a cyclist and because of this as well as for the sake of saving space in your saddle bag or bag pocket, I'd recommend getting a multi-tool with an integrated chain-breaker if you happen to be in the market for one. Even though it will get the job done significantly slower than a dedicated chain breaker, the way I see it, I am more than likely to not have my chain snap on me before it comes time for me to replace it due to wear and bike maintenance. So, I would prioritise portability over saving the additional few minutes in comparison to a dedicated chain-breaker.

My trusty Crankbrothers m17 multitool with chain-breaker 

Lights
In the event you commute to work regularly or enjoy going on night rights, chances are, visibility will become an issue, even on the most well lit of streets. Regardless of how much we spend on our bikes, kit or gear, none of that matters against a 2 ton lorry coming at us at upwards of 90km/h. Now, I understand that there is no guarantee lights are going to prevent us from getting hit by other road users or vice versa, but they will certainly reduce the risk, and as the saying goes, there's no such thing as being too safe. Investing in a decent front bicycle lamp that shines standard bright white light will illuminate your path ahead, allowing you to keep an eye out for potholes and other potential obstacles, enabling you to make the necessary steering corrections in time while a back lamp with a standard red light will warn motorists behind you of your presence. A fluorescent jacket or vest wouldn't be too bad as well, styling issues aside.

Cash
That epic ride: You set out before sunrise, route already pre-planned or programmed into your Garmin or smart phone, energy bars and gels fill up your back pockets, saddle bags packed with the necessary tools, bike in tip top shape and you're wearing your best kit. Two hours in, you're out of water, starving, you've eaten your last bar, you're not even half way done but you're miles from home. It's happened to me before and I'm sure I'm not the only one out there. Being a little overambitious isn't necessarily a bad thing when you're out on a ride as it is ambition that pushes us further and allows us to climb higher, so as long as you have a right resources should you need them. In this case, carrying a little cash with you while on the road will allow you to purchase extra food and drink and, in the event it's absolutely necessary, hail a cab to get you home or stay at a hotel for the night. I plan my rides a little better nowadays but I still do carry a small amount of cash with me in the event of an emergency and if I want to stop and get a small snack along the way, local homemade kuih (traditional cakes) and goreng pisang (banana fritters) can be quite appetising after a long ride, with a nice coconut to wash it all down!

A cool little trick that some cyclists do is remove the cap at the ends of your handle bars, roll up some cash tightly, then slot them into your handle bar. Replace the cap afterwards. This is a nifty little trick if you don't like carry cash on you in fear of being mugged. At least this way, once you've emptied your pockets and the douche that robs you leaves, you've still got some cash with you. If he does decide to take off with your bike though, well, that just can't be helped.

Remove the handlebar cap

Roll up some cash

Insert cash into handle bar

Replace cap

There you have it, my top 5 most essential items to have with you when you're out riding. Now, I will admit I took a little leeway with some of the points, so they're not exactly five, but I deem them all to be important nonetheless. Did I miss anything or do you think there are other things that more important than any of the 5 I've mentioned? Do let me know and leave any questions or comments you have in the comment section down below and I will try my best to reply. Thanks for reading!