If you’ve ridden in a group ride before, chances are you’ve been dropped at least once. It can happen to the best of us. Every cyclist has their own strengths and weaknesses. And even if you work on them, sometimes, your weaknesses can get the better of you.
Help to avoid getting dropped on the group ride
If you’re a climber, you may fly up the hills but have a hard time when the crosswinds hit. And inversely, if you can power into a headwind, you may not like it when the road heads upwards.
Staying in the draft means being aware of your surroundings and being ready when things go sideways. If you’re paying attention, you won’t be caught off-guard when things get tough. It will be easier to stay in the group during your local weekend hammer fest.
1. If you’re not moving up, you’re moving back
One of the quickest ways to get dropped is to find yourself at the back of the pack when the pace picks up. Some riders find it hard to maintain a position at the front of the group, and that’s because your position in the peloton should always be changing. If you try to stick at the front in the same spot, you could very well find yourself swarmed, and when things speed up, you could end up at the back behind riders who will gap you. Instead, think of the pack as an ever-moving beast. Meaning you should be in constant flow.
Starting at the front, you can move back, and then reposition yourself to the side of the pack, and move up again. It’s a little mini circle to follow so you go from the lead to mid-pack and back to the lead. You don’t necessarily need to be on the front of the pack, putting your face in the wind, but by being in the lead rows of riders, you won’t find yourself in a bad spot when things heat up.
2. Burn as few matches as possible
One of the easiest ways to burn your legs is to try and move up at the wrong time. When the pace is high, and you try to move to the front on the outside of the group, you’ll use way too much energy. And you will find yourself cooked when you get to the lead. Instead, look for times that make it sense to move up. If there’s a flurry of attacks, there will often be a lull immediately after. During that brief pause, use it to move to the front. Then, when the next barrage of breakaways starts, you’ll be ready.
Another way to move up without using too much energy is to use corners. If there are some wide bends, try to move past riders by coasting on…
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