Apres Velo Blog

Become the best of the bunch
Riding in a bunch allows you to reach far greater speeds than would be achieved at the same effort level individually. Make sure you’re getting the benefits by using the other riders to your full advantage. Be alert - the temptation can be to slip into a comfort zone when you’re cruising along even for experienced riders but it’s crucial to have constant awareness of what’s around you. Remember you are putting a lot of trust in other riders when you sit in a bunch, so it’s of high importance to know what’s going on up the road. Don’t allow yourself to be caught out by a sudden change in pace or other riders moving around an obstacle or tight section of the route. If it’s your regular ride use your memory - remember the road conditions.

Pick a good wheel
Have a look around for a rider who always seems to be in the right place at the right time & stick to them. The smoother the wheel you pick the more easily you will stay in the bunch comfortably.

Have an escape route
You want to remain as tight as possible on the wheel in front but avoid getting into a position where you are under-lapping the person in front. If they make an erratic move or swing off you need to know that you have somewhere to go otherwise you run the risk of having your front wheel taken out. Really – you’re responsible for your front wheel so make sure you have an escape route.

See bunch formation below
Riders should pair off in 2 by 2 formation. You should not sit directly on the wheel of the rider in front. Try to maintain about a 30cm – 60cm distance off the rear of and slightly off to the side of the rider in front.
The reason you offset slightly is to get better vision down the line, giving you more time to react to any problems.
So make sure you look up the road & not just at the wheel in front !