The Peloton Society by David Desjardins

Each group of cyclists is a kind of microsociety.

There are wise people, hotheads, followers, leaders, experienced travelers, and newbies. Young and old who love the road, with or without tubes.

Riding in a gang is a bit like going back to the basics of social experience. There are customs, expected behaviors, and others that are punishable by life imprisonment + 100 years. It's a new kind of coexistence that you learn there.

At Velo Cartel, by riding almost every day, we have, as they say, developed expertise in this area.

So much so that our very own Phil is on his way to becoming a sort of groupride guru.

(If you want to know what I'm talking about, you can listen to his wise teachings in the podcast Sur deux roues.) 

I listened to what he was saying and realized how much I had learned during my first rides . I got yelled at, and sometimes, more constructively, I was told how to behave to avoid accidents and promote group cohesion.

I learned to be stronger as part of a group, to outsmart the wind, to conserve my energy, and to spot and report danger. I became a functional and useful member of the group.

Fun insurance

Cycling is a sport of codes and know-how.

As in any other human context, there are show-offs, whiners, bon vivants, gigglers, scatterbrains, lost souls, clever ones, respectful ones, and angry ones.

Listening to Phil reminded me of the importance Ride as a kind of school, ensuring that everyone follows the same basic rules designed to guarantee everyone's enjoyment and safety.

No matter who you are, the fact that you are riding just inches away from someone who may not have your reflexes, experience, or composure requires you to exercise a minimum of kindness. It starts with being as predictable as possible.

Good chefs

In groups, there are usually natural leaders. Some are loud and boisterous. Others, whom we prefer, impose a relaxed leadership style on inexperienced or distracted groups.

They kindly suggest riding in single file in dangerous areas, patiently explain how to behave in a Ride competitive Ride (such as when you can't keep up with the leader), and finally explain why doing a half-wheel is bad (or, in the same vein, why it's not a good idea to floor the accelerator as soon as you take over at the front). 

Note that there will always be people who ignore the etiquette of the peloton, regardless of their experience.

There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a cyclist seeking validation get dropped by the group, left to ride alone at the front, chasing their ego. It works, and the only consequence is wounded pride. However, if the safety of others is at stake, let them know. Politely. Firmly. Not like a police officer. Like concerned citizens who know that riding safely means protecting others, and yourself.

That's another thing you learn in peloton society: to take on the role of leader when the situation demands it. Just like in the rest of life, really.