Observations on road riding - beware of the Peloton

[Jay LePree]

All:

I am not sure if I am just getting older, and perhaps more inclined to think about safety, but I have noticed this trend an wanted to compare notes.  Specifically, on weekend rides, I am much more fearful of the peloton than any cars.  Over the last two months, at least once a weekend I am passed, very closely, but a group of riders moving at high speeds, double and triple abreast with very little room for error between them and myself.  The majority of the time, no alert is given either.  Fortunately, I use a rearview mirror on my glasses, so I can see them coming, although at least twice I was surprised at how fast the group came upon me.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Jay LePree

Demarest, NJ

[John Dewey]

Hard not to notice.

And they're all dressed up like the peloton with those tall white socks, white shoes, lots of Rapha...as if we'd dress up in Yankees uniforms to have a game of catch at the local baseball field. 

On their disposable plastic bikes, of course. All but one of my bikes older than many of them are. Maybe a few will still be riding like us as the days fly by.

JD 

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[Jim M.]

Rudeness is not reserved to racer wannabes. Most of the fast groups I've experienced give a warning -- it's not just polite it's a matter of safe riding. I've also seen cotton-clad, steel bike-riding groups out for S24Os (Riv-inspired if not Riv-riding) give no warning as they pass hikers on the trails around Walnut Creek. 

Just ride, on steel, carbon, bamboo, or whatever, in cotton, lycra, or body paint. But be polite and don't think you have some moral high ground based on your choices.

jim m

walnut creek

[Mike Rossi]

I get passed closely by gaggles of roadies every Saturday morning. But, the homeless and teenagers around here who insist on riding on the wrong side of the road gets my goat worse. I can’t figure out if they’re going to go right or left of me. 

Mike

On Jul 13, 2025, at 1:29 PM, Jim M. <math...@gmail.com> wrote:

Rudeness is not reserved to racer wannabes. Most of the fast groups I've experienced give a warning -- it's not just polite it's a matter of safe riding. I've also seen cotton-clad, steel bike-riding groups out for S24Os (Riv-inspired if not Riv-riding) give no warning as they pass hikers on the trails around Walnut Creek. 

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[Patrick Moore]

Most roadies here in ABQ — and ABQ has long been at least a minor roadie haven — competently alert you to their approach; for that matter, most roadies here in ABQ are also quite polite and friendly — most of them wave to me, at any rate; those who can be confidently classified as *ssh*l*s have appeared to be youthful  inexperienced wannabees — or youthful idiots zooming past silently at 25 mph with no warning on electric one-wheels or mopeds.*

I too would rather be passed by a gaggle of experienced roadies than by random inexperienced youthful roadie wannabees.

* But! T’other week I was cranking dutifully Eastward up an incline on the Paseo del Norte path to turn right/South on the Rio Grande path, about 1/2 mile from the turn, when I heard the splutter and growl of a small 1-cylinder internal combustion engine vaguely behind me. I ignored it and kept riding, and the sound remained at a discreet distance behind me until I turned, at which point I turned and looked behind me again, and saw a young man on a small dirt bike, a bona fide motorcycle, no pretense at at being anything else, accelerating into the 20s to continue Eastward . I wholeheartedly disapprove of motorbikes on dedicated pedestrian/cycling paths, but I must say that I do approve his discretion and courtesy.

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Patrick Moore

Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum

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[Brady Smith]

I find most of my fellow Salt Lake roadies to be polite and communicative. I rarely see groups of more than a few outside of the occasional organized event. 

I rode the Triple Bypass yesterday in Colorado, though, and I sure am glad I got out early enough to avoid the masses. The descents are thrilling. The people in aero-tucks for whom 40 mph down twisty mountain passes is somehow not enough were not. Same for those who couldn't slow down enough to go around to the left and inside passed me inside, on the right, with maybe two feet between me and gravel shoulder. I didn't see any serious accidents, but there's certainly potential.

It was a lovely event, but I think I'll pass next time. 

Brady in SLC

[George Schick]

Don't know about pelotons per se, but about a month ago following a Spring of way too much yard work then followed by +90s temps, I decided to hit a local trail here in the Western Chicago suburbs on a nice Saturday morning.  I have avoided riding on those days and times for many years because I had always found them to be very busy.  After this latest experience I will be sure to avoid them altogether in the future - it was worse than I had ever experienced previously.  The trail was full of weekend warriors kitted in the latest cycle-hipster (I don't know what else to call them) garb passing around other riders, walkers, runners, etc. without warning, dodging in and out of groups when there was a slim margin between similar oncoming traffic; there were runners who were likely high school kids pre-Fall cross-country training in bunches spread everywhere, etc. - you name it, they were out there. I only did it because of the break in the weather, but in the future I'll stick to the week day mornings.

[Brady Smith]

Is cycle-hipster clothing like Ostroy gravel casual stuff? 

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[George Schick]

Brady - I hafta plead ignorance when it comes to cycling wear.  I guess the proper term would have been simply "kitted out", i.e., wearing close fitting jerseys advertising cycling gear or clubs, etc.  IOW, "racing" gear."

[Patrick Moore]

Add to the mix clueless family groups spread out across the trail yakking away and oblivious to all passers-by; sometimes with uninstructed and unparented tykes weaving all over the entire width of the bike path on their little bikes, tho’ I have a soft spot for little kids if not for clueless parents, and do slow down and pass them very carefully.

Recall a few years ago riding briskly on the proper right side of the acequia access road toward a group of walkers ambling toward me on my side of the road, strung out across the right of way and wholly oblivious to anything around them, including my rapid approach. A Spurcycle frantically and repeatedly rung made no impression, tho’ I did get one by — I have to admit, not with the greatest forbearance or charity — riding up closer than I should have and dramatically skidding my rear tire.

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[George Schick]

Patrick - you mean like this fellow's account?  https://www.bentrideronline.com/?p=4132#more-4132

[Patrick Moore]

I’ve not seen that link before. No, just drawing on my own experience with ABQ’s on the whole benign recreational trails. I do recall 2 young moms pushing singlewide strollers northward across the entire width of the bike path as I barreled southward, chatting away obliviously while I frantically rang my bell and yelled and, finally, slammed to a stop in front of them. I limited my expression of disapproval to a violent eyeroll.

Or the pretty young thing who wheeled her bike right in front of me as I pedaled briskly north, forcing me to slam to a stop. I put on my pre-pre-pared face of righteous indignation and asked her what the gosh-darned-heck she was thinking. She smiled sweetly (not kidding) and said something like, “I thought you were going to move to the other side.” I stood there until she asked, “What are you doing?” I said, “Waiting for you to clear the right of way.” At that, her sweet smile disappeared and she barked, “How stupid!” as she moved back to her own lane.

Really, though, I have to remind myself to be more patient and accommodating. Sure, people are often idiots, but I can say the same thing about myself. Live and let live.

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[Nick Payne]

On Monday, 14 July 2025 at 8:14:59 am UTC+10 George Schick wrote:

Brady - I hafta plead ignorance when it comes to cycling wear.  I guess the proper term would have been simply "kitted out", i.e., wearing close fitting jerseys advertising cycling gear or clubs, etc.  IOW, "racing" gear."

You mean like so?

 

[ascpgh]

JIm's words: "But be polite and don't think you have some moral high ground based on your choices." are poignant. 

The average ability of individuals to cipher a standard of politeness in an ad hoc public situation fell precipitously during the pandemic. Those with less experience or learned ability demonstrate outlier behavior and elevate risks in shared space and they are over represented in some generalized ways mentioned here. 

I've called it a bilateral thumb disease:

 

"It's all about me"

They existed before the pandemic and away from bicycles or MUPs. As I stood by my friend's widow in the receiving line of his funeral ten years ago I was made stunningly aware of this personality defect by the number of folks who said to her essentially "you can't imagine how this makes me feel". 

The pandemic refined the public sentiment of "me" with unintentional things trying to retain normalcy like seeing the doctor without going to offices filled with "them" or getting groceries without being amongst "them". These patronages to "me" have bled into many public activities in a negative way, by individuals and groups. Bicycling groups included. 

Outward projections by any individuals or groups can be offensive, requiring discipline to resist response before your initial thoughts, words or actions get a warm up lap through your frontal lodes inhibiting adrenaline-fueled brainstem impulses. grant mentioned this decades ago (in an ugly day-glo era) in a Bridgestone catalog article regarding your clothing choices when biking in the woods, being considerate of others instead of shouty and loud before even interacting.

Andy Cheatham

Pittsburgh

[Mark V]

When I pass others, it's a great mystery if they will ride in a straight line when I call "on your left", or if they will look over their should at me and steer right in front of me. 

If I'm with a group, I won't be the one to find out which way the slower rider will go!

cheers. 

[George Schick]

Agreed. And nowadays it seems like at least half the walkers/runners/cyclists have earbuds connected either directly or via Bluetooth some device.  There's no guarantee that can hear any kind of warning from a passing cyclist.

[Jay LePree]

All:

Thanks for the replies.  I will use my rearview mirror, or try to get out earlier, or just give up weekend riding.  I just have these images of a Tour de France pileup.  Not my cup of tea.

Best,

Jay

Demarest, NJ