Peloton

I think it’s French for “platoon” or something like that.  If you’ve ever watched any of the Tour de France on television, you know that it’s the cycling word for the main pack in a group of bike riders. 

Typically, in any group of 4 or 5 road riders everybody always know what to do without a word needing to be spoken:  get in a single-file line and take turns at the front.  Likewise, in any group of 10 or 15 cyclists they’ll also know what to do: get in a single-file line unless you’re out in the middle of nowhere and the traffic allows; then get in 2 lines side-by-side.  But in a group of 50 or more, all bets are off.  A group that big will officially be considered a peloton, and there is a constant movement, shifting, positioning, and re-positioning.  Professional riders are at home in a peloton.  They’ll eat, drink, pass water bottles to teammates, get supplies from team cars, change their clothes, plan their next vacation, and write letters to home while riding in a peloton.  But recreational riders…not so much.  Most recreational riders aren’t used to riding in groups that big, and with all the inevitable jostling going on it can easily become a white-knuckle, full concentration, don’t-look-to-the-side experience.  But you know what else?  It’s a blast!!

Here’s the thing:  if you can ride at about 15 mph by yourself, you’ll be able to pretty easily do 17 mph in a line of 4 or 5 riders, 18-20 mph in a bigger group, and you’ll be able to cruise right along at 22 or 23 mph in a peloton without even realizing it.  In a big group, you just kind of get sucked along –there’s not only no wind against you, but you get some kind of vacuum created in front of you that just pulls you right into it.  That’s why it’s so hard to “attack the peloton” as the Tour announcers say.  To attack the peloton is to break out from the easy pedaling of that pack and take off by yourself or in a small group, which is basic insanity unless you’re in supreme physical condition. 

Recreational rides, or club rides typically don’t consist of enough people to be considered a true peloton, but we have fun anyway.  There’s usually a place on any ride that is a well-known sprinting area.  One of the keys is to know when to break out and make your attack.  If you go too soon, you burn out and end up getting caught by the main group that you just broke out of (aka “the pack reels you back in”).  If you go too late, somebody else might have a stronger sprint.  And the other key, of course, is knowing who to go out behind.  If you go out behind a much stronger rider, they’ll ride away from you and you’ll be left out there by yourself.  If you go out behind a weaker rider, you’ll end up pulling them…which is just the same as being out there by yourself.  But the great thing about recreational rides is that sooner or later everybody gets back to the parking lot together and you get to talk about how strong (or not) you felt.  Yes, bike club rides are great!  And if you ever get a chance to participate in a very large group event, I highly recommend it.  Don't be scared by the huge group of spokes and elbows--just go with it and have fun!