How To Ride In A Paceline | Through & Off Explained

The paceline, known to cyclists by many names, is key to riding fast and efficiently as a group. Hitting the front with speed and pulling off to slingshot another rider into the lead can help munch the miles when a group works well together. In this video we go through the key skills needed to make a paceline work perfectly!

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[gcn]

Have you ridden in a paceline before? What tips do you have? Let us know 👇

[Skepsis]

Going for a solo ride now to practice my pace line switches

[ginomaulucci]

The best pace lines I ever participated in had several key features that made them successful:
- Excellent communication front to back
- Ride captain: someone with leadership to keep the pack together and dictate tempo and speed
- Pre-ride discussion and planning
- Limit time weak riders have at the front or even if they ride the front
- Limit front time from 2 to 5 minutes

[kieranbarry]

tips:
- when your'e in second wheel, take a note of the speed so that you can match it when you get your turn on the front. Its much harder to judge just on feel than using actual numbers
- learn how to get out of the saddle (when necessary) when in a pace-line *without* moving backwards into the wheel behind you
- know how many riders are in the paceline and count them off as you come off the front so you know exactly where to pull in
- if you don't feel strong enough to take a full turn, don't just pull out when you're second wheel! Go on the front if only for a couple of seconds to avoid leaving a gap for the poor bugger behind you :)

[joev]

My old group ride had the most beautiful double paceline that averaged 27 mph. Picture about 30-40 riders rotating in harmony. This was near the end of the ride on a long, flat section of road. Truly one of the most magical part of the ride. As the "sprint" was coming up, the rotation stuttered, and the mind games began!

[chiefrocker]

Paceline rotation - work to your own pace when in front and leave enough in the reserve, so when rejoining you have enough to keep up and not get dropped.

[michaelo]

Thank you for this very good video.I have made the experience, that it is very important not to be surprised or even left behind when you get to the end of the line again and have to increase your speed to catch the "faster line" again. The effort required is at least as high as at the front when riding in the wind.

[hugobulleid]

Also, make sure to call out potholes at the front as people behind won't be able to see them
Especially when riding with bad road surfaces as even relatively small potholes can take out a rider

[michaelsingh]

Always Impressive seeing a paceline, less Impressive after I join it🚴‍♂️🚴‍♂️. 🚴

[bullwinkle]

Thanks for explaining the directional shift being wind-dependent. Just barely started getting into pacelines in group rides last year, and am hoping to get more comfortable with them!

[leventejuhasz]

So a paceline is more efficient than a single rider ...unless that single rider is Sy?

[haochen]

5:40 Conor has definitely taken some acting courses.

[britkid]

Liking the optical illusion room at your race track. If connor did Hanks superman he would be his own pace line!!!

[francisling]

Good stuff, you're turn dosent end until you've moved up the line, even at the back there's a lot of wind turbulence

[jonathanzappala]

I remember a video like this from years ago featuring a young Hank as an extra!

[tomcruz]

"Guys I'm suffering!"
Me, the moment I wake up

[jonathanfroggatt]

I hear Ollie was supposed to be in this video but he got dropped on the way 😂
❤️

[jameslee-pevenhull]

Gents at the front riding 'Bit and bit' in a chain-gang. Ladies can join in if they wish.
Ladies follow, then Juniors and lastly veterans.
My mom taught me how to 'Paceline'. Winnifred Hunt, Earlswood Road and Path 1947 - 1956, 16 - 25 yrs old.
Most riders had a Sturmey 3 speed. Mom had a S/S 60" Ladies stepthrough. 46 to 20 on 26 x 1 3/8".
Gent's 'Normal (Middle) 63-68" 18T sprocket. Ladies Normal 57 - 62" 20T sprocket. Petite Ladies and Juniors Normal 52 - 56" 22T sprocket.
Gent's Low 47 - 51". etc. etc.
Pace would be 13.5 - 14 mph for an overall average 13 mph. Stops after 25 miles would bring the total average down to 10 mph.

Hey Presto, the CTC "100 in 10" :-)

For my 12th birthday, I got a 5 speed youth's sports bike. 48T ring, 14 - 28 freewheel. Off we went with the club to Stratford upon Avon, 1 lady and 1 junior watching the gents at the front working a paceline.

[adamwise]

Seems like a missed opportunity to cut in a clip of Ollie getting dropped.

[v-lab]

Conor presents with one hand and rides with the other... I aspire to such skill