Originally Posted by
Andrey
Agree 100%. But most pace-lines are armature riders that just ride in groups. Pulling in front and trying harder is very common, very few people softpedal when they get upfront. Takes lots of practice and experience to ride a steady pace-line. Even with experience rides somebody will try to pull longer or harder that needed .
I learned to ride pace lines at the velodrome. The pace would start out slow and each lap the pace would go up 2 miles an hour, usually half lap pulls (400 meter track). The idea was to keep the same distance and smooth transitions at the higher speeds that the line had at the slower tempos. When the pace was too fast, you pulled off at the front and let the line keep going. It seems to me the same idea would be effective for teaching pacelines on the road. Work it on a rest day when everybody needs to go easy anyway. Work out the issues at a low speed and then increase the pace. During a big ride is not a good to learn how to ride in space line.