new2biking

i see that there are "unwritten rules"

someone else mentioned OCP rules...what the hell is this stuff. what are some of the inside things one should know so that they don' to go out and look like a joke.

btw...whats with the guy's legs...are they shaving them? cause it looked like every guy in all the bike shops has shaved legs...comonnnn

Pharmr

dude..just go out and ride...do whatever makes you comfortable....now when you ride in groups, there is a bit of etiquette that needs to be adhered to....but even then it's no a lot.

Sirrobinofcoxly

who cares? This is intended to be a community of people who love cycling. If you fit this description, then you will fit in fine.

new2biking

i was goin to ask that...are there rules or things to follow when in a group?

pungee

Do not wear underwear beneath your bibs.

Pharmr

some groups have more rules than others....if you ride with me and my friends the only rule is don't crash in front of me and take a pull every once in awhile if you can.

new2biking

whats that mean pharmr? take a pull?

Pharmr

go to the front of the pack and let the others draft off of you...after a bit, you drop back and let some one else have a turn....repeat as necessary.

KevinF

If you're riding in a group, then the person in the front is doing the vast majority of the "wind resistance" work, and everybody behind him (her) is riding in somebody's draft (i.e., calm air). It's considered "rude" to just sit behind somebody for mile after mile after mile as the person in front is doing substantially more work then the people behind. In a big group, the "draft affect" is very substantial.

At any rate, there are about a million threads on this forum concerning group ride etiquette. All group dynamics are different, but there are some general "rules" that make the experience safe for you and everybody around you. Search around and you'll find more then you could ever want to know.

new2biking

ok. thanks. but...
whats the deal with the legs?

dcvelo

They're shaving them...that's the deal with the legs.

chipcom 

If the rules are unwritten, how can you see them?

Didn't we just do this thread?

CrimsonKarter21

I wished to God that I would have shaved my arms too when I crashed last week. The last thing I wanted to do at 6:00am was to give my arms a waxxing via band-aid.

merlin55

many clubs have training rides for new riders to teach how to ride in a group, how to corner, the secret handshakes, and all the other stuff....like why you shave down your thigh..not up.

Find a club, and ignore all the snooty posers on $$$$ 14 pound race bikes who haven't and will never race, and learn from the people that love riding, not comparing the weight of the latest carbon fiber do-dad

I've ridden road racing bikes for over 30 years, raced for the first 15 years, and still enjoy the heck out of it. I hope that I will be able to ride another 30 years or so

chipcom 

Sucks that you crashed little bro...but I have to look at the bright side - I wasn't there, so it weren't my fault.

new2biking

why... may i ask?

jasandalb

I am relatively new to cycling as well.....I dont know, nor have I seen these unwritten rules. I know my place as a newbie and after doing some research just got on my bike and rode. If you take the same routes your bound to cross paths with the same people riding, and build some bonds...yes, definitely pull...even it is for 1 minute or 2 they'll know your trying. Most of the people in here are tremendous with giving advice, etc...use them. Try to find a club/local ride group that's around your average mph and you'll be fine.

And.....my legs arent shaved.

CrimsonKarter21

Me? The full story of the crash is in my blog, along with pictures of the gruesome scene.

new2biking

no, i mean why is it that they are shaving the legs?
is it really that much of an advantage?

DataJunkie

Santa makes me do it.
He says they look better.
However, half my left leg is sunburned so no shaving for a few days.

CrimsonKarter21

It's becasue road rash on unshaven legs hurts worse because you have to put band-aids on the wounds and rip off hair. That's my reason.

umd

The advantage is that it is less painful when you crash. Or rather, less painful dealing with it after you crash. hair in wounds and bandages is no fun. It is a misconception that it has anything to do with performance. You may also find that once you develop nice leg muscles, they look better without hair to cover them up.

umd

Yes, my favorite was _________________________________.

MrCrassic 

Some "rules" I've learned while playing this game (I say that sarcastically):

* You don't have to shave your legs. People do that to reduce the effects of road rash for crashes and to get more "aero" (but not by any significant amount). I have been cycling for a year now and I have yet to shave them (and probably never will; this hair took a while to get here, and it's here to stay!)

* Understand hand signals. We use them a lot, for the safety of those behind us. You'll probably get use to these over time.

* In a paceline, don't suck all of the draft and not contribute. Offer to pull (be up front and suffer) for a little while, that way everyone has a fair amount of work.

* Have fun!! This is not a culture of rules; just be safe with others and yourself, and have fun! You'll learn any "unwritten rules" along the way, and if you have any questions about stuff, you can always just post here and people will help you.

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umd

Do you really honestly think that people are shaving because they think its more aero? Have you crashed and had significant road rash on your legs?