If you're trying to stay together, the slower riders need to go at the front, following the leader. The guy/gal at the back usually has to work a damn-sight harder to keep up with the group, so should be a good, quick rider.

A large run I went on last year, we used the dropper system. This means that the bloke following the leader stops to mark the way and ends up at the tail of the pack where the sweeper picks him up again. Some blokes would then blast pass everyone in the pack to get back to the front once more and be dropper again.

See that was my logic and then because you are up at the front you get used as markers on roundabouts and then end up at the back of the pack having no way of catching everyone up!!

..... or in my case being forgotten about and having to be rescued when people realise i am missing at the next meeting place :oops:

The back isn't the place to be as you can lose people on the filtering/overtaking if its a little busy. The only time I ride at the back is if I have a new rider in front and I want to protect them (wing man!) from other traffic. But as Viney says, this isn't a race - never being on a ride out with you guys - what's the pace usually like - I would have thought not that fast if the groups fairly large (as in number, not full of large people!) with riders of mixed ability.

As has been mentioned, the people at the back always need to ride faster to offset the need for (generally) more overtakes, getting stuck at lights, roundabouts, etc.

I generally don't like riding in a group that's over five bikes. Big rideouts (with the exception of the well marshalled AR) are a bit of a turn off as there are too many chances of a mishap IMO.


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I think its a confidence thing, e.d. makes a joke about it but I think has a valid point. The guys I normally ride with have about 50 years biking experience between them. This makes me very concious of my inexperience if I am leading.

Although I don't enjoy going in front, (and would be much happier at the back) it is usefull as my mates will give me feedback on my riding and give me tips on where I can improve.

There is more truth to this statement. Not in the case of Anna, but ingeneral. people seem to find there own place in a ride, and thats where they uaualy stay. Its just that you seem to get epople fighting to be at the back, and it just makes me chuckle.

There always has to be a back marker, and this is to round up any lost people, and generaly should know the route etc, and is happy to take charge if needed, and Big Ape done a fantastic job of this on the AR, although even that went wrong(people got lost, but Viney sense got us there in the end)

Very true. If you are going for a spirited run then I try and stick with people I ride with regularly and no more than 5 - that's why I thought the pace here may be more sedate - I may be wrong though :twisted:

I only volunteered to stay at the back as I've had 10 months off the bike :oops: , and feel I need to be treated as a rookie - ie. given lots of room :lol:

I shall go at my own pace - if anyone wants to overtake, feel free
if anyone wants to follow, feel free :D

That sums me up atm :lol: , used to ride in the middle of the pack but since the accident i've never sorted myself out properly, hopefully confidence will come back this summer

Basically I don't want to mess up anyones else's ride, i'd rather ride my own ride and just keep up with the back marker.... Unless their worse then i'll move up :D

Tend to prefer smaller groups anyway, essex group rideouts are usually 3-9 people which is comfy, the kent rides I go on tend to be largeish groups, but I always have fun, my first ever rideout was with the selkenters