CycleDate 201807.1

Taking a sip in-line ...

More on pace line etiquette
When partaking of your water bottle, please keep in mind the following:

• if you're not the last one on the pace line, keep your actions very smooth as to not alarm the remaining cyclists.
• Where to look?
  • Ahead as you were before starting to grab your bottle.
  • Don't look at the bottle, the cage, anything else other than ahead.
  • If you can't look ahead and deal with your bottle, then don't attempt to until you're the last one on the pace line.
• Those behind you worry that
  • you'll drop your bottle.
  • you'll swerve around trying to get the top open.
  • you'll swerve around trying to get the bottle back in the cage.
  • they'll get splashed.
  • you'll slow down causing the dreaded slinky effect on the pace line.
• Which hand?
  • Right hand -- to keep your left hand on the hoods for slowing if needed.
  • Hold the bottle out slightly to the right of your body so those behind you know what you're about to do.  This provides a bit of extra caution on their part (e.g. they may back off a foot or so from your rear wheel).
  • Hold the bottle out slightly to the right of your body when you're ready to return it to the cage -- same reasoning as above.  Everyone nearby should be vigilant about your actions.
  • Don't let go of the bottle when putting it back into the cage until you KNOW the bottle is back in the cage.  This takes a little practice.  Practice on your solo training rides, not during pace line cycling!
  • Left hand --- caress the handle bars at the hoods (fingers readily available for braking) lightly, not tightly.  Rigidly holding the hoods can cause an accident if you hit a rock or other obstacle.  Usually when above 16 mph and you hit something the front wheel will auto-correct its alignment (i.e. keep going the way it was going).  It is more difficult for the wheel to auto-correct if you're rigidly holding the hoods.