All Abt Pacelines - Adirondack Cycling Club

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Designated Paceline Rides

Designated paceline rides are rides in which the participants are committed to riding in rotating paceline formation. The intention is to create rides that are more inclusive, and cohesive, that allow riders of differing ability in speed to ride together.

A rotating paceline is a way that all the riders get to participate in setting the pace, therefore creating a group that stays together riding at a pace that is within the comfort zone of everyone included. A traditional ride tends to give the responsibility of maintaining a reasonable pace to the faster riders whether the group rides in a paceline or not. Rotating is the key, faster riders will always have a tendency to speed up when they are on the front of the line, but in a rotating paceline the slower riders get equal time at the front to slow the pace down. If a rider is worried about being able to maintain the pace when it is their turn to pull at the front, then the pace is too fast for them, and it is up to that rider to slow it down. Otherwise the goal changes to, how fast can it go without dropping riders instead of how fast can we go and still stay within everybody's comfort zone.

Paceline Guide-lines:

Ride leaders must clearly state in the ride description and schedule that they intend a ride to be a paceline ride, and state it again at the beginning of the ride.
Paceline rides are open to everyone, with the understanding that they will be expected to ride in a rotating paceline.
Paceline riders will generally stay in formation taking turns at the front of the line maintaining a speed and intensity that will allow all of the participants to ride at the front comfortably and not break up the line. Time spent at the front of the line will vary, but will be kept short enough that the line rotates through all of the riders every ten to fifteen minutes or less.
Riders will generally drop off the front of the line to the left (being careful of passing traffic) and drop completely to the back of the line, so that no one is left out of the rotation.
Riders will be expected to communicate hazards, including but not limited to, holes, cracks, obstacles in the road, reduced shoulder space, and other vehicles, or pedestrians.
Actions in the line should also be communicated, such as slowing, stopping, right and left turns, or dropped rider etc.
All traffic laws will be observed. Rolling through a stop sign when an intersection has been verified as clear and safe may be acceptable, but traffic lights should be respected, with the understanding that automatic traffic lights will not be tripped by a bike. Riders should never ride against the flow of traffic, and should take control of a lane when necessary for the safety of the group.
If the line speed accelerates to a pace that is uncomfortable for you, it is your responsibility to communicate this to the other riders and/or slow the pace when it is your turn at the front. It is in every ones interest to ride as a group.
The Paceline will naturally break up on climbs and fast descents and regroup at the next safe and reasonable stopping point.