Cycling Discipline

Photo: Group ride on the Natchez Trace

A few folks from the STtrainer group went for a training ride on Sunday. I was so proud of them for the discipline and organization they displayed. You see, triathletes are somewhat notorious for having poor bike-handling skills. Many never do use correct etiquette and group ride skills, using the excuse that drafting isn't allowed in a triathlon.

Some bad cycling habits displayed by triathletes:

Poor handling skills
Riders strung out hundreds of yards, or even miles apart.
Inability to communicate with other riders
Thinking only about "my pace"
Uneven pacing, and riding too hard at the beginning of a ride
Riding in too high of a HR zone for the purpose of a training ride
Drafting in aerobars


You may not think that triathletes need to learn how to correctly ride with other riders. This is similar to saying that triathletes don't need to learn how to do flip turns while swimming. If you are happy being relegated to always being an inferior cyclist, or swimmer, then by all means go right ahead.

Photo: Getting in the groove.

Drafting is a fundamental of the sport of cycling whether you are triathlete, roadie, or fitness rider. Also it is very fun and effective once you get good at it.

Benefits of a paceline:

Riders of different ability levels can stay together
Discipline and focus required to ride in a pace line will carry over to non-drafting
Push your pace to keep up, keeps you motivated
Improved handling skills
Coordination with other riders--in the zone
Cover much more distance during the same amout of time riding




So the point of this article is, Don't just go ride by yourself , gain the benefits of riding with a group using good group paceline strategy. Train with the STtrainer program, and we will help you get good at it.