I think there is a group that are mistaken about exactly what this entails. I also wonder why it is so very difficult.
First – definitions.
Half Wheeling is NOT when you cross a wheel. That is called – Crossing Wheels. It is dangerous and ill-advised in all cases especially in a peloton. Half wheeling is when you ride next to another – alone or in a double paceline – and one person is consistently getting a half wheel up on the other, the premise being to push the pace, wanting to go just a bit faster than the person next to them. Every time the slower one increases to match the faster one, the faster one again increases pace to keep a ‘half wheel’ ahead of the other.
It is a source of frustration among cyclists all over.
I get it, someone is trying to push the pace higher than you want. How do you solve that? There are verbal skills. You could say to them, slow a bit, pull back a bit, ease off or you could simply Dog Cuss them. I have witnessed all.
There are physical skills, you could simply hold your pace and let them ride away. Or maybe they would stay that ‘half wheel’ ahead of you. That is manageable. You do not have to take the bait. I understand the problem with people being frustrated by someone pushing the pace above the ‘group pace’. But it is manageable.
The actual problem is pride. No one wants to ‘let on’ that the pace is too high. No one wants to say the words, ‘let’s back off a bit.’ No one wants to admit the pace is beyond their capability. So, everyone is silent and increases the pace. Until…the group is fragmented and strewn across the miles and hills alone or in pairs.
Then the griping begins. Then and only then does it appear OK to admit that the pace was too high. Some admit if for themselves and some are holding fast to pride and say it was too fast ‘for the group’ and that they dropped off ‘for the group.’
Alas – humans.
How do you handle it? Using your words? Using your actions? Something else?
This is a “complicated” topic and one that seems to get some people really worked up. To me, half-wheeling is all a matter of expectations. If the group has established an expectation that “we ride together” that’s fine, but someone still has to set the pace. Who decides what that pace is? How do you decide if someone is too-fast or too-slow? I’ve never been able to figure that out unless there is one clear “leader” who sets and maintains the group dynamic. I ride with a group leader who is really good at doing this. He also helps riders who want faster segments get their opportunities. It works really well. I’ve also been in groups where there is no clear leadership and the group just seems to get slower and slower and randomly people start to ride off the front and it’s frustrating because no one feels empowered to establish a standard.
I’ve been half-wheeled and I’ve been the half-wheeler. If I’m getting half-wheeled and I don’t like it, I just take half-a-pull and drop back into the draft (weather in a group or with just one other person), or I ride my pace and if my half of the double paceline falls behind and people will move to the other line or someone will go to the front to re-establish things. I’ve gotten dropped from the group and I’ve ridden away from the group. I plan to be able to ride solo on every ride no matter if I’m part of a group or not so that I’m not going to be stranded if I get dropped.
I’m curious to hear other comments on this topic. But, my suspicion is that this will remain as a perpetually unresolved point of frustration and conflict.
I agree – the topic can raise some serious blood pressure with some individuals. I also agree that there should be a leader of the group or at least the group should have an understanding about the type of ride that it is. On many rides we start together and then will break up into different groups on the ride. In the past we had a group leader that orchestrated that so well, that we would break into 3 groups doing different routes but would all end up meeting back up for the last few miles. Pretty amazing organization to make that happen. Good job Dave.