Pack Riding Tips
Pack Riding - Some handy hints:
With the suggested rider numbers we have at present we will be looking at forming 6 packs of riders.
Each pack will have an escort vehicle in front and behind with appropriate flashing lights, UHF communication, signage etc.
No other support vehicles will be allowed/able to travel directly with the packs of riders – this enables a faster, safer, smoother flow of general traffic around each pack.
Support vehicles in many cases will be urged to go ahead as much as possible so as to minimize the amount of traffic passing the packs of riders.
A sweep vehicle – ‘Tail End Charlie’ – assists in picking up bikes if need arises – in addition escort vehicles and buses pick up riders who have bike problems or need a break.
Unsupported riders will be able to have their lunches carried in an esky to the lunch breaks – essential items contained in small bags may also be carried by the escort vehicles – however this does not mean back packs or large items of baggage which can be carried by the buses and luggage truck. Please check with your escort driver before stowing your gear in his/her vehicle.
Packs will be no larger than approximately 30 – 35 riders
As a rider – if the pack is too slow for you then move up a pack – if you are continually slower than the pack you are riding in, move back a pack. The key is to find the pace you can be comfortable at as the enthusiasm of Day 1 may not see you all the way through to Day 7 if you don’t! Many people ride with one pack in the morning and change down a pack in the afternoons.
The pack operates on a rotational
basis – riders at the front of a well organized pack will move
around every 30 seconds to 1 minute – the pack is two abreast
therefore riders on the inside move up whilst riders on the outside
appear to fall back - so a clockwise motion propels the pack along.
There will be times, particularly in Days 1 and 2, when the pack draws
apart – mainly to do with climbing hills.
Packs will reform regularly and there will be considerable instruction given on how to make the most of hills in pack riding – basically the front riders must attack the downward side so the pack gains momentum behind them – the momentum then assists in dragging the pack up the next hill. This can cause some ‘rubber-band’ type situations – however, once mastered, the pack will pull you up hills you never thought could be so easy. Just to prove this point – pack 5 has even passed pack 3 before 12GHJŻugh excellent pack riding and team work – even though their individual riding fitness was not up to the ‘suggested’ pack 3 level. I do impress again the whole event is a ride not a race – however pack 5 were certainly enjoying themselves that day.
Pack riding is very social – you will meet anyone and everyone riding in your pack, strike up conversation and this improves your overall enjoyment of the event. It is handy to have your name tagged on the back of your helmet or shirt so people riding behind can recall/remember your name.
A very important aspect of pack riding is communication – when in the middle or to the back of the pack your vision of road obstacles and conditions is limited therefore the pack needs to build trust in their communication. Once this happens then everyone will call out/point to rocks, potholes, road kill and other obstacles – ensuring all riders are aware of risks and hazards coming up. On some sections of the ride the road litter (rocks etc) is quite heavy and whilst it may seem you are continually calling out ‘rock’ – it saves many people from a nasty fall and one of them could be you!
BRAKING – this would have to be the hardest part of pack riding to learn and yet it is the most important of all in relation to pack riding safety and cohesion – a pack working well should never need to brake unless coming to a stop or hazard. I’m sure however considerable braking will happen -particularly in Day 1 and 2 as people are just trying to get used to pack riding – braking has an immediate flow-on effect to the people behind and by the time the ripple effect reaches the back riders – those in front have started moving again – so this takes time at the back and then the back riders have to push hard to catch up – the rubber band effect well and truly in operation.
A far more serious consequence of braking is crashing; anyone braking must call out loudly “BRAKING" or "SLOWING” so all riders to the side and behind of that rider knows they are going to slow down and possibly stop – and this means calling out you actually do it – not when you have already braked. If you are coming to a stop then call out well in advance “STOPPING”. Accidents from braking are avoidable.
You will hear lots more about pack riding, communication and the safety aspects of the ride – which we hope you will take on board so everyone can enjoy what is truly a great week of riding, scenery, friendship and fun – all raising funds to help kids in the bush.
Looking forward to June 29th – how about you?
The objective of the bike ride is FUN! 780 kilometres is a loooong
way to ride alone, however, as a pack/peleton/group/team, each day becomes
deceivingly easy. In fact, even the weakest rider will be startled by
their achievements!!
How it works…Clockwork
The ride is divided into packs (5 at least) of 20-35 riders. Obviously,
you need to ride with cyclists of similar ability, as no one likes to
get left behind. Packs function quite simply: Communication, Cooperation,
Perspiration.
The packs are two abreast at all times (except when a car is passing beyond
Mt Garnet, we tend to merge to single file if required). The pack is
constantly rotating, meaning that the riders on the left hand side are
moving up, and the riders on the right hand side are sliding back –
the pack operates like a clock. This way, everyone gets a brief turn at the front, before rotating clockwise. Stay one metre behind the wheel
of the rider in front of you, until it's your turn at the front. Makes
riding far more efficient and SOCIAL!
Do’s of a ‘fabulous’ pack rider
Communicate by passing messages along
Smile and offer compliments
Ride 1 metre behind the front rider so as not to touch/overlap wheels
Point at obstacles and call what it is, ie. “ROCK!!!” or “POTHOLE”
Make new friends
Wait at the top of hills for slower riders so pack can reform prior to
proceeding
Secret tricks to make your day more enjoyable!
• Drink plenty (H2o)
• Eat an adequate breakfast
• Stretch while waiting to depart
• Pack up bedding before brekky, and put your gear away
• Wear nicks (padded cycling pants)
with NO UNDERPANTS (jocks cause major chaff)
• Bepanthan cream (from supermarket) is an old cyclist/triathlete’s
best friend for prevention and cure of cycling pain (sore bums!!)
• Slap on plenty of sunscreen to back of neck and right leg/arm
• Having your name on your back/helmet/bike is a handy way for people
to get to know your name
Things a fast bike requires
• A service from a qualified mechanic (from $30 at Pump N Pedals)
• Fitting ‘slick’ tyres – Less tread = less resistance
• Pump tyres each morning to maximum pressure (more air
= more speed)
• Bring along a good can of chain lube – TF2/White Lightning
are purpose-built for bikes…WD40, CRC etc aren’t good for your bike
• A comfy man/woman’s saddle
So, which pack is for me?
As previously discussed, there are usually 5/6 packs of riders. Your ability
/strength/ experience and riding goals can greatly affect which pack you
choose to ride in. Remember, no one likes to wait, or be waited for, so
be thoughtful of others when making this choice!
Expected average speeds –
Pack 1 – 35-40km/h
Pack 2 – 30-35km/h
Pack 3 – 28-32km/h
Pack 4 – 24-28km/h
Pack 5 – 20-24km/h
Use this as a rough guide. Remember, this pace is an average over 150+
km, so the actual travelling speed may be 5-10km/h faster or slower at
any given time.
NB A rider can opt to move to a faster/slower pack at any point in the ride. Simply make the move at a drink stop, or prior to departing a town or lunch stop.
Escort Drivers (rider’s best friend)
The escort drivers are wonderful, selfless people who give up their week to C–R–A–W–L behind/in front of the same backsides for 8 hours a day, at 25 km/h…truly worthy of our thanks! Please follow their directions at all times, and at the end of the day, say thanks!
Your safety is important to us.
The three basic signals the drivers will use are:
1. Beep Beep between Cairns to Mt Garnet (2 short blasts of the horn)
- this means that all riders are required to move over to make way for
the vehicles to pass (handlebar to hip)
2. Beep Beep from Mt Garnet on…(2 short blasts of the horn) - entire pack to go into single file until vehicle/s have
passed
3. Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeep (one long blast of 5 seconds) - this means that we
are being passed by a large truck from front or behind. The entire pack
must get off the road entirely. Once the truck has passed, roll onto the
road and reform pack - some of the road is quite narrow and used by roadtrains and BFTs