These are the cries of group cyclists, as they warn each other of hazards while hurtling down a country road in tight formation. This sort of cycling has an entirely different feel than the casual ride down a bike trail alone or with a friend or two.

Groups are not always exactly hurtling down the road, of course. A group ride often starts out slowly, allowing some friendly conversation. The pace will later quicken, at which point only the strong riders may be able to speak. Those struggling to stay in the draft, like me, ride quietly and later, desperately. But not alone, since groups will usually stop and wait for stragglers.

Well, some rides are strictly conversational, so no one suffers - I don't mean to scare anyone off. On the other hand, there are certain hazards to group riding. The most serious mistake is to overlap your front wheel with the back wheel of another rider. If the wheels touch, you will go down and probably a few behind you as well. At all times, ride smoothly and predictably.

Cyclists will often ride two-abreast when traffic is light or the road is narrow. This can make it easier for cars to pass since the line of cyclists will be shorter. A car should not pass on a narrow road anyway when the left lane is not clear. Riding two-abreast is legal but inappropriate on a wide, busy road where traffic can pass without using the left lane.

Group rides are usually sponsored by clubs or charities. The Queen City Wheels offer training rides that can become quite intense. The much larger Cincinnati Cycle Club sponsors many recreational rides every week, and several major rides during the year. These major rides usually offer a wide range of distances, from "fun ride" length to 100 miles. One of their most popular rides is coming up May 3, the Chili ride. Call (513) 791-7190 or find the link to their web site at the address given below.

Ohio is home to the most famous group ride in the country, the Tour of the Scioto River Valley. This two-day, 210 mile ride leaves Columbus May 9, spends the night in Portsmouth, returning the following day. Conditions were awful in 1994, 1995 and 1996 - my first three rides - and the attendance has dwindled to a mere 4000. Last year was wonderful - tail winds both days, no rain - so the trend should be up this year.

And here is the answer to a frequent question: those arrows and symbols you find painted on backroads are navigational aids for these major cycle rides.

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Curt Austin maintains the web pages for the Queen City Wheels at www.qcw.org and can be reached at curt@AustinImage.com.

© 1998, Curt Austin