"Speed-dating" employed with success on Sunday ride!

[Claire]

On today's Sunday club ride, we adopted the "speed-dating" group circulation technique. After a short explanation at the Mattick's Farm parking lot - and with some OBB ride veterans in the group giving direction along the way - our one group speed-dated from Mattick's to the Red Barn (on W. Saanich) with good success.

The main advantage of this format is it keeps the group to two-abreast (never four) and so is much safer.

To recap, the main components are:

1. Two lines of cyclists at all times.
2. After the two front riders have done about 1-2 minutes at the front, the front-left rider accelerates gently and gets positioned in front of the front-right rider.
3. The left side line advances until the fronts of both lines are even again.
4. The group stays in this position for 1-2 minutes and then repeats the advance-and-shift move.

The other significant benefit is that it's even more social than our traditional format. You chat with the one you're beside for those 1-2 minutes, then shift and get a new ear to jabber into for a few minutes before again moving on.

I "speed-dating."

p.s. In case you missed the previous (convoluted and sometimes off-topic) discussion on this, here it is.

[myboys]

“Speed dating” is, by far, a much safer way to ride. Glad to hear it was a success Sunday Claire. And it waaaay more social because you get to chat with more people during rides (although I’m typically gasping for breath).

Mary