Group ride signals

[ManBearPig]

Ciao.
What hand signals do you use during group rides?
I have noticed that road cyclists use slightly different signals for potholes and other hazards on the road. Then one time I did not understand that it was my turn to go in front and pull our group.

[Sagan97]

Hey man.
I've copied images from this article. However, there's discussion about "stop" signal being confused for the "right turn".

I don't do many group rides these days, but when I do ... When I do, my most used signal is "pothole" - I do the circle motion with my index finger as well. "Debris" is mostly for glass or sharp rocks, but I add my voice to this with: "Glaaaaaas!" "Roooooocks!" "Hoooooooole!"

"Pull through" is definitely a confusing one too, I can only agree. Overall, I prefer shouting these out loud.

[Jesper]

(08-24-2020, 08:48 AM)Sagan97 Wrote:  Hey man.
I've copied images from this article. However, there's discussion about "stop" signal being confused for the "right turn".

I don't do many group rides these days, but when I do ... When I do, my most used signal is "pothole" - I do the circle motion with my index finger as well. "Debris" is mostly for glass or sharp rocks, but I add my voice to this with: "Glaaaaaas!" "Roooooocks!" "Hoooooooole!"

"Pull through" is definitely a confusing one too, I can only agree. Overall, I prefer shouting these out loud.

Warning! Don't follow me! I guess I have been using the wrong signals for a awhile, but I'm either way in front other riders (casual rides) or way behind (competitive rides) so it doesn't affect others too much. My turn signals are different and stop also, always went left hand up with open palm for right, and left hand down with open palm for stop. I do shout out the hazards and direct which side they are on.

[Zviedrs]

(08-25-2020, 03:42 AM)Jesper Wrote:  Warning! Don't follow me! I guess I have been using the wrong signals for a awhile, but I'm either way in front other riders (casual rides) or way behind (competitive rides) so it doesn't affect others too much. My turn signals are different and stop also, always went left hand up with open palm for right, and left hand down with open palm for stop. I do shout out the hazards and direct which side they are on.

You are not wrong, Jesper. I use the same STOP signal, namely, left hand down means stop. However, for left & right turns I always use straight hand - straight left hand out for left turn and straight right hand out for right turn. Here's a quality illustration for your case:

   

[KSB]

I use a similar (but more limited) set as Sagan97. I don't distinguish between "debris", "pothole", "train tracks" and "rumble strips"; I use the same handsignal for all and which I learned from RAGBRAI which is a downward extended hand with all fingers extended and shaking the hand back and forth and yell out what the condition is. The admonition is: "what out where on the side my hand is". Regardless of what the issue is, my signal is advising someone behind me to slow, pay attention to that side of the road and avoid the hazard. I normally do this ONLY when I am riding in a group. If I'm riding alone, I only signal my turns. If I'm stopping and I'm in a group, I yell "slowing" or "stopping" as appropriate.

I do use a pointed finger and a sweeping motion if I'm trying to signal to drivers that I am moving to the center of a lane (taking the lane) such as when I approach a traffic circle where, for safety, I take the lane.