Cracking the Code: Tips for Honing Pacelining Skills

Being able to hold your own in a fast-moving paceline is a major milestone for any cyclist. There is no feeling quite like devouring an extended stretch of road at speeds well beyond what you could hold on your own, working in unison and utterly in the moment. Pacelining isn't just for competition and fast group rides. Sharing the load is the fastest way to cover extended distances for any size group, which makes pacelining a key skill in any kind of group riding situation.

Pacelining isn't just for competition, it's the fastest way to cover ground for any group of cyclists. (Photo: Empire State Ride; Credit: empirestateride.com )

To a newer rider, pacelining can feel like a dance everyone else seems to know but you have to learn on the fly while trying desperately not to get dropped. Sound familiar? Every cyclist has been there. Over the years, I've made every pacelining mistake possible: staying on the front too long and blowing up; fixating on the wheel in front of me and upsetting group momentum; touching wheels with the rider in front of me while deep in the hurt locker... the list goes on. The good news is that pacelining is a skill that can be practiced and improved.

Like most cycling skills, there are no shortcuts to pacelining well. For me, it took skills clinics, practicing by myself and with other riders, several seasons of riding, and lots of post-ride feedback from more experienced riders before I felt reasonably comfortable. Results will vary, but here are some of the best tips I can offer to help you on your pacelining journey.

Before Attempting Your First Paceline

Know the playbook. Before diving into pacelining, make sure you understand the fundamentals of drafting. Pacelining will make much more sense when you know the ins and outs of drafting. Once you have a firm grasp on drafting, spend time familiarizing yourself with each type of paceline. Some key focal points include when each type of paceline is typically used and how transitions occur when riders rotate from the front to the back of the line. Check out the table below for some good context.

Type	When	How	Key Differences
	Used on narrow roads and in smaller groups; moderate to high pace depending on group goals.	Riders follow in a straight line. Front rider pulls for an extended interval, then drops to the back and rejoins.	Simplest format, beginner-friendly, less efficient than rotating types.
	Used on club rides and in arger groups, and in variable or windy conditions; slow to moderate pace.	Two side-by-side lines. Front riders pull for an extended interval, peel off to the outside, and rotate to the back.	Slower than rotating paceline, but promotes visibility and conversation.
	Used in faster group rides, team training rides, and in racing scenarios; moderate to high pace.	Two lines: faster line pulls, slower line rotates back. Rotation at the front is continuous, with riders peeling off the instant the hit the wind.	Very efficient at sharing the load at high speeds; often seen in breakaway groups in races; requires excellent coordination.
	Used in group rides, training rides, and racing scenarios in crosswinds .	Riders stagger diagonally to shelter from wind, and execute a continuous paceline. The whole group shifts direction with the wind.	Advanced skill due to overlapping of wheels; takes up more road space.

Know the playbook. YouTube has some great videos to help familiarize you with pacelines, but remember, there is no replacement for practicing pacelining on the bike. The good news is, many of the skills needed for pacelining can be practiced alone or with a single riding partner. Make sure you are comfortable with holding a steady pace for an extended stretch of road by yourself, drafting another rider at speed, and taking alternating pulls with another rider at speed. Any discomfort with these fundamental skills will be exposed when riding in a group, and they can become obstacles to cracking the pacelining code.

Tips In the Paceline

Slow Adjustments. Remember when it comes to paceline, slow is smooth and smooth is fast. Slow adjustments are the smoothest, helping the group to conserve momentum and energy. Fight the instinct to overbrake by easing into one brake gradually. Use the airbrakes - putting your head up and taking wind over the top, or drifting a few inches into the wind (without overlapping wheels), is often enough to slow you down, especially when done early. Aim to make accelerations happen in 'slow motion' by ramping up effort gradually over 5 or 10 pedal strokes. When trying to increase a group's pace 1-2 mph, it's not uncommon to take the entire length of a pull at the front so that riders drifting back don't get gapped off the back. Not only is this good form, but it's efficient, as each additional rider in the group further reduces aerodynamic drag and individual effort.

Anticipation is everything in a paceline. Pacelining isn't about reacting; it's about predicting and responding in a controlled manner. If pacelining has a golden rule, it is to be predictable. This requires every rider in the line to constantly read the group, the terrain ahead, and the wind. It means anticipating gear shifts and starting to accelerate or decelerate as early as possible, so you do it deliberately and smoothly. Abrupt accelerations or decelerations disturb group momentum, and they amplify as each successive rider is forced to react to them. The best adjustments in a paceline are those that are the least noticeable.

Manage your momentum. Momentum is a huge factor in group riding, especially in rolling terrain. As a heavier rider, momentum is my frenemy, and I have to manage it more carefully and deliberately than someone lighter. I've had to learn learn to shift and start applying power before a hill, cover and ease into the brakes before a downhill stretch, and roll off the power early when the front of the group begins to slow. Learning how momentum affects you in relation to other riders is a big piece of cracking the code.

Listen. Pacelining is multi-sensory. One of the best tools in the line is your ears, especially when you are far from the front. You can hear when you've found a good draft, as the wind noise starts to buffet and fade. You can also hear what's happening with the riders ahead and behind you: a flurry of shifting likely indicates a ramping of effort for an upcoming change in terrain; abundant freewheeling may indicate a temporary lull in effort or easing up. Experienced riders will often help you clear your transitions into and out of the line by saying 'clear'. These cues help you time your actions better than vision alone. The more you develop "group situational awareness," the smoother you'll be.

Ride heads-up. Focus on what matters, not the wheel in front of you. Get used to using your peripheral vision to monitor the gap to the rider in front of you. A method that works for me is finding the desired gap to the next wheel, gauging the distance to that rider's back when in good position, and monitoring the gap using my peripheral vision. This keeps my gaze closer to the front of the pack, allowing me to scan ahead with quick glances around the rider in front of me. Use quick glances under your arm to clear your moves in the line. By focusing on riders near the front and the road unfolding in front of the group, you give your brain more time to process what's coming next and respond accordingly.

Riders rotate through a single bike race, maximizing speed while conserving energy.

Steady your effort to steady your pace. On the front, your goal is to maintain the group's speed and keep the group safe. Avoid fixating on your computer as metrics like power and HR can fluctuate heavily with changes in wind or terrain. Focus instead on the relationship between the pressure on your pedals and speed. An approach that works for me is checking the group's speed as I approach the front, calibrating my pedaling effort to the target speed as I take the wind, and then locking into this effort while scanning ahead, occasionally glancing at my computer to check my power and speed.

Drop your ego instead of yourself. This may be the most important lesson, and it's certainly one I screwed up the most as a newer rider. When you're taking your turn at the front, be conservative. Before you 'leave it all at the front', remember that your turn isn't complete until you have drifted back and rejoined the line, which can require substantial effort in a fast-moving group or strong crosswinds. You can always pull longer on the next go around, but if you overcook it and get gapped off the back, you have missed the boat. Save your matches for the hill when the group splits, the town line sprint, or the final stretch to the coffee shop. Pacelining isn't about flexing; it's about communication and collaboration.

Tips After the Paceline

Actively seek feedback. This is, by far, the fastest way to improve your group riding skills. Nothing frustrates experienced riders more than someone who lacks skills and is unwilling to take feedback. Flip this script by finding the experienced riders in the group and asking them, 'How did I do in the line today?'. Listening to feedback from seasoned riders is a cycling superpower. Being humble and transparent about your skill level builds trust with other riders. Nine times out of ten, you'll find they are ready and willing to help with some constructive feedback.

Final Thoughts

Pacelining isn't magic. It's a very learnable skill, but it must be built gradually over time as your mind and body adapt to it. Be humble, be open to feedback from other riders, and be patient with yourself and with time, you will unlock one of the most incredible experiences cycling has to offer.

If you're local to Monterey County or the South Bay and want help mastering the art of pacelining or group riding, I'd love to help you crack the code.

See you in the saddle!