Ride A Safer Charity Ride

Every May, more than 30,000 cyclists take to the streets of New York City for the 40-mile TD Five Boro Bike Tour. The event hosts riders of all sorts, from seasoned experts and weekend enthusiasts, to beginners and families with young kids.

Rolling with such a diverse crowd requires extra care—and lots of politeness. Before your next gran fondo, World Naked Bike Ride, charity ride, or any other mass-start event, brush up on your manners. These tips from Samuel Slaton of Bike New York will make sure you (and the riders around you) have a smooth, stress-free ride.

Be Prepared

You’ll be riding so close to others that you can smell their chain lube. Those tight quarters can lead to accidents, even at slow speeds.

“The most common crashes come from people feeling claustrophobic, or someone bumping them, and they just overreact,” Slaton said.

Before your big ride, practice riding with friends or training partners so you become accustomed to pedaling in a group. You’ll be more confident and less shaky during your event.

Remember, It’s Not a Race

Remember that charity rides like these are not races. Even gran fondos, which often have timed sections, have a different feel.

If you want to go fast, make sure you start at the front and keep the pace high. Accidents happen when you fly through a crowd of cyclists traveling at a slower speed.

“There are people who are pushing the pace and testing their fitness level, and then there are people who are just looking at the sights of New York,” Slaton said.

It’s important to be patient, and keep in mind that this might be some people’s first substantial ride, Slaton said.

Be Aware

During the first few miles, the group will usually be packed with little room between riders. Keep your hands trigger-ready on the brakes—it’ll help you react quickly should you need to slow down.

Even if the roads are closed to cars, you need to watch out for pedestrians, road debris, and other obstacles that might be hard to see through the crowd of riders. Keep your head up and pay attention.

Look Out at Rest Stops

Be extra cautious near rest stops. Riders will often swerve across multiple lanes when they see a free porta-potty or a table of donuts.

And watch for cyclists rejoining the flow of riders—they’ll often be distracted, or trying to stuff a few extra ride snacks into their pockets. Inexperienced riders may be a bit wobbly and unpredictable as they start from a full stop.

Be Vocal

Because visibility can be limited when you’re riding with a crowd of cyclists, help each other by announcing potential hazards: intersections, potholes, turns, traffic, or anything else that might cause an accident. And let others know when you are turning, passing, and slowing to prevent any unnecessary mishaps.