For casual club rides, riders should keep a 2 – 3 foot gap between their front wheel and the rear wheel of the rider ahead. Novice riders should err closer to 3 feet for added safety, while more experienced and faster riders can maintain a 1 – 2.5 foot gap to optimize drafting while staying safe.
In all cases, avoid wheel overlap. Always keep your front wheel slightly offset—either to the left or right—relative to the rear wheel of the rider ahead. This reduces the likelihood of contact if overlap occurs accidentally.
Adjusting for Conditions
- When climbing out of an underpass, where riders tend to slow down and bunch up, ease off to maintain your gap.
- For large community rides or tricky sections, increase the gap to 3–5 feet to allow more reaction time.
Final Thought: The following rider is far more likely to crash—estimated 85–95% of cases—due to a loss of steering control. Don’t be that person. Stay alert, maintain a safe distance, and ride smart.