For casual club rides, paceline 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 foot gap to optimize drafting while staying safe.
In all cases, do not overlap wheels with the bike in front of you. Keep your front wheel slightly offset—to the left or right—relative to the rear wheel of the rider ahead. This reduces the chance 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 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.