My guess is that these clubs are probaly really large and basically all have "group" outings. I assume they do group runs, group rides, group swims (the tri club I am on, has a group ride, but I've never ridden it because I imagine they have all sorts of people mixed up with road/tri bikes, and I just dont really want to ride in a group setting like that).. I'm guessing by the pics on the club websites clubs like these certainly allow pacing with aerobars. Once a ride starts, your never going to have a legal pace line (my guess is that the rides dont even suggest riding legal distance apart as most "club" rides dont), as it will all bunch up, so it'll be a bunch of tri riders riding wheel to wheel like a road group ride (I myself have seen this happen with 4 different club rides throughout NC/VA). Group riding is fine when your on a road bike and you can have a bit more control with the brakes, etc., and as evident by pictures, stories, it sounds like there are many that lack ettiquette/bike handling (not singling out just this club, this happens all across tri club rides).

Edit: Not to say road riders dont crash or have bad ettiquette, but I would think your reaction time and overall bike handling is more dangerous in a tight group setting than on a road bike.

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@brooksdoughtie
USAT-L2,Y&J; USAC-L2
http://www.aomultisport.com