In a previous thread about four weeks ago I came down pretty hard on never using any hand signals on group rides. I think that was wrong and a more balanced perspective is closer to reality. Here’s why:
I was pre-riding the Nice Triathlon course with some nice German fellas and on the descent I have to admit I was heavily reliant on them pointing out obstacles in the road. We were going pretty fast and I don;t like descents much.
Now please understand, it isn’t we were signalling turns and shouting “braking” and all that. They merely pointed out rocks inthe road, death cracks, pavement changes, etc. Maybe only six times during the ride.
It was a nice courtisey (how do you spelll that?) and pretty darn important at speed. It was also an interesting international language. Exact same gestures I see here on experienced group rides sometimes. Hmm, the universal language?
I don’t remember that thread Tom, but this points to the relative familiarity with bikes between Europe and North America. Europeans still retain a greater familiarity with bikes for not just recreational sport activities. The average European seems far more familiar with nuances of cycling. Contrast that with the US where most folks park their bikes at 16, never to return. Bikes are for kids and a few of us wierdos who like to wear lycra. This is the land where a $10,000 Pinarello Montello is a “ten speed” and roughly the same thing as a KMart Huffy. No wonder we don’t have a clue about hand signals. That’s why its incumbent on those of us experienced with cycling to teach the growing group of new cyclists the “rules” of cycling.