Every year around the globe thousands and thousands of cyclists hit the roads for their favourite charity ride or cycling event. These major events host 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 fondo (long-distance or endurance ride), charity ride, or any other mass-start event, brush up on your manners. These simple tips from Sam of Bikelah Penang (who now?) and world-famous cyclist Samuel Slaton will help you (and the riders around you) have a smooth, stress-free ride.

1. Be Prepared

You’ll be riding so close to others that you can smell their swe-uh...mouthwash. Such 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,” an expert cyclist (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.

2. It’s Not A Race

Remember that rides like these are not races. Even fondos (long distance serious rides), 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 travelling 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 is important to be patient, and keep in mind that this might be some people’s first major ride. Like in life, everyone is in a different place, so exercising a little understanding can go a long way. 

3. Be Aware

During the first few kilometres, everyone will usually be tightly 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.

4. Be Extra Aware At Rest Stops

Be extra vigilant 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.

5. Be Vocal

Since visibility can be limited when you’re riding with a crowd of cyclists on all sides, 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. Learn some useful cycling hand signals, but more often than not simply pointing out a defect in the road ahead can help those behind you immensely. 

6. Don’t Be A Jerkface

This golden (and somewhat colloquial) rule also applies to cycling. Talk to people, say hi, and smile lots—you’ll have more fun, we promise. Meeting people is fun!