The Most Common Cycling Signals You Should AVOID Using!

[@garagesale5948]

You should avoid using the middle finger at rude drivers, never bring a bicycle to a demolition derby.

[@curiousj944]

Good tips on signaling. One thing I would add is coming up on back (or passing) of another cyclist or group to alert “off ur back”…”on ur left”.

[@thegoodwheel]

👍🏾

[@gudwinag]

Excellent video, I ride with Cascade cycle here in Seattle and we use all the hand signals you discussed. Glad to see we are all on the same safety page. One thing I may have missed is we always pass on the LEFT and verbalize “on your left” when passing. Unless your racing, we NEVER pass on the right unless we have to

[@pegeen7802]

I immediately benefitted from this advice by adding my voice to communicate (not sure why I never did before!) This works faster in many scenarios and I find people behind me are listening carefully already when the situation ahead is changing. Thanks for the safety videos!

[@thegoodwheel]

Glad it's helped! Stay safe 👍🏾

[@davehollingworth5537]

Thanks. Very useful. Best part of this is the recommendation to keep your hands on the bars for the maximum amount of time possible and only make signals if you are comfortable and safe in doing so!

[@thegoodwheel]

Thank you!

[@kevinfrost1579]

Yeah Luis 👍. Immediately noticeable in experienced or well taught riders. …….. 1. Universal language. 2. Keep it simple. 3. Use sparingly. 4. Monitor body language. 5. Use active anticipation. IMO stages of group experience none = no communication; Some learning experience = excessively noisy / excessive pointing; Properly experienced = ordered communication strictly as necessary. Great informed and knowledgeable vid as always 👏👏👏

[@thegoodwheel]

Thanks Kevin! Much appreciated 👍🏾

[@shepshape2585]

Great tips on all the signals and verbal call outs. Glad to see you finally came to saddle bag side. I try to keep it minimal as well, and as such, I'm going to be trying out some TPU tubes. Oz Cycle just did a video about them and they look like a real value. Really puncture resistant, super light, and when they're folded up, they're a third the size of a butyl tube. And, supposedly the price has come down and you can get them for the same price as butyl tubes now.

[@PatrickKend]

I'm in Richmond Virginia. Thanks for the shout-out

[@SrFederico]

I follow every handsign of major importance, that is something that could impede the safety of the riders behind me, with a verbal cue. They may have their eyes on something else, like the bike computer, the landscape, the behind of the rider in front, you name it. Sometimes, a hand signal is too slow, and sometimes, you mentioned it, it is too dangerous. Even if they don’t understand the verbal cue, they know somethings going on. I actually found it quite helpful when in your vid everybody shouted "hole", even if hardly anybody knew where it was. At least one can prepare for a bunny hop, can adjust spacing, can pre-grab the brakes.

[@thegoodwheel]

Thanks for sharing👍🏾

[@tollemangorham2033]

Hello Luis, fantastic video as always. I very much appreciate and enjoy the informative, practical, pleasant, and humble way your videos always seem to be presented in. I found your channel through your videos about steel bikes. You inspired me to finish my own steel road bike project. A 2001 LeMond Zurich Reynolds 853, build with a full Campagnolo Record 2x10 group set. Maiden voyage should be today. Thank you for all you are doing. Greeting from the mountains in California. 👍🏻

[@thegoodwheel]

Hey that is awesome to hear! Those Lemond 853s are awesome bikes. Hope your maiden ride was awesome👍🏾

[@Paddystyx]

Excellent. When we are in a double or pairs we will call “hole centre” or “surface centre” so both lines move slightly left or right. I do find on a lot of group rides there is to much talking and not enough concentration and also to many people giving instructions and group leaders been constantly undermined . I done the leader’s course but I won’t lead because of that. I just go out and talk as little as possible.

[@thegoodwheel]

Thanks for sharing Paddy!

[@dsonyay]

@6:45. What signal is that?? I use verbal a lot. My voice is pretty dang loud. “Car up!!!” Car right!!!” Left turn!!! Stopping!!!!! Our group doesnt do the chicken wing wave ,, so when I need to get off front We just use the hand signal that kinda looks like you’re ushering people alongside to pass you. Also.. I think it’s important to verify what the group uses as signals when joining a new group. Sometimes they have different things they like to use. Or some sort of variation. Our group is a little on the small size .. especially the group I ride with today (6 to 10), so audio is used a lot. Man.. your presentation style is great. I love your videos. Bucket list item: do a ride with you one day .. or at the least meet up and shake hands :) Ever ride in Louisiana? :)

[@thegoodwheel]

Hi there! Thank you for that. That's the sign for slowing. Never been to Louisiana... but if you ever see me at an event, please say Hi!

[@YetAnotherAdventure]

Great job Luis. I was taught to point or verbalize with “x,y,z on right or left”. When I rode with some others I noticed the slapping of the rear followed by the pointing. First: I’d hear it and think to myself… that had to hurt! But, it did get attention of riders not looking forward as they should. I’m not a fan of that because of speeds. The higher the speed the less I want to take my hands off. I may verbalize it with a finger point on either side as I’m holding the bars with verbal. On the calling out the hole yes I see your point in causing panic but feel that I’d rather hear that so I can brace and give myself room to react. It would be better with hole on right. But , the warning gets used to much. Example manhole covers do not need “hole”. Lastly, to come off the saddle : I prefer flicking the elbows just like signaling to rider to come up. Thanks again, some great points.

[@thegoodwheel]

Thanks for sharing those insights and I agree about the manhole covers as well.👍🏾

[@marcuss.maranto9124]

Just met AndreC 2wks ago at a race in Charlottesville VA! Very cool guy. Like what he's doing. I raced with some blacks and asians, and he and I agreed that more minorities in racing would be awesome.

[@thegoodwheel]

Glad you got to meet him! Definitely a great guy👍🏾

[@kennethward9530]

I had never heard of nor to my knowledge seen a signal for getting out of the saddle on the bike, although I am well aware of the fore/aft movement many riders exhibit when doing so. This can be pretty much eliminated by regularity riding a fixed gear. Riders on fixed gears learn to keep the rotation and power smooth getting out and back in the saddle, and have a lot less of the motion when doing so on their freewheel bikes-just another subtle skill one can pick up if desired. Good discussion as always sir.

[@thegoodwheel]

Thank you Kenneth! Great suggestion on riding fixed👍🏾

[@JPR-h5p]

Great video Luis! 👍🏻

[@billyhill727]

When I ride by myself or with other riders I always ues hand signals. When I ride by myself and I am on the streets with other vehicles on the road I most definitely use my hand signals.

[@chadschauffler7636]

Love the content!!! I'm using your stuff real time in our group rides, trying to do my part to keep everyone safe and having a good time.Thank you!

[@thegoodwheel]

Nice to hear this! Thank you👍🏾

[@hugolate]

Good videos, talks, opinions and ideas 🤗. Thanks Luis, regards from A Coruña, Galicia, Spain.

[@willross5108]

One of my fav topics Luis! The wind direction dictates the direction of the rotation, the lead rider pulling off chicken wings the elbow that the next rider coming through can easily see it. Right? Flick left elbow when pulling off to the right!

[@thegoodwheel]

👍🏾

[@bengt_axle]

All good points. I'd like to add that when you point to something, it should be quite early, well before you are running by it, so that the person behind you has time to react. Same thing for moving the group over for a parked car. You have to start way earlier than when you are riding by yourself so as to give people behind you time to react. Second point is that when you are riding with cars around you, hand signals (especially at an intersection) are essential. When a driver sees that you are communicating with them, they are much less likely to have an accident with you or hesitate about stopping or letting your through. Particularly useful when making a left turn.

[@thegoodwheel]

Thanks for sharing!

[@Omnis2]

The most important part of signaling while cycling is that you really should keep a tight single- or double-file line. I can't see anything on the road when it's jammed up, so your signals or call-outs don't matter at that point. I always choose to hang back for my safety when a paceline turns into a peloton, but that kind of ruins the group ride for me and likely for anyone behind me. What's the consensus on the arm straight back waving the palm to signal a "Move Over" to the line to pass a parked car or pedestrian or something? Always thought that would be weird for a double pace line and have only seen it while riding with Harold's park group.

[@thegoodwheel]

Hey Marc! I think that anything that gets the attention of riders of something dangerous is fine as along as you maintain control of your bike. 👍🏾

[@WR84Charger]

Didn't know about the out of the saddle signals. Im gonna remember that when riding with the experienced groups

[@thegoodwheel]

👍🏾

[@scottbaker5851]

If you can't stand without doing a kickback, practice. When you stand up to pedal, drop one cog and act like you are stepping up a staircase. Then you won't kick the rider behind you.

[@mikedaugherty53]

I use the speed sleeve and love it. It doesn’t rock or swing around and the wide compression strap keeps it nice and tight under the saddle. Hope it works out well for you.

[@thegoodwheel]

I am definitely loving it!

[@colinedwards4959]

In Trinidad well would normally yell " hole 🕳 left " or" hole 🕳right" .. basically say where the hole is relative to the pace line

[@thegoodwheel]

Good point!

[@shirtlessGraveler305]

Good stuff Luis definitely good advice ! One thing too. I was taught when I have to take my hands off the bar for whatever reason it’s to rest it on the tops. If you have to have one hand off for something it’s so easy to oversteer if you have it in the hood area, and it could get kind of precarious, top of that if we drift over into one of those lane reflectors oh man, that’ll throw you off, so we are more stable on the handlebars, holding onto the top section. If we have to take a hand off for something, something I was taught by one of my friends at a local bike shop otherwise, keep up the good contents it keeps things from being chaotic everybody rides safe 😊😀👍🏻

[@thegoodwheel]

Thanks for sharing 👍🏾

[@wesleystephen9169]

Excellent presentation.Thank you. Congratulations on the tremendous growth of your channel.😊

[@thegoodwheel]

Thank you Wesley👍🏾

[@troc9226]

These are video gold for beginners like myself. Keep going.

[@thegoodwheel]

Thanks for watching👍🏾

[@chrisweidner]

Great video, another common hand signal seems to be waiving with a hand behind you to indicate stay right or stay left. Keep the videos coming, I need to decide if I should get a gilet or a jacket for fall.

[@thegoodwheel]

Thanks for sharing👍🏾

[@scotth3354]

hmmm, I've used the 'pat on the ass' signal many times, but never to have someone come through. I've used it, and seen it used by others, to signal for the rider behind to stay on my ass, not to come through. Typically, it's used in racing to persuade a teammate, or another competitor I want to work with, to follow me as I'm moving forward. I've never seen it used to signify to pull through.

[@thegoodwheel]

Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@jamesmedina2062]

Cool video Luis although I am more of a lone warrior cyclist. I learned a lot. Now for your comments on your “love handles”, did you really say love handles? if you did I have two suggestions. I love food so i have always been a “big eater” but I have almost two years with blood sugar a little high and above the normal range. I am hitting it with decisiveness: 1) No alcohol 2) No added sugar or pastries 3) Less pancakes and definitely no jam or syrup 4) Portion size reduction. I am trying to not eat until full feeling but a smart amount. I have already lost 6 lbs! 2nd suggestion which may sound crazy is SWIMMING. I ride like you but swimming works more muscles and especially the core. Swimming also improved my shoulder fitness(one bad shoulder) and allowed me to begin upper body gymnastics that I could never do before. So swimming has been a gateway to more strength and especially shoulder health.

[@thegoodwheel]

Hi James! Thanks for the suggestion of swimming. It is definitely something I can incorporate. I have also returned to the gym and... well, let's just say I am working on the sugar reduction😂

[@silverbackcyclist1]

excellent video, I am less verbal but you are correct somethings must be a bit more verbal, one thing i emphasize on my group rides when I am the leader is that if you are uncomfortable pointing out holes please call them out with the SAME level of intensity meaning DONT SCREAM like death is around the corner for a hole smaller than a basketball then calmly yell hole for a hole the size of a 55 Gallon Trash can because the change in tone creates CHAOS IMO

[@thegoodwheel]

Indeed! Thanks for sharing👍🏾

[@hannahkay8668]

Great advice! New cyclist question: Why would one signal when they are about to stand? Thanks!

[@thegoodwheel]

Hi Hannah! Often times when we stand while riding, the bike loses momentum briefly and can create an issue to the rider directly behind you... wheels can touch and falls can happen. Thanks for watching 👍🏾

[@localride51rivertrail37]

Excellent video. It should be a pre Requisite for any group ride.

[@thegoodwheel]

Thanks for watching👍🏾

[@beyond990]

Nice video, coming from the UK it's nice to see how others signal, never seen the butt slap and wave through before or the up flicked hand to signal standing. We always yell out Hole followed by side as hitting a hole while trying to point is very dangerous to all. We also make changes to the pace line to the centre of the road, unless it's blowing and absolute storm and it has been agreed by all to change on wind ward side. Keep up the great vids. 😊

[@thegoodwheel]

Thanks for sharing your methods and insights 👍🏾

[@daviddjerassi]

Thank you Luis a great video for our younger riders invaluable keep safe Sir.

[@thegoodwheel]

Glad to hear David👍🏾

[@richardreiter66]

Very informing video. Let the good time roll!!

[@thegoodwheel]

👍🏾

[@emoretech]

Good Job Luis...I myself use all of them..

[@thegoodwheel]

Thanks Erich👍🏾

[@rayF4rio]

Watching from the Philippines. Good stuff Luis! I would only add the increased responsibility we have when on the front to move your road scan out as far as possible, warn early and move around the obstacle far enough out that more riders can react early. And yeah, I always get a kick out of the hip slappers, no idea where that originated from. Car6on - awesome!

[@thegoodwheel]

Thank you my friend and sharing that tip! Mabuhay👍🏾

[@silasrobertshaw8122]

Wait, what is the arm straight out waving up and down?

[@celsobarros2229]

You forgot to mention the most dangerous rides are the first large groups with different riders levels. I didn't end up in the hospital, but was lucky to get a couple bruises and two broken front spokes, plus over an hour waiting for a ride, due to the two broken spokes.

[@thegoodwheel]

Sorry to hear about your crash. Be safe out there👍🏾

[@DougTheSnowMan]

Do you have any tips for finding group rides?

[@thegoodwheel]

Hi Douglas! The first place I would start is by asking at my local bike shops. Many groups also post their rides on social media. I hope you have luck finding one👍🏾

[@dsonyay]

There are times we encounter sections where multiple holes and rough spots appear.. basically a really bad patch of road.. kinda would require you to point many times on each side… all over the place… how would you handle? Can I yell “rough section coming up!!!” ? Or How about “slowing!!! Not sure about these situations Theres a lot of weaving we do on a couple areas like these. South Louisiana has some really bad roads in places… smooth pavement becomes war torn , giant potholed tarmac then back to smooth pavement .. very common, even on the main roads

[@thegoodwheel]

Sounds like what you are doing is best for that situation 👍🏾

[@mattlove907]

Fantastic info as always, keep it up!

[@thegoodwheel]

Thank you Matt👍🏾

[@robertthomson4042]

Great content, thank you!

[@thegoodwheel]

Thanks for watching 👍🏾

[@bennyvargas539]

Great info. Howdy from Texas!

[@thegoodwheel]

Hi Benny! I appreciate the views from Texas👍🏾

[@charlesgray1627]

Good information to know. I live in Richmond Va ...representing.

[@thegoodwheel]

Hey Charles! Thanks for watching👍🏾

[@chrishb7074]

It kind of disturbs me your bike setup is unstable enough for both hands on the bars to be necessary or desirable in group cycling. I'm old enough for steel frames with unindexed Campagnolo gearshifts on the down tube, so one hand off happened a lot. Hand traffic signals for other road users were expected too, at least in the UK. If there is too much turning moment between the hand grip and the front tyre contact spot, then it could be hard to control. You might have too much handlebar stem for the amount of fork rake. Getting this right was all part of fitting a bike and choosing the frame geometry for the rider to give secure handling. That said, fascinating content on your channel, thanks.

[@thegoodwheel]

Thanks for sharing your insights Chris👍🏾

[@CPurks1]

Great video!

[@thegoodwheel]

Thank you!

[@kurtalexander3683]

Hampton VA in the house

[@thegoodwheel]

Thanks for watching👍🏾

[@adisapoet]

Great video.

[@thegoodwheel]

👍🏾

[@TV-ui1tl]

Speedsleev.I love it.I hope you love it as well.

[@thegoodwheel]

Hi T V! One ride in so far and it has been good... I forgot it was there and it hasn't even annoyed me while starring at my bike😂

[@mattfoley6082]

7:44 Several big holes means you can't just point to a single small hole to steer around it. So I see why they yelled "Hole!".

[@thegoodwheel]

👍🏾

[@Simbostyle]

Instead of shouting hole, we use inside, middle, outside so riders behind know where to look and which way to move over to avoid the hole.

[@thegoodwheel]

👍🏾

[@patricianaranjo8814]

Me encanto❤

[@thegoodwheel]

Gracias Patricia👍🏾

[@gilmar-ac3247]

Great !!!

[@thegoodwheel]

👍🏾

[@paulrobinson6001]

The calling and hysteria of 'hole' is annoying in built up areas because it is noisy! People might be sleeping. Stay quiet. There's enough noise pollution out there 😊😊

[@thegoodwheel]

👍🏾

[@RobertBarrimond]

In the city there may be many holes so “Hole, hole, hole!” makes sense. Everyone should be slowing down and looking. “Rough road!” is another common one in the north where road patches can be extremely rough. Last is tapping your helmet for a bump or sometimes a tree branch. I’ve been thanked a couple of times for the branch! 😂

[@thegoodwheel]

👍🏾

[@mattfoley6082]

Why the signal for standing?

[@thegoodwheel]

Because in some instances the bike loses forward momentum (or a pause) which can cause a collision with the rider directly behind👍🏾

[@mattfoley6082]

@@thegoodwheel Thanks, I did not know that. I know nothing about riding with a group since I always ride solo. I do know about pointing to road hazards or yelling "Car back!" but that's it.

[@kevinjones1993]

I know Andre, I live about one hour from him

[@thegoodwheel]

Great guy👍🏾

[@shanelamereux9878]

As far as drivers go the step forward works for me. Not always but when it does it is pretty great. 😂 *buy some damn glasses 🥂

[@shanelamereux9878]

Sorry Lewis. I'm cooling down, but I know some of yall feel me on this one😊

[@thegoodwheel]

👍🏾

[@mikebennett4257]

I don't agree with hand signals for obstructions in a group as only the person behind you will see it. If your on the front if you call either, left, right or centre everyone will be made aware. Hand signals wreck my head, no good. Agreed if someone shouts hole that's absolutely no good.

[@thegoodwheel]

👍🏾

[@kidsafe]

To me patting the butt/hip means jump on my wheel.

[@thegoodwheel]

👍🏾

[@savagepro9060]

Luis Scott: The Most Common Cycling Signals You Should AVOID Using! ChatGPT: Avoid ALL hand signals when near or in Gang Neighborhoods

[@thegoodwheel]

👍🏾

[@MrHatt7777]

Andre's FTP must be insanely high

[@RobertBarrimond]

It is. He’s Zone 2 at 300W

[@thegoodwheel]

👍🏾