When people think of cycling in Mallorca, their mind usually jumps to the climbs and iconic names like Sa Calobra, Puig Major, or Coll de Sóller. And while the mountains are a huge part of the experience, there’s another skill that plays an equally important role when you’re riding here: The ability to ride safely in a group.
At Velocamp Mallorca, we ride as a team every day of the week. It’s how we cover more ground, support each other through the tough sections, share the load in the wind, and create the atmosphere that makes the camp experience feel so special. But for many riders, especially those who usually train solo or with just one or two friends, the idea of riding in a close-knit group can feel a bit daunting, and that’s completely understandable.
Riding in a group brings a new level of speed and efficiency, but it also requires focus, awareness, and respect. This blog is designed to help prepare you for exactly that. Whether you're brand new to group riding or just need a refresher, this is your essential guide to peloton etiquette, safety, and good habits, especially in the kind of group dynamic we create at Velocamp Mallorca.
Let’s dive into the first set of fundamentals that’ll help you feel more confident on the road and keep everyone around you safe.
Hold Your Line and Stay Predictable
One of the most important things you can do in any group is hold your line. That means riding in a straight, consistent path without weaving, drifting, or making sudden lateral movements. When everyone knows where the rider next to them is going to be in the next five seconds, the group becomes smoother, safer, and far more enjoyable.
If you need to avoid something, a pothole, a drain cover, or a loose rock for example, make sure your movement is gradual and, if possible, signalled. Avoid sudden swerves at all costs.
At Velocamp Mallorca, we always stress that predictability is more important than perfection. If in doubt, stay steady and smooth.
Ride No More Than Two Abreast
Riding two abreast is the standard formation on most group rides. It’s efficient, it allows for conversation, and it reduces the group’s overall length on the road. But more than two abreast is unsafe and inconsiderate to other road users, especially in Mallorca where some of the lanes can get narrow quickly.
We remind all our riders at camp to never go three-wide, even for a few seconds. It only takes one approaching car or an oncoming cyclist to make it dangerous. Two abreast is fine. Anything more puts the group and the camp at risk as well as frustrating the locals trying to get to work!
Look Ahead — Not Just at the Wheel in Front
It’s tempting to fixate on the back wheel ahead of you, especially if you’re new to bunch riding. But good group riders keep their heads up and their vision soft, scanning the road ahead for changes in speed, signals from the front, or obstacles on the tarmac.
At Velocamp Mallorca, we coach riders to scan at least three or four bikes ahead when possible. The earlier you see what’s coming, the more time you have to respond. This is a great skill to develop if you want to feel calmer and more in control in the bunch.
Only Signal Hazards When It’s Safe to Do So
This one’s really important and it often gets overlooked.
Yes — we all know it’s good etiquette to point out hazards. But not at the expense of your own safety. If you take your hand off the bars to signal a pothole and it causes you to lose control, it’s far more dangerous than just riding over the bump.
A good rule of thumb to remember: only signal something if it’s a genuine risk and it’s safe for you to do so. Riders behind should always be scanning ahead too and not relying 100% on the person in front to flag every hazard.
We go over this at Velocamp Mallorca during the camp welcome briefing and again on the first day’s ride. Common sense always wins.
Never Reach for Your Phone in a Bunch
This one shouldn’t need to be said, and yet, every year we see it on the various group club rides.
Pulling your phone out to take a picture while riding in a group is one of the most dangerous things you can do. It’s not just a risk to you, but to everyone behind and beside you. You don’t have full control of your bike. Your focus isn’t on the road. And if something goes wrong, the entire group pays the price.
We make this very clear at Velocamp Mallorca. If you want a photo or a video, just drop to the back of the group and create enough space behind you to do it safely. Or better yet, stop the bike completely and get your shot. No content is worth risking someone’s collarbone.
The same goes for adjusting your gilet, unzipping your jersey, removing glasses, or fiddling with your helmet straps. If you need to do it, pull out of the group slightly and create space. Always!
Climbing? Signal Before You Stand
A subtle but critical one. When climbing in a group, especially in a tight peloton, standing up on the pedals without warning can cause your bike to kick back, even if just slightly, and clip the front wheel of the rider behind you.
To avoid this, always give a quick hand flick or verbal cue (“standing”) a second or two before you get out of the saddle. It gives the rider behind time to adjust, and avoids unnecessary stress or contact.
We practise this on the climbs at Velocamp Mallorca, especially when tackling some of the longer gradients like Puig Major or Coll d’Honor. Communication matters more than you think on the climbs.
Watch Your Position on the Road — Don’t Drift Inside
When riding in a group, never sneak up on the inside of someone’s rear wheel. It might seem like there’s space, but it leaves the rider in front nowhere to go if they need to swerve or adjust their line. The safest place to be is directly behind or slightly offset to the outside, giving everyone room to manoeuvre if needed.
We go over this during our rolling road rides at Velocamp Mallorca, especially when the pace picks up. Riders need confidence that those around them are holding a clean line and not taking risks to jump ahead.
Regrouping at Junctions and Roundabouts
If you find yourself on the front of the group approaching a junction or roundabout, remember that your job is to look after the entire group, not just yourself.
Always check over your shoulder to make sure the group is intact. If there's a gap or if riders have been held up, ease off and wait until everyone is back together. Nothing’s worse than getting dropped at a roundabout and having to chase back for ten kilometres!
It’s small details like this that help new riders feel comfortable and supported, and they go a long way to building trust in the group.
Rotate Smoothly and Evenly in Pairs
When you’re riding two abreast and on the front of the group, the goal is to keep the pace steady and consistent. After a few minutes on the front, you’ll want to rotate off and let the next pair come through. But this changeover needs to be calm and tidy.
The best way to do it is to agree a rotation pattern early. The most common is to pull over gently to the left or right, depending on which side you’re on, and soft-pedal just enough to let the line come through. Then rejoin the back of the group smoothly.
What you don’t want is a jerky or sudden change, or worse, a situation where one rider tries to push ahead while the other soft-pedals. This can cause confusion, gaps and even crashes.
We practise this in real time at Velocamp Mallorca, especially on the rolling coastal roads where rotating efficiently can save a lot of energy and keep morale high.
Learn to Use the Wind to Your Advantage
One of the biggest benefits of group riding is the draft. Riding behind someone can reduce your effort by up to 40 percent, especially in a headwind or on flat terrain. But to get the most out of it, you need to understand where the wind is coming from and adjust your position.
In a crosswind, the best shelter is slightly offset to the side of the rider in front, not directly behind. You’ll often see this in pro races where the peloton forms a diagonal shape across the road, known as an echelon.
Now, on Mallorca’s smaller roads, you probably won’t be forming a full echelon, but the principle still matters. Adjusting your wheel position slightly can mean the difference between fighting the wind and floating along comfortably.
At Velocamp Mallorca, we ride in all conditions. Some days are calm and fast. Others are windy and technical. Either way, we coach riders to feel the difference and adapt without overthinking.
Ease the Pace When Needed to Keep the Group Together
Group riding isn’t a race. It’s a shared experience. And that means sometimes you have to ride with awareness, not ego. If someone gets stuck at a roundabout or drops a bottle, it’s polite and sensible to ease off the pace until they’re back on. The same goes for gentle climbs where the group can start to split.
This doesn’t mean the ride has to slow to a crawl, but a few soft pedal strokes or a call up the line to ease the pace can make a huge difference to the flow of the day. No one enjoys spending the day chasing.
Alternatively, be sure that the stronger riders on the climb travel back down to ‘sheepdog’ the slower climbers. This way everyone keeps moving while remaining challenged.
At Velocamp Mallorca, we’re big believers in riding as a group, arriving at the summit together, and sharing the coffee stop with everyone present. It builds trust and sets the tone for the week.
Avoid Half-Wheeling Your Riding Partner
This is a classic mistake that most riders don’t even realise they’re making. You’re riding two abreast and instead of staying level with your partner, you keep nudging half a wheel ahead. They speed up to match you. You speed up again. Before you know it, the whole group is accelerating for no reason.
It might seem minor, but half-wheeling is a fast way to create tension, break the rhythm of the ride, and wear people out.
The fix? Be conscious of your position and try to stay level. Keep the pace consistent. Riding next to someone is not a test of strength, it’s a way to share the workload. Let it be steady.
This is something we actively point out during the rides at Velocamp Mallorca, especially on the flat stretches where it’s easy to settle into pairs and chat. Once you fix it, it makes everything feel calmer and more enjoyable. Watch your speed and keep it consistent.
Give Space When Climbing Out of the Saddle
We touched on this in Part One, but it’s worth repeating because it’s such a common cause of accidents. If you’re going to get out of the saddle while climbing, always give a quick signal and be sure the rider behind has time to adjust.
Standing up causes your bike to momentarily shift backwards. In a tight group, this can result in overlapping wheels or worse, a crash.
The simple fix is awareness. If you feel the need to stand, do it smoothly and signal first. Better still, hold your seated position unless the gradient really demands it. It’s more efficient and safer for everyone.
Stay Focused and Minimise Distractions
Riding in a group means constant awareness. That doesn’t mean you need to be tense or on edge, but you do need to stay focused. Avoid checking your phone, fiddling with kit, or drifting mentally during important moments, particularly on descents, in traffic, or through technical and tight villages.
We encourage all riders at Velocamp Mallorca to stay present and connected to what’s going on around them. Yes, cycling is supposed to be fun and relaxing, but group riding requires a certain level of attention at all times.
A distracted rider can easily create a hazard for ten others. Stay switched on and keep the fun safe.
Know When to Drop Back and Take a Break
If you’re feeling tired, need to take a drink, or adjust your clothing, the safest move is to ease slightly off the back and create space. It’s much safer to do that in clean air than in the middle of a tightly packed group.
Too often, riders try to unzip a jacket or eat a bar while still holding a wheel, and that’s where things can go wrong. A moment of lost concentration or one hand off the bars can spell trouble.
At Velocamp Mallorca, we always recommend dropping to the back for a moment if you need to adjust anything. It keeps the group safe and gives you a few seconds to breathe.
Take Personal Responsibility for the Group
Every rider in a group has a responsibility to keep the bunch safe and efficient. That means thinking beyond your own wheel and looking out for others at all times. It’s easy to focus only on your own ride, especially when you are climbing or tired. But riding well in a group means staying tuned in to everything around you — not just the road ahead, but the riders to your left, your right and behind.
If you are on the front, you’re the eyes of the group. It is your job to signal hazards, call directions, and ride predictably. If you are mid-pack or at the back, your job is to ride consistently, hold your line and avoid any panic braking or sudden swerving. Everyone matters in the flow of a group ride. One careless action can ripple through ten riders in an instant.
Final Thoughts: Confidence Comes From Repetition
The most important thing to remember is that riding in a group is a skill — and like any skill, it gets better with practice.
At Velocamp Mallorca, our guided rides are led by our 30 year ex-pro coach and guides who give feedback throughout the week. Whether you are new to group riding or just want to sharpen your skills, every ride is an opportunity to learn.
We start each camp by easing riders into bunch riding, teaching them how to rotate, call hazards, and sit on a wheel with confidence.
By the end of the week, even nervous riders are flowing through Mallorca’s beautiful roads like they have been doing it for years.
If you are curious about what it feels like to ride in a supportive, fun and safe group, come ride with us.
Cycling in a group can be A LOT more fun when you are confident in yourself AND the ability of others around you.Alex
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