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SSThe Start SheetNotes on American road-racing club culture

One sector of the route

The ride

weekend group rides, the paceline, and the Golden Gate start

Noted on this sector

4
A single cyclist alone on a climb watching the group disappear around a bend far ahead, late afternoon light, long shadows

What the Drop Means

The ride · · 5 min

Getting dropped, no-drop promises, regroup arithmetic, and the quiet education of riding home alone.

A small group of cyclists gathering at the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge at dawn, red tower rising into fog, blinky lights and helmets

The Golden Gate Start

The ride · · 5 min

Why the Golden Gate Bridge became a start line for San Francisco riders bound for the Marin roads.

A smooth single-file paceline on a flat coastal road, one rider pulling off the front into the wind, low morning sun

How the Paceline Works

The ride · · 5 min

Rotation, the pull, the drift back, and the etiquette of a smooth paceline, explained for a newcomer.

A double line of amateur cyclists rolling through a quiet small town at eight in the morning, shop fronts still closed, low side light

The Saturday Group Ride

The ride · · 5 min

The meeting spot, the rollout, the coffee stop, and the unwritten rules of the Saturday group ride.