Every half-decent cycling group has rules. My group is no exception – we’ve got plenty of rules. Most of them are unspoken.
Over the years, as we’ve all aged, some rules have evolved. A mid-ride coffee once taboo, is now perfectly acceptable. Even our 2-minute start time rule has been relaxed – you know who you are.
One rule that hasn’t changed though is the 8-minute rule. Put simply, if you have a flat or mechanical, the group will stop for 8 minutes max. During these 8 minutes, you may be helped, ridiculed, or any combination of both. While there is no official timekeeper, you are definitely on the clock.
Whoever said time is relative is correct. Let’s face it, 8 minutes is a long time unless you are drowning in a sea of “advice and encouragement”, surrounded by discarded tubes, and CO2 inflators.
“Do you really need to use tyre levers?”
“Isn’t tubeless great?”
“When was the last time you cleaned this bike?”
