Of echelons and pacelines

frenchyge

I just finished reading Thomas Prehn's Racing Tactics for Cyclists and found it to be a good read. One question, though, is his use of the term 'echelon.' In chapter 2 he discusses the efficient and effective use of a pacelines in bike racing. He defines a paceline as a line of riders where one rider pulls for a certain length of time at the front, then pulls off, and an echelon as a line of riders which are continuously rotating without a distinct pause at the head of the line. He even has a diagram where the riders are in 2 continuous straight lines, with arrows showing the method of rotation.

Now although I'm fairly new to bike racing, I'm no stranger to the english language, and I know that the more widely used definition of the word 'echelon' means a formation where the units are staggered behind and somewhat to the side of the unit in front (ie, a diagonal line), such as would be used by riders in a crosswind. Here are my questions: are continuously rotating pacelines typically *only* used in crosswind situations (such that they are always staggered in an echelon)? Does 'echelon' refer to the rotation method in cycling specific terms, and are there straight-line 'echelons' in cycling? Is there a different word for a continuously rotating paceline other than 'echelon'?

YMCA

Yes, echelon usually means a group of riders sheltering each other against a crosswind. What he referred to as an echelon, is what we usually call a "through and off". An echelon to me, never meant there had to be a paceline, just a sideways barrier against the wind, sometimes with only one guy pulling the group. Terms like this can get confusing sometimes, eh?

frenchyge

Thx. Most of his examples do refer to crosswinds and staggered echelon tactics. It just struck me odd that there could be a straight ahead 'echelon.' "Through and off" sounds like a better term for that.

robkit

it's a beautiful thing watching helicopter shots of bike races on the TV. after enough time out of the chaos comes order.

my dad would watch the tour and see a bunch of riders, i see the dynamics of guys moving up the side, the echelons, through and off, etc. meanwhile a soccer game to him has patterns but to me its just a load of guys randomly running around a field

anyway back on topic, i would reserve echelon for the diagonal line into a crosswind. the double paceline is apparently sometimes called "the ball", requires more riders to make it work, and i think it's more commonly seen when the hammer is down - shorter turns at higher gas.

__________________
I am my favorite rider.

Bobby Lex

I, too, was confused about his use of the term when I first read his book. He is the first author I have read who refers to a rotating paceline as an "echelon".

Every other author I have read who uses the term "echelon" is referrring to a staggered formation of riders dealing with a crosswind.

Prehn calls both formations an "echelon", apparently based on the fact that the front riders are continuously pulling off and rotating to the back.

His racing credentials are a lot better than mine, so I'm not about to call him out on his use of semantics.

Bob

frenchyge

I'm with you there. At the same time I don't want to sound like a dork trying to organize an 'echelon' in a headwind.

Funny thing is, there was a strong crosswind on a group ride the other day and one of my teammates says "Echelon, echelon." I moved over to the far windward side of the shoulder to give everyone room to string out diagonally in my shelter, and continued to pull. At the end of the ride he asks "Why didn't you rotate off, didn't you hear me say 'echelon'?" Apparently one of the ex-pros on our team had told him that an echelon implies a continuous rotation, so I don't know what to think.

YMCA

The guy is just wrong. I have never, ever heard someone refer to an echelon as a rotating paceline or through and off. An echelon has always been and will always be a diagonal line to protect each other from a crosswind. Doesn't matter if people are pulling through constantly (although that is usually the case). I raced in the hellish winds of West Flanders for a few summers. Echelons were practically invented there!