"I've been riding with a couple of other cyclists for a few weeks now. The cooperation is going fine, but the fan riding doesn't really work yet. As a rider, how do you set up a fan well and effectively?"

Fan riding is extremely important, especially when competing as a team. It can make the difference between a unit or a bunch of "desperate soldiers" being sent out of the trenches. Chaos, in other words. Choosing the right position, even before the fans are formed, is crucial.

Basic

Let's start at the basics of fan riding, which is the single fan. Suppose you are riding in a group of eight riders and you want to ride together as fast as possible. You are riding on a straight road and the wind is diagonally against you, from the left side. The moment the front rider rides on the far left side of the road, the other riders can seek shelter by repeatedly riding behind their predecessor on the right. Thus, the front rider rides into the wind, but the rest of the group rides out of the wind. By taking turns in the lead position, the forces are distributed. The front rider signals with his elbow to the rider behind him at the moment he goes off the lead. He then drops down past the string of teammates and joins the last rider.

Double range

When the speed increases, it is more convenient to ride in a double fan. This is because the leading turns are then shorter, making it less difficult. This works as follows: at the moment a rider leaves the lead, he does not let himself drop completely, but stays on the wheel of the rider behind him. The rider who gets in the lead immediately goes off the lead and does the same as his predecessor. This creates two rows of riders, alternating like a chain. However, this must be done gradually. There is a problem when a rider takes the lead with too much speed or when he is in the lead for too long. This is because then his predecessor is no longer able to stay on his wheel and the chain of riders falls apart.

Furthermore, it is extremely important to pay attention at every corner and every traffic circle. Because the riders go through the corner one by one, there is always a single fan after that so there is less space for a moment. It is then important to get through the corner or traffic circle with the first riders in order not to end up on the side for a moment. After a turn, the wind direction also changes. Therefore, even before the turn arrives, you need to know which side of the road you are going to ride on when you come out of the turn.

Riders have to make this decision in a split second. Impeller races are therefore enormously grueling, because they also demand a lot mentally.

So Range riding is mainly positioning and thinking well ahead. Good luck!