Paceline Defined

If you have ever seen the Tour de France or another professional bicycle race on TV you may have noticed a group of riders by themselves going faster than those chasing them.  When they are going in either a single file or two adjacent lines the formation is referred to as a paceline. 



The lead rider will "pull" at the front for a time and then before tiring he will move to the side and drift to the back.  This shares the work because when you are drafting you expend about 25 to 30 % less energy than when riding directly in the wind.  When a group works together well they will ride with a smoother effort and be able to maintain a faster speed.  Typically, when riders are only spending a short time on the front of the line the group is maintaining a faster overall speed.  This is when you will see a rapid rotation off the front and the group form the two lines abreast, they are riding a rotating paceline.  You may also see a group riding two abreast and going comparatively much slower, in this case they are probably socializing.  ;-]

An example of a very well executed paceline can be seen in this video of the Kelly Benefit Strategies-OptumHealth Pro Cycling team.

A double paceline, like a rotating paceline, has two lines riding abreast.  However, riders peel off each line to the outside.   A diagonal paceline is utilized when the group is riding in a crosswind.  This formation is properly called an echelon.  Echelons can also be ridden as a double line.  This formation would not be commonly seen outside of a race environment because it tends to spread across the entire lane of the road.