Chain gang (cycling)
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In the sport of cycling, a chain gang refers to a group of cyclists cycling in a close knit formation akin to a road race, normally for the purposes of training.
Unlike a regular group of cyclists, chain gangs normally consist of cyclists in two parallel lines, with the cyclist at the front of one line moving forward so that he may move to the front of the other line. This process repeats so that all cyclists in the chain gang rotate around. This gives all of the cyclists a turn on the front of they chain gang where they are forced to cycle into the wind and do the 'work'. In contrast, cyclists who fall back are given the chance to rest before their next turn.
Chain gangs tend to be characterised by short spells at the front and a high pace, and as such a ride in a chain gang is normally challenging aerobic (or even anaerobic) exercise. Indeed, weaker cyclists may find themself unable to do a turn on the front and may remain at the back to shelter from the wind and rest. Additionally, some cyclists may struggle to keep up with the fast pace and are known to drop off the back. If enough cyclists are dropped they may continue to work together to catch the main gang, or simply work with each other to continue training.
Cyclists will often meet and split into two or three chain gangs of similar ability if there are sufficient riders. This enables cyclists to ride with people of similar strength, but moreover it reduces the size of the group to a more manageable level.
In general the group will cycle at a steady pace (out of cities or urban areas if need be) to warm-up before starting the chain gang. A chain gang may culminate in a sprint finish for a particular target (such as a road side sign) to give cyclists a chance to practice and improve their sprint technique.
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