Group Riding Guidance

These rules are based on best practice issued to us by British Cycling, and on the collective decades of cycling experience that the ride leaders have. There is a good video https://youtu.be/QPXijIKgFVM which is worth viewing.

SAFETY This is the single most important consideration for our club rides, and we ask you to take this very seriously:

It is essential that your bike is in a safe and roadworthy condition, with for example, working brakes. If you are unsure many local bike shops will offer a bike-check, or post a query on the Facebook message board if you want to ask an open question. It is a club requirement that helmets always be worn when riding, this is for your safety, and to set a good example to other riders. Be equipped for the season, appropriate lighting and high-visibility clothing should also be worn.

Should there be an incident, please support the ride and offer any help you can, whether it be making a phone call to seek help, warning other road users (often the most critical thing to do), or assisting with any injured riders.

All riders under 16 MUST be accompanied by their parent, guardian or nominated adult. We advise they have attained Level 2 Cycle Training Standards or equivalent, but leave it to the parents’ discretion. We encourage parents to ride within the capabilities of their children and ensure their safety is the paramount factor.

RESPECT We ask everyone, when riding on a COG Velo ride to have respect for their fellow riders and other road-users:

Ride leaders will help with mechanical issues where they can, but we would ask all riders to be able to fix basic problems such as punctures. Always carry some spare inner tubes that are the correct size for your wheels, a multitool, levers and maybe a spare chain link, as the ride leaders will be unlikely to have a full set of spares.

Please follow the highway-code at all times, including stopping at red-lights and riding no more than two-abreast Please respect ALL other road users including drivers, pedestrians, runners, dog- walkers and horse-riders. Where appropriate and safe to do so, allow drivers to get past you on our narrow roads.

Please get to the rides on time. We will have a short announcement before each ride and then look to get going.

FUN Let’s not forget that we do this because we love cycling, so let’s do it with a smile on our faces A cheery “hello” to a passing groups helps spread the fun to everyone else

GENERAL GROUP RIDING ETIQUETTE FOR BEGINNERS

Pick the right Group – Club Rides are inclusive, but all riders must have reasonable level of bike fitness. They are not suitable for novice riders just starting out. Pace rides (when run) are faster and suitable for those who can average >18mph for 20+ miles. The Facebook page gives an indication what the routes for the rides will be, if there is a special event etc. Generally there will be 2 hills and we tend to for 2 hours (20-30 miles). The form is to ride together on the flat, and ride up the hills at individual pace, regrouping at the top.

As a general rule it will be worth starting with a slower group than a faster one. But if you are not used to riding in a group then you might be surprised how much benefit you get from it (approx 20%). By this I mean you will go 20% faster with the same effort.

Each Club ride will have a leader(s).

The leader will not necessarily have to ride at the front, but will be familiar with the route and have some cycling experience. Please respect the leaderʼs decision, if for example they decide to shorten a route due to weather/light/safety concerns. If you leave a ride, please ensure the rider knows you have gone, so the ride does not spend time looking for you!

The other experienced riders should act as “sweepers” watching the back of the group or riding at the back of the group to make sure riders do not become detached from the main group.

Ride two-abreast when it is safe to do so – this way the group is a compact unit which can ride efficiently but easily move to single-file when needed to (for example to get past an oncoming car when the road is narrow). Sit behind the rider in front, not out to one side, as this leads to overlapping wheels and crashes. On the roads, NEVER go three or more abreast, irrespective of how good the conversation is!

__Communication is key to a safe group ride. __

Roads are full of traffic, rocks, signs, pot holes, parked cars, animals, pedestrians, etc. and visibility is limited for the cyclist in a pack. It is important to communicate to the riders in the group of potential hazards by shouting and pointing out hazards. Every member of the group should pass back signals, do not assume because you heard a warning, the person behind you also heard it. This is important, and easily forgotten by riders at the start of the season, as you have not had to shout while sitting on the turbo over the winter.

Shouts (all group members)– Warnings you're likely to hear include:

Tail: there's a car approaching from the rear of the group ride

Nose / Car Up: there's a car approaching from the front of the group ride

Car right or left: car is approaching on the left of right of the group ride

Rock / Hole / Gravel / Branch etc: there is a hazard in the road

Clear: perhaps at a junction this is called when there is nothing coming and you know you can pedal through

Slow / Easy: potential hazard ahead, control speed (but don’t brake sharply to a standstill). Raise your hand if possible with this call.

Stop / Hold up: we are going to have to stop – there is a hazard we can’t ride round. Raise your hand if possible with this call.

Single-file: asking that we move (whilst still keeping same speed) to single-file to for example let a vehicle past.

Walker / runner / biker up: there is a slower road user ahead that we are likely to overtake.

Man off / man back / puncture: one of the group has a problem and is off the back, be prepared to slow down or stop.

Hand-Signals: It is not imperative that all the cyclists in the group point out the same hazards or signals. As long as a few are, then this is normally sufficient (and the leading two always should). If you are a beginner or unsteady then is far safer for the group to keep both hands on the handle-bars than it is to point things out.

The purpose of these signals is that the riders can continue to ride at a steady pace and can ride round the smaller obstacles without constantly having to brake (and sudden braking causes most incidents).
The thing you are most likely to see is where riders point down in the direction of an oncoming rock/hole. If the two riders both point to the ground between them, this signifies there is small obstacle (such as a pothole) that they are going to ride one either side of.

If the rider on the left points to their left, it means there is something to their left that they might have to ride slightly to the right of to pass – and if you are behind them then you will have to take the same line if you also want to avoid it! Similarly the rider on the right might indicate a similar obstacle to their right.

These signals allow the group to ride at a constant pace.

You will also see a ride pointing or waving behind their lower back. If they are pointing right (the most common) then it indicates that the whole group will have to move to the right to overtake a large obstacle such as a parked car.

To be safe it is important to ride smooth, don't over react, avoid hard braking, be alert as to what is going on up the road in the front of the pack, and anticipate what traffic will do.

Inexperienced rides who panic and touch a wheel may crash or cause a crash. You can avoid problems by practising these simple rules:

Stay alert at all times. Hold your line. Don't overlap wheels. Don't look back! Relax!

Focus on the rider(s) ahead. Beware of pot holes in the road. Don't brake unless absolutely necessary

All of this may sound complicated at first but you will soon get into it. It actually gives a whole new dimension to cycling as it makes it a team event – you have to communicate, support and trust each other, and everyone's safety is in each other's hands. But you will find it one of the most enjoyable elements to riding in a club.

COG Velo 2018