Club Ride Safety Rules

• Arrive 15 minutes early and be prepared to leave at the time started
• Make sure your bike is in proper working order before you arrive.
• Bring mandatory gear (See the list below)
• Wear an industry-standard helmet
• Earphones are NOT permitted
• Obey all traffic laws
• Acknowledge road hazards by pointing hazards out to the rider behind you or calling out the hazard
• DO NOT CALL CLEAR!
• Use hand signals to indicate stops and turns.
• Be predictable; be visible.
• Positively conduct yourself
• Observe proper cycling etiquette and be courteous to fellow cyclists and respectful of other vehicles
• If you ride ahead of the ride leader, you are on your own
• Notify the ride leader when leaving the group.

The Essentials 

• Tube: At least two 
• Tire Levers 
• Pump / CO2 Cartridges
• Patch Kit
• Multi – Tool 
• Water or Electrolyte Fluids
• Money
• Identification

The Nice to Have

• Cell Phone: Share phone numbers at the beginning of a ride to be able to contact each other in case of separation.
• Credit Card
• Food/snacks for longer rides
• Bike Lights
• S Link
• Valve extension for deep dish wheels

Group Riding Best Practices

Group riding best practices are based on the preceding “Safe Cycling Best Practices” with additions unique to riding in groups.

1. Never do anything suddenly or without warning

Ride in a straight line at a consistent and predictable pace

Always give plenty of warning if you are going to move sideways, slow or stop

Make sure you are clear of other riders before you stop

2. Give yourself space between the rider ahead of you

Ride far enough behind to provide appropriate reaction time

3. Keep your head up, watch the rider in front of you, and check down the road constantly

4. Call out “On Your Left” when passing other group members

Move right to let group members pass

Move right and signal if you want group members to pass you

Move to the back of the group to drink water, spit or blow your nose

No One Left Behind Best Practices

Regroup

Establish locations or distances to points where the group will stop and wait for everyone to arrive.

Consider the following in establishing regroup points:

Regroup at places with room to gather completely off the road

Regroup after conditions that might cause group separation – after a climb or series of intersections

Regroup at time intervals

Regroup at distance intervals

Proceed once everyone has arrived and allowed time to recover.

When appropriate, send two riders back to find those missing so one can stay and the other can report back to the group.

Sweep

A rider providing sweep should know the route and always keep the slowest rider in sight.

Ride Start Communications

Ride start communications are central to setting the expectations of the ride, creating a safer ride, and reflecting the values of our club. Every rider should expect the pre-ride communication and provide their undivided attention. The communication should include the following:

1.   Greet and Introduce Riders

Let’s be great at greeting each other and introducing new riders. It reflects MTCCP values, the enjoyment of riding together and the inclusion of new members.

2.   Describe the Route

Hand out cue sheets when appropriate and verbally describe the route and destination. It is important to identify the first regroup point for each route, refueling stations and any special route related safety issues between the start and the first regroup. The presence of new or infrequent riders may mean providing them additional information to make sure they understand route options.

3.   Identify Groups

Once routes are described, ride leaders must identify which riders are following which routes unless everyone is riding in one group. Once routes have been identified, the leader for each route group should do a count and make sure that riders know who and how many are in their route group.

Large rides with multiple groups must allow groups to start separately at staggered times to help them stay together and keep track of each other.

4.   No One Left Behind

Identify how riders are going to take care of each other. If there is going to be a sweep for the group, identify the person. If another system is being used, identify how it will work. Refer to the No One Left Behind Best Practices.

5.   Safe Cycling Best Practices

Remind riders to model Safety Cycling Best Practices and perhaps highlight a practice or two that has been poorly modeled recently.