Our club exists to provide organised rides in and around Basingstoke.
This document is intended to set out our expectations of leaders and anyone that cycles with us. It’s not an exhaustive list but covers the key expectations.
1. Expectations of all riders
To come prepared with a road worthy bike, tools and knowledge to fix any problems and appropriate safety equipment (helmets are mandatory, as are lights on evening rides)
To take responsibility for their own safety (including having a back-up plan / emergency contact if they cannot complete the route) and ensure they don’t endanger other road users
To be aware of their own ability and only join a ride that is appropriate for their fitness level (you can message the club beforehand if you are new and want to discuss how to get into cycling)
To be respectful of those around them in how they conduct themselves as a member of our club
To embrace the club ethos, riding as a group and not leaving anyone behind
And most importantly… HAVE FUN, BE SOCIAL and EAT CAKE!
2. Core function of a Ride Leader
Our Ride Leaders act on the club’s behalf as ‘club officials’. They are covered by the club’s British Cycling insurance for third party liability when acting as a Ride Leader on an official HWB club ride (as listed on our club Facebook page).
Ride Leaders do not need to be qualified to perform the role, they simply need to be competent cyclists and appointed by a member of the Committee.
A successful ride leader will:
- Follow a route
- Keep the ride flowing and the group together – this is an important point for HWBCC. No one should get left behind. Splits may occur because of terrain but if they do people should wait and allow everyone to regroup.
- Make sure no one gets lost and that everyone gets home safely
3. Pre-ride Prep
Let us know if you are available to lead. Requests for Ride Leaders will come via the Ride Leaders Group chat in Messenger. Please reply to let us know if you are available and what ride you’d like to lead. If your plans change and you cannot lead, please let us know as early as possible.
Download the latest route to your head unit (Garmin / Wahoo etc.). Routes are published on the club website and the Facebook page. They do get updated so please update those on your head unit.
Routes are numbered 1 to 31 with the number matching the date of the ride and then broken into A, B, C, etc. An A route will typically be ~ 15 miles, B route ~ 20 miles and C routes ~ 30 miles. In general we run B and C routes (dependant on leaders) but if you contact us in advance we will try and accommodate your needs.
Be sure to have the distance(s) you have offered to lead downloaded to your device.
For special events (café rides etc.), alternative routes will be shared with all Ride Leaders and members in advance.
Review the route. Please take a look at the route map prior to leaving for the ride so you know where it goes in the event your head unit fails. Take note of key villages / junctions which will also be helpful when briefing riders before you set off.
Deviating from published route. If you want to add some miles, or offer up a different route to that advertised, be very careful to ensure that every rider is genuinely happy with the idea and make other Ride Leaders aware by posting in the Ride Leader Group chat.
Check the Ride Leader chat before you leave. Occasionally it is necessary to change routes due to road closures or cancel rides due to weather conditions. Please check before you leave home.
Get yourself and your bike organised. Make sure that you have everything you need for the ride (taking account of weather conditions) and that your bike / lights are ready to go. A simple ABC check is helpful to ensure your bike is good to go. SafeCycle–ABC–poster.pdf (paf.org.au)
4. At the meeting point (normally St. Marks School)
Arrive a few minutes early. Always arrive 10 minutes early so you can get organised and ready to go.
Help with the introductions. A member of the committee or Ride Leader community should give a rider briefing. They should ask if there are any new / non-members, let people know what rides we are doing, highlight any safety concerns and then separate them into smaller groups. They should also look for anyone who doesn’t have the minimum safety equipment (helmet / lights for evening rides)
Organise the groups. Our preference is to limit group size to 8 riders, including the Ride Leader. You should split the groups based upon people’s ability / preference e.g., slower ride / faster ride. Matching their ability level will help ensure they aren’t struggling or pushing the pace, either of which can disrupt the ride.
Welcome new riders. Introduce them to the group, talk to them about how we ride, ride etiquette, and ask them about their own cycling experience. If you feel they are in the wrong group, speak with them and other Ride Leaders to see how best to run the ride. Please pass on their name to the committee via the Ride Leaders Group chat after the ride so we can prompt them to join the club once they have completed their three trial rides.
Outline the route. Give an overview of the route (key waypoints), expectations of pace and any safety related points.
Remind riders of etiquette / safety points:
Remind everyone of basic signals and calls prior to leaving that are aimed at improving safety for them and those around them e.g.
- Hole
- Gravel
- Car front / car back
- Slowing / Stopping
- Walkers / Horses
- Clear (on junctions)
- Left / Right (for turns)
- Single Out (go into single file)
- Puncture (hopefully not)
Follow basic etiquette /safety when riding e.g.
- Follow the Highway Code
- Don’t ride 3 abreast
- Ride in single file on narrow roads/ blind concerns
- Follow the leader
- Ride as a group / pace of the slowest rider
- Only pass other riders on the right and let them know you are there
- Avoid overlapping your front wheel with the bike in front of you
- Shout if you need to stop for any reason
- If you have to clear your throat / nose, please drop to the back.
5. On the road
Follow the route, keep the group together, highlight any hazards, be respectful of other road users and take care of each other.
Follow the route. Unless for safety reasons or the welfare of the riders you should follow the agreed route.
Keep the group together. The group should be respectful of the Ride Leader and ride as a group. Encourage the group to communicate if they are finding the pace too quick. Check to make sure that the group is ‘All On’. Wait at junctions and pull away at a gentle pace to allow people to catch-up. Take breaks where necessary to allow riders to recover and don’t set-off until everyone is ready. Where natural gaps occur (e.g., stronger riders going uphill) ask the riders to wait at a safe spot to allow everyone to regroup.
Encourage good riding. A flowing ride is a good ride. Encourage people to ride at a consistent pace (rather than lots of stops and starts) and where possible taking turns riding on the front. Often the best way to ride is two abreast so encourage this where it’s safe. If you see unsafe riding, please highlight it to the rider themselves or the Ride Leader.
Don’t lose anyone. Hopefully if people are following the direction of the Ride Leader and riding at the pace of the slowest rider you won’t lose anyone. Make sure you know who is in your group. Let people know if you see people dropping back and listen for any shouts. If you do lose someone as they’ve gone ahead, wait at the last junction and hopefully they’ll work out the error of their ways and come back. If they are behind, send someone (or go as a group) to check on them as they may have had a problem.
If there is a problem. Stop in a safe place. Ask riders to alert any other road users to minimise any risk of injury. Call emergency services if necessary. If a rider cannot continue, ask them to contact their emergency contact to collect them and wait with them or ensure they are safe. Ask the Ride Leader to report the issue on the Ride Leader Group chat. If an accident occurs, you may be required to complete an incident report.
6. Rider equipment checklist
- Helmet
- Fully charged GPS unit with route loaded (if you have one)
- Pump or Co2 canisters
- 2 inner tubes and tyre levers or tubeless plug kit
- Multi-tool (ideally with chain tool)
- Lights (where appropriate)
- Mobile phone and cash in case you need assistance (or to buy cake)
- Drink to keep you hydrated whilst on the ride
- Suitable food / snacks
- Insurance – we’d recommend members have appropriate cycle insurance in case of accident and recommend British Cycling Membership which can be purchased separately.