Riding Protocol

Some spirited discussion about expected behavio(u)r on Club Rides in a typical UK cycling club.
Some clubs are more laissez faire, and some like this are quite prescriptive. So far we have a reasonable sort of balance in VeloDCity. Any observations?

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BMCC Club Rides Protocol – June 2009

Format:

Saturday Rides:
- 9AM, every Saturday, all year round
- Meet at Bicester North Station, far end of the top car park
- Ride distance will be 40 – 50 miles
- Route decided on the day, aiming to arrive at the tea stop (meeting place) at approx 11.00 hours
- The current meeting place is at Turweston Airfield café, this allows riders to join the ride or to go straight to the meeting place

Sunday Rides:
- 9AM, Every Sunday, all year round
- Meet at Bicester North Station, top car park
- 2 rides available, every Sunday, all year round:
- Ride distance of 30 – 50 miles
- Ride distance of 50 – 90 miles

Off Road:
- Typically 10AM (as and when published).
- Meet in local village.
- Ride duration 2- 3 hours
- On local byways, bridle paths and canal paths
- Ride venues may be further afield
- Meeting point and rides will be published in advance

Protocol:
- All these rides are social rides; riders are not to disrupt these rides with their own training requirements
- Any changes to the ride routes, due to road closures, tea venues closed, will be published on the forum / by e-mail
- Safety must be the prime consideration of all riders on club rides
- Riders will show consideration to vehicles on the road, by going to single file to allow a traffic build up to clear. Riders should not wave traffic past the ride while out with the club, as others in the group might not be aware of their actions
- Riders must exercise due caution when riding in built up areas
- Riders must slow down when in the vicinity of horses, and call out a warning when approaching horse riders from behind
- Riders are expected to keep a good ride discipline, steady pace, keep in a tight group, there should be no riding 3 or 4 abreast
- When riders wish to change on the front of the ride, the rider on the outside moves across to the inside, the outside line moves up one place. This ensures that the ride should rotates smoothly up and down the lines
- When on a hills the group should slow to keep the ride together. However, if the hill is long or steep, the ride will re-group at a safe place at the top
- No rider will be left behind (on any club ride) unless they have requested to be left
- New riders to the club start are advised to start with a shorter ride to assess their riding standard.
- Riders have a responsibility to ensure that are at a suitable level of fitness, in both speed and distance, before joining any club rides
- All riders are expected to take responsibility for ride discipline; ride leaders will advise new riders
- During winter riding period (Nov - Feb), riders are strongly encouraged to fit mudguards and flaps. At other times of the year, and when the weather conditions dictate, riders should use common sense. Riders who do not use mudguards may be asked to ride at the back of the group
- Riders must comply with the Road Traffic Act, and use suitable and sufficient lights in falling rain and poor light conditions
- Riders are expected to use a roadworthy bicycle, and carry spare tubes, pump and tools
- Riders are advised to wear a suitable helmet at all times, and carry wet weather protection when conditions dictate
- Riders are expected to show consideration for each other while on club rides
- Riders are expected to have third party insurance cover; this available by joining BC, CTC or via insurance companies

For any further info, please contact the BMCC Ride Co-ordinator here
Last Updated ( Friday, 05 June 2009 )

Hi Stephen,

Thanks for the posting. Most of the guidelines presented appear to be common sense and are applicable to any group riding situation. I'm surprised that there is no mention of music listening devices(i-pods, cel phones, etc). Out of curiosity, are riders required to sign a release form of some type? How do the group/ride leaders enforce the rules?

For those folks who are interested, VeloDCity's Ride Ettiquitte can be read in the About Us section or by clicking the links below.

http://bike.meetup.co...
http://bike.meetup.co...

Bests,
gregg

I'd be more than happy to conform to their requirements if I could ride out of Bicester on a regular basis.

+1
for the most part ours pretty much sum it all
its brief and concise