Riding with The Club
Organising consistent club rides gets tricky when the responsibility falls on only a handful of people. Instead, we wanted to make it easier for everyone in the club to self-organise their own rides so that no one is ever deprived of a good ole' weekend on the bike! This is sort of happening organically via Discord right now, but it's notoriously difficult to keep tabs on who's joining and what the ride details are. This sheet should help to simplify the process (or at least take some big steps in the right direction!).
We've also tried to create more transparent pacing categories so everyone knows what they're signing up for and there are no nasty surprises when out on the road. We realise that average paces can vary greatly depending on the route (and how many hills are involved!) so we've tried to give a range of pacing guidelines to help you pick the one that is most suitable for you.
**Disclaimer** please note that these are social rides, not formal training sessions set by the coaching team. Therefore by choosing to attend these events you understand and acknowledge that each individual is self-sufficient and responsible for themselves during the ride. LFTC is not accountable or liable for anything that happens during or as a result of the event.
Group Riding Etquette 🚴♀️🚴
We realise group riding can be intimidating to those new to cycling in groups, so if you're not confident on the etiquette, read below:
Follow the rules of the road
This one should be a no brainer - when cycling in a group, be careful to follow the rules of the road. Skipping lights or going the wrong way down a one way street puts multiple lives in danger.
Signal your intentions
Obviously you signal when you're turning left and right, but there are more signals that you'll need to be acquainted with when riding in a group e.g. pointing down at potholes, flapping your hand up and down to signal
that you're slowing, showing that you're moving into the centre of the road to avoid an obstruction. Check out this link for the most popular road cycling signals.
Communication is key
Ensure you're closely communicating with other riders in your group - when you don't have enough time to signal with your hands you can shout "HOLE" or "SLOWING" to let them know what you're doing.
Communicate if you're struggling to keep up and you need to draft off someone's back wheel. If you need to stop for a wee or take on a gel, just let the group know.
Be aware of your surroundings
In direct relation to the above, do not ride wearing headphones. You will need to be aware of your surroundings, both other road users and cyclists in your group.
Safe positioning
When riding in a group, you need to adopt a safe positioning to those around you. Ideally you want to be close to the rider in front of you - 30cm or less from their front wheel - if you don't feel comfortable with this,
take a distance that you do feel comfortable with. The golden rule of group riding is to never overlap your front wheel with the rear wheel of the rider ahead. Touching wheels is a common cause for crashes.
Limit your group sizes
You’ll notice that we have 9 spaces in the LFTC Ride Organiser sheet, this is because groups that are too big can be dangerous on the road. If you do have a bigger group, split into smaller groups based on speed and aim to meet at any planned stops.
Come prepared
Always make sure you have the ride route, enough hydration and food to keep you going. Whilst we’re a friendly bunch, you can’t rely on other riders to get you home safe, hydrated and fed.
Be friendly
It’s custom to wave, nod and smile to other cyclists on the road.
No drop rides
If you’re worried about not being able to keep up, check that it’s a no drop ride before joining.
Happy riding everyone 🚴♂️