Ride Leader Guidelines

Planning the Ride

  • Choose a starting location with adequate parking. Park & Rides, schools, and parks have traditionally been used. Rest room facilities are ideal but not required.

  • Most MHBC ride leaders use www.RidewithGPS.com for planning routes and generating cue sheets. Most riders will download the route to their devices and not require a printed cue sheet. If you need or want help learning how to use RidewithGPS, contact a club officer or board member and they will either help you or put you in touch with someone who can help.

  • If possible, check road conditions by car or bicycle the week before the ride to verify mileage, cues, and road conditions. Note any tricky turns.

  • Make any corrections or add notes to the RidewithGPS route and add any changes or corrections to the printed cue sheets, if using them.

  • Consider plans for shortcut options in case changes are needed during the ride.

  • Print the cue sheet, add your cell phone #, and make copies for riders who might not have been able to download the route or print a copy. 

  • Print the official MHBC sign-in (waiver) sheets from the club website. Place these with the cue sheets on a clipboard and add a pen for signing. It's good to put all of this into a large plastic bag to keep everything dry in case of unexpected showers during the ride.

  • Plan to bring club membership forms, business cards, and/or flyers, if you have them, for potential new members. Also, bring club window decals for new members who have recently joined.

Advertising the Ride

  • To comply with our LAW insurance policy, official club rides must be posted on the Club Calendar and have a ride leader.

  • Post a brief but descriptive announcement on the Club Calendar at www.midhudsonbicycleclub.com . Include distance in miles, start time, start location with directions or address, rest stops, food availability, the link to the RidewithGPS route, and ride leader phone & email contact information. 

  • Note whether paper cue sheets will be provided.

  • Use official club ratings to describe planned rolling speed (A, B+, B, C+, C, or D) and terrain (T1, T2, T3, T4, or T5)  http://midhudsonbicycleclub.com/ridecategories .

  • Include if precipitation will cancel the ride and when/where updates will be available. Most ride leaders use the Club Facebook page (Mid-Hudson Bicycle Club (MHBC)  https://m.facebook.com/groups/63636370946 ) for updates.

  • Remind riders to arrive early to sign-in and prepare for the ride.

  • Once posted, changes to the club calendar posting can only be made by the club president. Use the Club Facebook page to post minor changes and updates.

  • Also, use the Club Facebook page to announce the ride to members a week or a few days before the ride.

At the Start

  • Arrive early enough to get your bike and gear ready AND get everyone signed in.

  • Club policy requires riders to sign in at the start of official club rides. Check the sheet to ensure everyone participating has signed in and has completed all contact information.

  • Helmets are required. If someone doesn't have a helmet, explain to them that they cannot participate in the ride with the club. Cross their name off of the sign-in sheet and do not give them a cue sheet. If they ride along, they do so on their own and not as a participant of the Mid-Hudson Bicycle Club.

  • Check that riders (especially new riders) are prepared with fluids, food, spare tube, pump, etc.

  • Welcome new riders. Give new members a club window decal. Encourage non-members to join the club.

  • When possible, appoint a sweep.

  • Place the sign-in sheet and pen under a windshield wiper or some other accessible place so riders can check in when they are done.

  • It's also a good idea to snap a picture of the sign-in sheet with your phone so that you have riders phone numbers and emergency contacts with you during the ride.

Opening Remarks to the Group

  • These remarks can be tailored to the group.

  • If new riders are present, welcome them and have everyone introduce themselves.

  • Discuss safety: SAFETY IS EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY:

  • Follow rules of the road. Be courteous to vehicles and share the road.

  • Riders should call out "car up", "car back", "on your left/right", ''slowing", ''stopping, signal right and left turns, and try to point out road hazards.

  • Riders should, in most cases, avoid passing other riders on the right. 

  • If stopping for other than a traffic stop, pull to the right and get bicycle off of the road and out of the path of vehicles and riders.

  • Announce any changes to the route, cues, or road conditions since the route was posted for downloading.

  • State where you will be leading from in the group (front, rear, etc). 

  • Review plan for regrouping and rest stops. Riders who go faster than the posted pace and don't wish to stop and regroup are on their own.

  • Consider reviewing guidelines for pacelining: single line, double line, pacing, signaling, communicating, etc.

  • Discuss any pertinent short-cut or contingency plans for unexpected rain, excessive heat, etc.

  • Advise riders not completing the ride to tell the ride leader or the sweep. 

  • Tell riders where the sign-in sheet is located. Advise riders to initial or check-off that they have finished at the end of the ride.

  • Take a headcount before the ride starts.

  • If possible, begin the ride within 10 minutes of posted start time.

On the Road

  • Keep to the posted pace. Don't let riders keeping with the posted pace get left behind. 

  • Regroup as planned and continue to take headcounts.

  • Obey traffic laws.

  • Be courteous to all. 

In Case of Flats and Emergencies

  • Flat Tires: Some riders are self-sufficient and some will require assistance. Either way, someone should remain with the rider until the tire is changed. 

  • Mechanical Failure: Someone should stay with the rider to be sure the bicycle is repairable. If parts and/or skills are not available, make sure arrangements are made for pick up of rider and bicycle. Some riders may have roadside assistance with their auto club.

  • Serious Injury: Call 911 if the rider is unconscious. Call 911 and/or emergency contact (in most cases, it's best to comply with the rider's wishes in this regard).

Principles for Leading a Good Ride

  • Having a fun ride requires planning and making adjustments for weather and the riding experience of the participants.

  • Be assertive without being bossy. 

  • Lead by example. Practice and communicate the safety standards you want riders to comply with.

Ride Report

  • This is an optional but useful practice. A brief post-ride posting on the Club Facebook page is fun for the riders who participated and it helps members who didn't participate know what to expect on a similar ride in the future.

  • If you're not sure, check with riders before posting their pictures or names. 

  • Include pictures, rider names, highlights of the ride, miles covered, etc.

  • Forward sign-in sheet to club vice president. 

Start Planning Your Next Club Ride ☺

Ride Leader Training

Ride Leader Waiver