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.
The MHBC has paid for a club account on RideWithGPS which gives all our members access to premium benefits, such as turn by turn voice navigation. . All ride leaders are required to put their route into the RideWithGPS club library. Most riders will download the route to their devices or use the free mobile app for navigation. If a rider needs a printed cue sheet they can print it themselves from the RideWthGPS club library. 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.
You don’t have to create your own route! A great way to find a route is to search our club library and pick one that has been previously used. RideWithGPS can be used to create a new route, but always keep in mind the safety of the riders when choosing roads to ride on. 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.
Consider plans for shortcut options in case changes are needed during the ride.
Advertising the Ride
To comply with our LAB insurance policy, official club rides must be posted on the Club Calendar and have a Ride Leader. All Ride Leaders have be given their own personal Ride Leader Calendar Link that they can use to post their rides and edit/modify/cancel their rides if needed. You, as the Ride Leader have complete control over this by using your personal Ride Leader Link. If you do not have your personal Ride Leader link, contact a board member.
Post a brief but descriptive announcement on the Club Calendar. Include distance in miles, start time, start location with address, rest stops, food availability, the link to the RidewithGPS route that must be in the club’s library. More Ride Leader information on posting rides on the Ride Calendar can be found here. If your unsure how to post a ride look at previously posted rides on the calendar to see how other ride leaders posted their rides.
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 ) to announce the rides in addition to the Club Calendar.
At the Start
Arrive early enough to get your bike and gear ready AND make sure all riders have electronically signed in. Make sure you have your mobile phone with you so you can check the ride calendar vail the mobile app and make any changes necessary.
Club policy requires riders to sign in for every official club rides. The MHBC no longer uses paper sign in sheets. All riders MUST sign in electronically in one of two ways: via the Ride Calendar on our website or via the Mobile Ride Calendar App. We recommend using the mobile app for signing up for rides. Instructions for downloading and using the mobile app can be found here.
Helmets are required. If someone doesn't have a helmet, explain to them that they cannot participate in the ride with the club. Using the Mobile Ride Calendar App, remove their name from the ride sign up section. 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. Encourage non-members to join the club. Per our insurance policy, riders can only participate in their first club ride and they must join the club to participate in future rides
When possible, appoint a sweep..
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 AND OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY !
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.
Take a headcount before the ride starts.
If possible, start the ride at the 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).
The Ride Leader (using the Mobile Ride Calendar App) will have access to all the rider’s cell phone and emergency contact if the rider provided them.
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.
Incident/Accident Report
In the event that there is an incident that may give rise to a liability claim (someone injured or property damage) or a participant sustained an injury during a club event, please notify a MHBC board member AND file the appropriate report with the League of American Bicyclists, which is our insurance provider. Their incident report forms can be found here: LAB INCIDENT REPORT FORM.
Please bring any other information that you feel the MHBC board should be made aware of, so we can take the appropriate action. Our goal is to have a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone!
Start Planning Your Next Club Ride ☺
Ride Leader Training Presentation