Group Riding Responsibilities

As a friendly, community-based, cycling club, we welcome you to come and ride with us. All we ask is that you follow a few guidelines to make your riding – and that of the rest of the group – as safe and enjoyable as possible.

SAFETY FIRST

  1. Members take part in club rides at their own risk.
  2. We recommend 3rd party liability insurance (e.g. British Cycling membership).
  3. Ensure your bike is roadworthy. Check tyres, brakes, cleats etc. Ride with necessary tools to change a puncture.
  4. Bring appropriate clothing & equipment: helmet (this is mandatory), lighting, mobile phone, warm and rainproof garments as necessary.
  5. Bring your membership card or guest form complete with emergency contact details including any important medical or allergy information that can be easily accessed by other group riders in case of emergency.
  6. Follow the Highway Code. Ride predictably and smoothly with no sudden changes in pace or direction. Avoid hard braking.
  7. Ride 2 abreast if the road allows for it, but single out or split into smaller groups where necessary to allow vehicles to pass or where the road is narrow with blind corners and hill crests. No 3 abreast riding.
  8. Communicate with the group:
    • “Car up!” – vehicle approaching from the front
    • “Car back!” – vehicle approaching from the rear
    • “On the left” – accompanied by putting left hand behind the back warns of an obstruction on the nearside (e.g. parked car) 
    • “Slowing!“
    • “Stopping!“
    • “Single Out!” – need to move from pairs to single-file riding
    • “Split!” – split the group to help cars pass.
    • “Hole!” – accompanied by pointing at the hazard
    • “Clear!” – at a junction (please double check),
    • “Car right” – at a junction
    • “Car left” – at a junction.

Pass along communication from the back of the group e.g. “puncture,” or “ease up” so that the whole group can slow or stop, and always act on shouted instructions as quickly as possible.

  1. Signal: Always check behind you and signal your intention to move out of or into a line of riders.
  2. Don’t overlap wheels with the rider in front.

(updated Nov 2018)