How we ride - Etiquette Guide

The primary purpose of the Club Rides is to promote road cycling to its members in an enjoyable, safe and sociable environment. Group riding, when done properly, is not only hugely enjoyable but it will improve a rider’s cycling skills and it can push a cyclist to ride further and faster than they would do on their own. However, riding in a group does require that all riders modify their riding behaviour to ensure the safety of all road users. For example, negotiating a road junction is not as easy for a large group as it is for a single rider. Additionally, motorists can often seem confused by a large group of riders, and often seem to misjudge road distances and speed when overtaking the group, meaning that they can sometimes dangerously cut in or pass too closely.

Club Rides and events are for the enjoyment of all those participating; anti-social behaviour that affects the enjoyment of others during Club Rides, trips or events cannot be tolerated and such incidents will be dealt with by the Club Officers. Many members go to considerable effort and expense to participate in club activities, whether at home or abroad, and they have a right to enjoy a Club activity without experiencing anti-social behaviour.

When taking part in Club Rides and when wearing clothing or other items bearing the name of the Club, members are an ambassador or representative of the Club; as such riders’ behaviour (including abeyance of the Highway Code at all times) should be appropriate and considerate to those in the vicinity.

This document is intended to be a living, working set of advice, so if you have any suggestions, please let us know.

Helmets

Wearing a helmet is compulsory on all SOCC rides. They reduce the risks of serious head injury and are therefore of benefit both to the rider and those helping in the event of an incident.

Equipment

It is your responsibility to ensure your equipment is maintained in a road worthy condition at the start of a ride. All riders should carry a pump/sufficient tools/spare tubes etc. to ensure they can continue riding in the event of a mechanical failure. Each rider should be self-sufficient and be able to conduct basic on the road repairs e.g., change tube to fix a puncture. If riders do not have the route on their cycling computer or map, they should inform the ride leader at the start (so they can warn others in the group that directions may be required to give to the rider when on the front). They should also ensure that they can navigate their way home in case they get separated from the group.

Mudguards

Whilst not compulsory, it is recommended that in winter (November to March) and wet weather, riders use mudguards (not just an ‘ass-saver’ type item) on their bikes. When riding in groups, riders who are following riders without mudguards have a continual spray of water/mud in their face and will not have clear vision. This spray then forces them to ride offline and throws the whole group out. If you have mudguards, please use them for the benefit of the riders around you.

Club Kit

Currently we do not have a club kit (although we working on this).

Highway Code

This should go without saying!

Group Riding

There are a few simple basic rules which, if consistently adopted, will help ensure the enjoyment of all riders.

1. Group Behaviour

It is human nature that there will be a competitive element when you have two or more people riding bikes together but please remember that, above all else, Club Rides are social events, not a race.

Different groups cater for different abilities and rider preferences, but please remember that there will be a spread of abilities within a particular group. The key to a successful group ride is to maintain a steady pace and to keep the pack as a compact unit for the duration of the ride.

Members of the group need to communicate up and down the line using hand signals, shouts or both. Follow and pass on the hand signals and calls of the other riders to ensure communication throughout the pack.

If you are near the back of the group and see someone being dropped, it is your responsibility to alert the riders towards the front that the pace is too high. Otherwise, the lead cyclists may not be aware that riders are starting to drop off. Ask them to slow down, as the ride needs to work for all riders. When asked to “ease up”, do not brake suddenly. Simply ease the pace by pedalling less hard or freewheeling for a moment.

Cover your brakes at all times and, for the benefit of the group, use your brakes as gently and smoothly as you safely can. Sudden changes of speed or direction cause a concertina effect which gets magnified down the line which can be dangerous for the riders behind.

Please be respectful of other riders and aware of how your actions can affect them e.g., when clearing your nose or throat go to the back of the group.

2. Group size

As groups become larger, the ease of communication within the group is curtailed. Accordingly, it is important that the groups do not become so large so as to make communication difficult and /or cause a danger to riders and other road users. For these reasons, while the size of the groups may be guided by the numbers turning up on a Sunday morning, it is recommended that a group should not normally exceed 10 riders, and indeed smaller groups are encouraged. Where a big turnout is expected different ride times will be posted on Facebook along with an indication of what to expect in terms of the pace of the group e.g., easy, steady, faster. Members are encouraged to join the group most appropriate to their ability.

3. Positioning

When riding in a group do NOT ride in “the gutter” a few centimetres from the edge of the road. The ideal position is at least 0.5 m from the edge of the road which allows you, and the rider behind, to move left or right to avoid obstacles such as potholes.

Members should ride a maximum of two abreast in 2 close parallel lines, focusing on keeping the group neat and tidy. Riders should attempt to ride with ≈ 0.3 m (1 foot) between their front wheel and the back wheel of the rider in front. There should also be ≈ 0.3 m between the shoulders of pairs riding abreast.

Never cross (overlap) wheels – positioning in the group should be behind the rider in front, or, in the case of riding 2 abreast shoulder to shoulder. If you overlap, or “half wheel”, the probability of an accident is magnified as the rider in front may take evasive action to avoid a pothole or obstacle and will then likely wipe you out along, possibly, with many others in the group. However, be under no doubt, the blame lies with the person half wheeling.

Furthermore, half wheeling causes the group to echelon and spread across the road, giving the appearance, when the group is approached from front or back, that the riders in the group are riding 3 and 4 abreast (to the annoyance of other road users). If the inner rider rides in the middle of the two wheels in front of him/her, push the rider on your outside the outer rider will be pushed into the path of oncoming vehicles. If you overlap wheels, or nudge in between the wheels of the riders in front, any sudden change in direction from either you or the riders in front is likely to result in a crash, potentially bringing down riders behind too.

Do not ride 2 abreast in the following circumstances:

Where this prevents a car from passing or overtaking safely with the necessary minimum 1.5 m gap, e.g., when there are parked cars on the road, the road narrows, etc.
When approaching a blind corner, where an oncoming vehicle may cut the corner. In this circumstance the rider at the front should indicate “single file”.
On busy roads, or narrow lanes, all riders should be prepared to ride in single file.

The best way to single out is for riders at the front on the inside to slightly accelerate to allow riders on the outside to slip in behind them. The instinctive reaction to an oncoming car is for riders to brake. This has a ripple effect through the group and makes singling out more difficult and could cause a crash.

When coming to a stop as a group e.g., in the event of a mechanical failure or rest stop then ensure there is adequate room for the whole group to be clear of other vehicles, cyclists or pedestrians.

4. Respect the white line

Safety is paramount and this does not need further explanation except to state the obvious fact that riding on the wrong side of the road puts you, other riders and other road users in unnecessary and unwarranted danger.

5. Riding on the Front

When on the front keep pedalling! If you freewheel, everyone behind you will have to brake and you can cause an accident!

In general, all members of the group should take a turn at the front, however you should rotate off the front quickly if you are finding the effort too much.

Do not allow other riders in the group to be dropped off the back, make sure the pace is kept at a level that all can manage.

When riding in the wheels to keep the group moving as smoothly as possible try not to freewheel as this has a knock on effect of riders behind. It is better to select a higher gear and slowly pedal at low power as this is much smoother for group dynamic.

6. Road Junctions & Roundabouts

Particular care must be taken at road junctions.

Groups should try to remain orderly and avoid bunching at the mouth of the junction.

Riders at the front should not take a chance to clear the junction unless they are sure all the members of the group can get over. This avoids the risk of riders at the back taking the chance to get across simply to “stay on the wheel”.

However, in the event there is a split in the group at a junction, members of the group who have negotiated the junction should wait for delayed riders, either stopping altogether or riding at a gentle pace until the group is back together.

Whilst it is customary for riders to give a shout of “clear” to those behind, please remember that each member of the group is individually responsible for his or her own safety and they should only proceed onto a junction when they are sure that it is safe to do so.

7. Climbing

Everyone climbs differently, and a climb will inevitably lead to the group splitting. If you know you are a weaker climber, drop to the back before the climb. Do not move to the front, you will be forcing other riders to go around you when the climb starts.

Regroup as quickly as possible at the top of hills, or if you feel inclined and are a strong enough rider, go back down the hill and provide a bit of support to those that are not as quick.

Standing up in the saddle causes a momentary deceleration, so if you plan to do this let the rider behind you know.

When a climb levels out, the leading riders should pedal through and should not suddenly stop pedalling and slow down. If other riders have been dropped on the climb, gently reduce the pace and wait for them to catch up.

Group Communication

Riders should navigate and point out hazards in the road by either shouting or using hand signals. It is important that information is passed quickly and clearly to all members of the group. Set out below are some commonly used signals.

Car Back

Warns that a vehicle is approaching the rear of the group

Car Front

Warns that a vehicle is approaching the front of the group

Hole

Accompanied by pointing to the road with the appropriate right or left hand, warns of some hazard in the road. e.g., pothole, a branch, a brick, large puddle, etc. Also, if safer, then shout where hole is e.g., “hole left”

On the left

Often accompanied by putting the left arm behind the back warns of an obstruction on the nearside of the road. e.g., a parked car, a pedestrian, etc.

Easy

Request to slow down and be careful, for example because there is a hazard ahead or the group is approaching a junction, or there is some problem in the group.

Stop

A command to stop

Puncture / Mechanical

Warn riders behind you that you are likely to slow that you are going off the back with a problem. If you can control your bike, raise your hand in the air to indicate

Clear

At a junction, this is an indication to other riders that that the road is completely clear in both directions. However, please note that a shout of 'clear' is never ever a justification for not checking and pulling out: every rider has individual responsibility to ensure the road is clear for themselves.

Gravel

Gravel or other loose debris is on the road, accompanied by holding the hand flat over the road and shaking it

Ease up

An instruction to the lead riders to slow the pace (usually as a result of other riders being dropped). The lead riders should not stop but should continue to “soft pedal” at a slower pace until the group has reformed and the “All on” signal (see below) has been communicated up the line.

All ON