The following should be considered "guidelines" only. No coercion is intended, nor is it expected that everyone will follow every guideline on all rides, people being people, and life being as it is. However, most of these are based on common sense and general concepts of sociability; they are therefore deemed reasonable and in the interest of avoiding misunderstandings and disappointment by riders and leaders alike. Generally speaking, it is more important to abide by these guidelines on rides listed at slower paces, when the pack is small, and when newcomers are present.
1. Ride leaders are encouraged to provide sufficient detail in ride listings to ensure that the reasonable rider will not be taken by surprise. This includes unusually long stretches without a chance to get more water or food, lack of any bailout route, surprisingly hard hills for the given terrain rating, etc.
2. Ride leaders are strongly encouraged to provide a route sheet and/or map showing all turns and regroup points for all rides except regular weekly rides and decide-and-rides.
3. If a ride is listed in the Wheel Truth or the website, the leader is expected make every effort to show up or send a substitute to at least meet the ride with a route sheet, except in case of rain, as explained in rider guideline #2, about rain. It is not sufficient to cancel or postpone the ride via the club e-mail list.
4. Leaders are encouraged to start rides with introductions and ask if anyone is present who is new to our club rides.
5. "No drop" means that the group will wait at all regroups for slower riders to catch up. The leader may, however, suggest an alternative "bailout route" to riders unable to keep up with the published pace. L and LT rides are generally no drop unless specified otherwise. T rides and faster are generally not no drop unless the leader indicates it in the listing or at the start.
6. It is not the responsibility of the ride leader to ensure that no one gets lost or to track down anyone who is missing at the end of the ride. However leaders are encouraged to take reasonable precautions (clear route sheets, regroups at strategic points) to prevent this from happening.
7. The ride leader is expected to ride at a pace consistent with the projected average listed or wait at regroups, even if most of the pack rides faster.
8. If slower riders express a clear willingness to stick with each other and ride by themselves, it is okay for the leader to ride faster.
9. If a rider is injured on a ride, the club insurance policy requires the leader to fill out an incident report for the club insurance. The incident report form, with instructions, may be obtained from the club web site, or from Alan Forkosh, (510)655-4221, aforkosh@mac.com.
1. Grizzly Peak Cyclists strongly encourages all riders to wear approved helmets.
2. A 30% chance of rain or showers will probably cancel the ride. If the weather looks doubtful on the morning of the ride, please call the ride leader.
3. All riders should carry a spare tube, pump, and patch kit and know how to use them, as well as some cash, ID, and emergency contact information. Riders on T and faster rides should be self-sufficient.
4. All riders should have mechanically sound bicycles.
5. Riders who are uncertain about the pace or terrain, or their ability to find their own way if necessary, are encouraged to call the leader in advance. This is especially important for rides of 50 miles or longer or at T pace or faster.
6. Riders who know they are slower than the listed pace but show up for a faster ride are encouraged to acknowledge to the leader that they are aware that they are slower and may be dropped, and that they are prepared to deal with that eventuality.
7. If a rider is unfamiliar with the area of the ride and is concerned about getting lost, s/he should let the leader know at the start of the ride.
8. It is the responsibility of the rider to ensure that s/he doesn't get lost by consulting the route sheet and/or staying with someone who knows the route. Those who ride ahead and miss a turn should be prepared to find their own way back to the group or to the start.
9. Riders are encouraged to wait at designated regroup points until the last rider arrives and has had a chance to catch their breath. On rides with larger attendance and a greater spread of ride speeds, "rolling regroups" at which groups of similarly paced riders collect and continue on are a reasonable alternative. Slower riders may find it advantageous to start out of a regroup ahead of the pack to get a head start.
10. Riders who decide to take a shortcut or leave a ride should make a reasonable attempt to let the ride leader know, either directly or through another rider. If this is not possible, the rider is encouraged to call the leader after the ride to say s/he got back safely.
11. If all but one or two riders choose to ride faster than the published pace, the group is encouraged to moderate their pace or double back to keep the group together.
12. Experienced club members are encouraged to make an effort to seek out riders identified during introductions as new to the club's rides and to make them feel welcome.
These guidelines originated at a special club meeting on ride pace and etiquette held 7 December 1999. Details were worked out at a followup committee meeting on 5 February 2001, and a draft was published on-line and in the March 2001 Wheel Truth, p 16. They were adopted by unanimous vote at the regular club meeting of 16 May 2001.
This page is maintained by Mark Abrahams,
webminion@grizz.org.
Comments welcome.
Last updated 2002/01/26.