How to lead a ride
STBC welcomes new ride leaders and encourages you to offer to lead your favorite ride.
1. Select a route. Use the STBC bike ride database or scout your own.
2. If you plan your ride sometime in advance of the ride, add it to the ride calendar by sending information to bike@southerntierbicycleclub.org.
Be sure to include: a. Date and time of ride b. Route c. Meeting place, directions to it and parking instructions d. Distance e. Speed f. Terrain (hilly, flat, rolling….) g. Whether you will be stopping for food along the way h. Your first name, last initial and email address.
3. During the week before the ride, send a reminder to the membership to preview the ride. Include all information. (Date, time, route, rating, distance, meeting place, etc.) You may also want to provide information on weather and appropriate clothing for the ride. (“Rain possible, bring jackets.” “Cold forecast but warming up, dress in layers”)
4. Be as welcoming and friendly as you can. The club wants to encourage people to ride and a friendly greeting and introduction to other riders will help new riders feel welcome . Remember that the ride leader is the face of the club and, as such, has a responsibility to represent the club to the riders.
5. If you decide to offer a spur-of the moment ride anytime within the week of the ride, simply post it to the STBC Google group. Again, be sure to include all the information as listed in item #2, in your note.
6. In cases of inclement weather it is up to the discretion of the leader to conduct the ride or cancel. If a ride is to be cancelled, send the notice of cancellation as soon as possible to ensure that all potential riders receive the notice.
7. If you feel you need support on the ride ask another rider to help. Rides often have a ‘sweep’ who can make sure all riders return safely and who, with the help of other riders, can make any repairs needed on the ride. If a repair can’t be made, it is customary for another rider to offer to go back in a car and pick up the rider.
8. Please remind participants that all riders must have a signed liability waiver on file. Waivers can be found on the STBC website and either filled out on line (with the corresponding $1.00 payment made through PayPal) or printed out and mailed to the club’s address or given to the ride leader.
9. All participants should have emergency contacts available on the contacts spread sheet. Emergency numbers may be forwarded to Mark Goodwin at Mark@goodwin.us.
10. Leaders may alert riders to any unusual terrain or detours and may also remind riders of important safety information. STBC encourages riders to ride single-file, to keep alert for narrow shoulders on the road, NOT to pass other cyclists on their right side and, when stopping to gather in groups, NOT to block intersections. When you pass other cyclists please use the customary ‘on your left ’ to notify them of your presence. Use hand signals for turns and alert others when you are slowing or stopping along the route.
11. After the ride the leader should be sure all riders return to the parking lot.
12. Ride reports and photos are really enjoyed by the members and we encourage you to provide them. Reports can be sent to STBC Google group. You may post photos to the current year album on the STBC website.
2. If you plan your ride sometime in advance of the ride, add it to the ride calendar by sending information to bike@southerntierbicycleclub.org.
Be sure to include: a. Date and time of ride b. Route c. Meeting place, directions to it and parking instructions d. Distance e. Speed f. Terrain (hilly, flat, rolling….) g. Whether you will be stopping for food along the way h. Your first name, last initial and email address.
3. During the week before the ride, send a reminder to the membership to preview the ride. Include all information. (Date, time, route, rating, distance, meeting place, etc.) You may also want to provide information on weather and appropriate clothing for the ride. (“Rain possible, bring jackets.” “Cold forecast but warming up, dress in layers”)
4. Be as welcoming and friendly as you can. The club wants to encourage people to ride and a friendly greeting and introduction to other riders will help new riders feel welcome . Remember that the ride leader is the face of the club and, as such, has a responsibility to represent the club to the riders.
5. If you decide to offer a spur-of the moment ride anytime within the week of the ride, simply post it to the STBC Google group. Again, be sure to include all the information as listed in item #2, in your note.
6. In cases of inclement weather it is up to the discretion of the leader to conduct the ride or cancel. If a ride is to be cancelled, send the notice of cancellation as soon as possible to ensure that all potential riders receive the notice.
7. If you feel you need support on the ride ask another rider to help. Rides often have a ‘sweep’ who can make sure all riders return safely and who, with the help of other riders, can make any repairs needed on the ride. If a repair can’t be made, it is customary for another rider to offer to go back in a car and pick up the rider.
8. Please remind participants that all riders must have a signed liability waiver on file. Waivers can be found on the STBC website and either filled out on line (with the corresponding $1.00 payment made through PayPal) or printed out and mailed to the club’s address or given to the ride leader.
9. All participants should have emergency contacts available on the contacts spread sheet. Emergency numbers may be forwarded to Mark Goodwin at Mark@goodwin.us.
10. Leaders may alert riders to any unusual terrain or detours and may also remind riders of important safety information. STBC encourages riders to ride single-file, to keep alert for narrow shoulders on the road, NOT to pass other cyclists on their right side and, when stopping to gather in groups, NOT to block intersections. When you pass other cyclists please use the customary ‘on your left ’ to notify them of your presence. Use hand signals for turns and alert others when you are slowing or stopping along the route.
11. After the ride the leader should be sure all riders return to the parking lot.
12. Ride reports and photos are really enjoyed by the members and we encourage you to provide them. Reports can be sent to STBC Google group. You may post photos to the current year album on the STBC website.