: WCC club ride rules

WCC club ride rules

Winchcombe Cycling Club - Rules for Club Rides

All Club Rides
We meet every Sunday morning at 9.00am in Back Lane Library Car Park and every Tuesday at 9.30am for road rides.Off road meet at 9.30am Sunday and Wednesday’s.in Back Lane Car Park. From time to time other club rides may be arranged and publicised on the Club’s members ‘WhatsApp’ stream.

Club rides are reserved for members of Winchcombe Cycling Club. Any non-member interested in riding and joining the club may do so for up to 3 rides providing they have signed a Guest Rider Form, part of which confirms they have read the Rules for Club Rides. If you are under 18, please admin@winchcombecc.org.uk to discuss before joining a club run. You and a parent or guardian must read the club's Under 18 Policy and then complete and return a signed Consent Form to take part, otherwise you cannot ride. The Club member guiding the ride will check compliance with these policies at the start of Club rides.

We have developed these Rules for Club Rides to make the rides as safe and enjoyable as possible. Additional Rules for Mountain Biking follow those for Road Riding below.

Rules for Club Road Riding

Ahead of all the other suggestions below always remember that the Highway Code, rules, regulations and laws of the road apply. You are responsible for your own safety, so ensure your bike is road-worthy and you're confident riding on the open roads and for the distance and pace of the ride.

• Have Fun - Above all, the club runs are fun. Even when it's raining. There may be some rules here but the club run isn't a military drill, it's about enjoying getting out on the bike.

• Highway Code - When riding, first and foremost you must at all times comply with the Highway Code and more than that, you must ride with courtesy and respect for other road users. You are responsible not only for your own safety but for other riders around you. There will be a guide but their role is limited to choosing the route and, as far as possible, making sure the group stays together and respects other road users. They are NOT responsible for your safety, you are. You are also responsible for the cohesion of the group and helping keep it together. Experienced club members may ask you to adjust your speed, road position or style. Please respect them, as they are only concerned for everybody's safety.

• Clothing, lights and supplies – It is compulsory to wear a helmet on club rides. Cycling gloves, protective eyewear and appropriate high visibility cycling clothing are highly recommended. Members should wear the club kit if they can. Use lights (front and rear) when weather conditions or the law demand. Bring food & drink, money, a mobile phone, and emergency contact details.

• Don't Race - The Club Ride is a social ride, it is NOT a race. You can race to your heart's content in organised competitive events, but please not on club rides. Do not overtake the rider(s) at the head of the group. Anyone accelerating ahead of the group will be assumed to be on another ride of their own devices. They will not be called after or chased after if they take a wrong turn. We normally wait for people who go off the back of the ride. We do NOT wait for people who go off the front.

• Group Riding Etiquette - Aim to ride with less than one metre between you and the rider in front. Ride in pairs, NEVER more than two abreast, and directly behind a rider in front, not diagonally. Never overlap the rider in front. Single out if a car is behind and when doing so would enable the car to pass, or if the road conditions make it sensible to do so. To single-out the outside rider slowly drops back and slots in behind the rider they were alongside. Where there are 10 or more riders it is usually safer to split into
two or more groups so vehicles can overtake in stages. Be careful when braking suddenly, warning those behind. Do not ride close behind another vehicle.

• Change the Lead - Every few minutes, the lead should change. So if you've been sitting on the front for a while, when it's safe to do so, tell the others and swap the lead.

• Ride Together and wait – Speed should remain constant. The lead riders should not freewheel as this has a concertina effect on the group. Nor should they ‘half-wheel’ the rider beside them, as this makes the group’s speed surge and causes splits. When approaching a junction slow down a little to allow the riders behind to catch up and proceed as a group. Likewise, re-group at the top of hills and if necessary, at the bottom. The lead riders should make sure that all riders are back in the group before
resuming the ride at normal pace. It is okay to keep moving, but slowly until everyone is back together.

• Warnings and Help – Communication is the responsibility of everyone in the group. Front riders should warn of hazards ahead and inform the rest of the group verbally and/or with hand signals (see Appendix). Rear riders should monitor traffic waiting to overtake and ensure that no-one is falling behind. If they are, then they should inform those in front and the group should slow to allow it to be reformed.

• Mechanicals - If someone punctures or has a mechanical, everyone is expected to stop. So in return for delaying everyone, make sure you start the ride with spares (like an inner tube, tyre levers, removable chain link, etc.) and that your bike is in good working order.

• Accidents and Incidents – In the event of an accident where there is an injury, members of the group should secure the location, provide first aid within their level of competence and training, and call emergency services as necessary. Remain calm and avoid confrontation. The guide will make a record of the time, location and circumstances of the incident, and take details of third parties involved.

• Local considerations – there are particular hazards on local roads. The left hand edge is full of pot-holes and drains, so it is recommended that the left hand rider rides approx. 75cm from the verge to avoid swerving. Be especially respectful of horse riders; call out a warning and slow down. Talking as you approach horses helps reassure them.

• Say Hello! - If you're new, please identify yourself to those guiding the Club ride. Please listen to them, as they will explain how the ride works and where it's going.

Additional Rules for Club Off-Road Riding

(When riding on the road we follow the Rules for Club Road Riding above).

• Route Planning - The route is normally planned on the day depending on rider numbers and experience and should take account of weather conditions and forecast. When adverse conditions are anticipated consideration should be given to:
• Terrain conditions
• Rider stamina, ideally planning the route into the wind on the way out and with the wind on the way back
• The welfare of young riders, particularly in cold conditions when they may be more susceptible to severe heat loss and consequent fatigue.

When less experienced members are riding consider splitting the group either at the start or during the ride, modifying the routes appropriately.

• Before Riding – Check the weather forecast before you ride and ensure you have the appropriate clothing – the Cotswolds can be very inhospitable in the winter, particularly in the event of a lengthy or unplanned stop. When night-riding ensure your lights have sufficient running time to get you home safely.

• Respect the Countryside – At all times you must obey the Countryside Code. Keep to bridleways unless you have permission to use a footpath (permissive use). Always close gates and make sure that you do not frighten or release livestock. When riding on Cleeve Common (in part a Site of Special Scientific Interest) please follow their code for MTBs and report any issues to the Duty Ranger (see info boards on the Common).

• Respect Other Countryside Users – Give particular consideration to walkers and horse riders. Always call a friendly warning to let them know you are approaching.

• Riding etiquette – Regroup frequently. In particular check on group numbers after ascents and descents to make sure no-one has been dropped. Leave an appropriate space between you and the rider in front, especially on steep or technical ascents and descents.

These rules aren't set in concrete, it's all about being sensible, courteous and aware whilst riding on the road. Remember, you are responsible for your safety and take part in activities at your own risk.

Safeguarding
• The club has appointed Carole Ward email admin@winchcombecc.org.uk. Please refer any issues regarding young or vulnerable riders to them.
• We are guided by the British Cycling Safeguarding Policy see https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/safeguarding

Appendix
Some common warnings, often accompanied by hand signals are:
• CAR UP or CAR BACK - there is a car behind waiting to pass. On narrow or twisting roads this should be followed by:
• SINGLE OUT - the whole group moves into a single file. The outside rider falls back and drops in behind their near-side companion.
• COMING THROUGH - the group is being passed by a vehicle.
• CAR DOWN or CAR FRONT- there is a car approaching from the front, on narrow roads this may require the group to SINGLE OUT.
• HOLE (or HOLE LEFT or RIGHT or UNDERNEATH) - the first person to see a hole (usually the leading rider) shouts out and points to the hole so that following riders can avoid it.
• ON THE LEFT (or RIGHT) - there is an obstruction such as a parked car, fallen branch, etc. to be avoided.
• GRAVEL - loose road surface, ride with caution.
• STOPPING - the group needs to stop because of a mechanical problem of for some other reason. The group should stop where all the riders can move off the road and never on a bend or at a road junction.
• EASY - this means the pace is too fast and some riders are struggling to keep up so the group should slow down.
• OFF THE BACK – this means that a rider (or riders) has been dropped and that the group should ride slowly or stop until the rider (or riders) catch.

Additionally when Off – Road

• RIDERS or WALKERS FRONT