Ride Leaders have been approved by the club, are registered with Cycling UK, and are current members of Cycling UK. The Ride Leader’s primary responsibility is to make sure everyone gets home safely.
Under the terms of our Cycling UK insurance there is a general requirement to follow any guidance on leading rides issued by Cycling UK, and a particular requirement that you are aware of all participants on the ride.
Ride Leaders should follow this guidance:
| Topic | Guidance |
|---|---|
| Route planning | Plan the route in advance. Plan a route that takes into consideration road conditions, riding ability of the group, weather conditions, daylight hours and appropriate stops. |
| Post ride on Spond | Post all club rides on Spond. In addition to being an effective way to manage ride participation, Spond fulfils several important safety and administrative functions. |
| Ride Cancellation | Cancel, postpone, or amend ride if adverse weather creates dangerous conditions. Consider the likelihood of ice, high winds, or prolonged heavy rain. |
| Newcomers and guests | Record the details of any rider who is not a member of Cycling UK or who is not on Spond, and request ICE details. Assign an experienced rider to stay with an inexperienced rider. |
| Children and vulnerable adults | Persons under 18 years of age and vulnerable adults should not participate in normal club rides. Special events involving such riders must be sanctioned by the club’s committee and organised to comply with Cycling UK’s guidance, which can be found here. |
| Count riders | Maintain a count of riders at the start and during the ride. Consider appointing a Back Marker. A reliable and experienced rider to assist the Ride Leader and ensure that nobody is left behind. |
| Brief the group | Before the start of the ride, briefly explain the route and planned stops. Introduce the Back Marker, if applicable. Warn the group of likely hazards. Remind riders to use calls and hand signals. Inform riders of when they will need to split into smaller groups to make being overtaken safer |
| Accidents | Read detailed guidelines on what to do if there is an accident here . In the event of an accident follow this guidance. All accidents must be reported using the Cycling UK on-line form here (accident report form), and the club’s committee notified, as soon as possible. A printable from is available here. |
| Heavy traffic | It is hazardous to undertake stationary or slow-moving vehicles when in a group. Exercise caution when overtaking – cyclists may become stranded in the right-hand lane. Better to stay back and be patient. |
| Horses | Approach horses at low speed. Alert horse riders and horses to your presence with the human voice. Pass singularly or in small groups giving horses good clearance. |
| Signposting | At a change in direction, ask a rider to stay, in a safe location, and signpost to avoid losing riders |
| Regrouping | Stop in a safe location to ensure no rider is left behind or to advise of hazards ahead. |
| Punctures | Move to safe place to repair. At least one experienced rider should stay with the unfortunate cyclist and one person should have the route. |
| Post-ride debriefs | Conduct a short review with remaining riders to get their views on the day, particularly on any safety issues and opportunities for improvement. |
| Confirm list of attendees | Ensure that the Spond list of attendees is correct at the end of the ride. Then, select “register attendance” and “save”. |
Resources for ride leaders:
- Cycling UK’s Ride Leader Standards Handbook can be found here.
- Checking the route beforehand can avoid some problems – planned roadworks and closures can be seen on this website.
- Windsor Great Park rules are here.
- If you were involved in a traffic incident, you can report it to the police here (Surrey) or here (Sussex). But note that you must report any collision to the police (dial 101) if you were unable to exchange details at the scene, if anyone was injured, or if you suspect that the other person may have committed a driving offence.
- You can report potholes here or in Surrey here or or for Hampshire here