Please follow these guidelines to help make our club rides safe and enjoyable.
Guidelines for All Riders
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- Obey the Highway Code and show consideration to other road users and to the group.
- Follow instructions given by the Ride Leader or Back Marker for the safety of yourself and fellow riders
- Use the calls (see table below) to alert the group when necessary
- Use hand signals when turning and to point out hazards
- Arrive in good time for the briefing at the start of the ride
- Ensure your bike is in good condition with tyres pumped
- Be prepared by bringing water, phone, tools, spare tubes, ICE details (click here for details)
- Put lights on your bike in case the ride is delayed and the return is after dark, or visibility is poor during the day
- Use mudguards in wet weather as a courtesy to following riders
- Wear appropriate clothing; consider weather and visibility. WSCC recommends wearing a helmet and Hi Viz clothing
- Seek advice: we have many experienced riders who are happy to advise on bikes, clothing, safety, repairs and good rides
Calls - mandatory
| Explanation | |
|---|---|
| Car Front | Made by the Leader (or others near the front): a vehicle coming towards the group may be a hazard. |
| Car Back | Made by the Back Marker (or riders near the back) – a vehicle behind that may be overtaking. |
| Stopping / Slowing | The rider intends to Stop or Slow down. |
| Single file / Single out | An instruction from Leader or Back Marker. Mandatory move to single file riding to allow a car to overtake or because of a narrow road. |
| Car Left / Right | To warn of a car approaching. There may be a requirement to stop. |
| Open Gaps | A mandatory instruction from Leader or Back Marker to split into smaller groups to allow traffic to overtake safely. Typical group size is 5 riders, who will then need to self-discipline (with calls). The groups should be at least 5 car lengths apart. |
| Clear | A courtesy call to assist riders in crossing an intersection. |
| Other advisory calls | To alert other riders of a Pedestrian, Runner, Horse, Hole, Gravel, Puncture etc (use appropriate hand signals as necessary). |
| All Up! | A call (often mandatory) made by the back marker to advise the leader that all riders are accounted for. |