Rides · Ride Leader guidelines

Our Ride Leader guidelines

For the volunteers who lead and assist our bunch rides. If you're riding rather than leading, read the riding guidelines instead.

Introduction

Thank you for volunteering to lead or assist with our bunch rides on behalf of MC.

As a Ride Leader you are representing both MC Velo Club and MC Cyclery, and our sport in general. It is therefore important that you conduct yourself in a safe, responsible and appropriate manner.

Safety of the riding group and of you is paramount. By acting as a Ride Leader, you should do your best to run your ride in accordance with the guidelines below.

At the start

Be on time. In fact, be early.
Introduce yourself as the Ride Leader.
Introduce yourself to any new riders (if they do not come forward) and politely find out about their experience.
Let the group know what time the ride is scheduled to finish.
Ask if anyone needs to leave early.
Address any safety or other issues at the start.
Review calls or issues from previous rides — good or bad.
Introduce any new riders to a more experienced rider who will ride with them.
Nominate and introduce the group to the Sweep, and make sure the group knows to listen for calls for the back from the Sweep, and that nobody moves across until they hear this call.
On larger rides (20+) it may also be necessary to nominate and introduce a Ride Captain. This should be an experienced rider who knows the route and will ride mid-bunch to work with the Sweep in passing calls to and from the front, keeping the group dynamic, pace and safety together by avoiding excessive gapping.

What to bring

A bike in good working order.
An approved helmet. No helmet, no ride — no exceptions.
Front and rear lights if riding early in the morning, or at night.
Spare tubes, tyre levers and pump or CO₂ inflators.
Adequate hydration and food.
Sunscreen.
ID and emergency contact information.
A phone in case of emergency.

What participants need to bring

A bike in good working order.
An approved helmet. No helmet, no ride — no exceptions.
Front and rear lights if riding early in the morning, or at night.
Spare tubes, tyre levers and pump or CO₂ inflators.
Adequate hydration and food.
ID and emergency contact information.
Cash for coffee.

If a rider is not wearing an approved helmet, they are not permitted to take part in the ride. If they do not have lights and you believe they are required, they are not permitted on the ride.

All riders with flashing rear lights should be encouraged to set these to static or steady before the group departs, to minimise distraction and visibility issues for riders behind. The Sweep may of course choose to run a flashing rear light to increase visibility of the group to other vehicles and road users.

Headphones and earpieces are not to be worn.

Mobile phones should not be used when moving. If a rider wishes to take a photo or video of the group during the ride, they should only do so safely by moving out and away from the main group, and by communicating their intent to the Ride Leader or Sweep.

Commuter or flat-bar bikes, including single speeds, may be suitable for shorter, less demanding rides, trainers and beginners' rides — but this is at the Ride Leader's discretion.

Bikes with TT or aero bars may be permitted on the ride, but only at the Ride Leader's discretion and based on the size of the ride and the handling and ability of the rider. They remain generally discouraged when dealing with new or unknown riders.

On the road

Ride at the front right side and take control of your group.
Be clear, positive and definite with your calls and instructions.
Remember, your behaviour sets the tone for the rest of the group.
Obey all road rules and observe red lights.
Be courteous and respectful of all other road users.
Be aware of other large groups of cyclists around, and do not assume they will be riding with the same level of care and attention.
Keep the group together — be as smooth as possible at the front.
Sudden surges will break up the group easily. When rolling from stationary, try to get to 25 km/h at a moderate pace, which should enable the whole group to engage quickly and safely.

Signals and calls

Indicate properly and let other riders around you know what you are doing.
Signal hazards. If you see a hazard (glass, pothole, stick, etc.) that may affect the line or safety of riders behind you, it is your responsibility to signal it — by pointing it out — to following riders, with subsequent riders continuing the signal further down the group.
In headwinds it is likely calls for obstructions and hazards won't carry beyond 2–3 wheels. Remember to use clear hand signals for this, as opposed to shouting, and in good time — for example well prior to potholes, or when slowing or stopping.

Dealing with issues

Split in the bunch: If the bunch is separated due to a hill or traffic lights, the leading riders should slow, or wait at the next safe place, until all riders have regrouped.
Puncture or mechanical: Pull over smoothly and let other riders know so the group can stop. Only stop the group in the safest place to do so.
Dropped rider: The Sweep should communicate this and retrieve the rider, if necessary pacing them back to the group. The Ride Leader should slow the group — soft pedal — to allow reconnection, or stop it completely if the distance is too great.
A rider off the pace: After assessment, it may be necessary to remove a slower rider from the group if it is very clear they are going to struggle with the ongoing pace (for example 3–5+ km/h off the average pace) and this will compromise the whole group. In this instance an experienced volunteer should always leave with the rider and accompany them to the finish, or to a place they are comfortable to finish their ride.
In-bunch disagreements: These can and will happen from time to time and are usually resolved, but on rare occasions it escalates, may affect the safety of the ride, and can be very unnerving for inexperienced riders. The Ride Leader should stop the ride at the earliest safe point to do so and be prepared, if necessary, to ask both or all riders involved to leave the ride after discussing it. In all scenarios these disputes are best settled with a handshake, a hug and a coffee back at the Clubhouse, and the Ride Leader should seek this conclusion if possible or practical.
Injured or unwell rider: An injured or unwell rider is never to leave the ride alone. Arrangements must be made for them to return home safely, escorted if needed.
Leaving early: Riders needing to leave early should let the Ride Leader or Sweep know. Riders should never leave a ride without telling anyone, otherwise it will be assumed they are missing. Ensure you have communicated your actions in good time to those around you, including moving left or right, or turning off.
Have a deputy in mind: It's always good practice to have in mind a deputy or two who you know can continue to either lead or sweep the ride, if a serious incident occurs that you need to deal with, or you yourself become unwell during it.

Weather calls and cancellations

Be aware of current and forecast weather conditions. A final glance at the forecast before retiring for the evening is always recommended.
Bear in mind that weather conditions may not reflect those at the start or on the route, and that participants may be travelling from further afield.
Whenever possible, try to give at least one hour of clear notice of cancellation for any reason. Remember some participants may have 30 minutes or more of travel time to reach the start.
Whether to cancel or to ride is at the discretion of the Ride Leader, but also involves common sense. Slick roads with clear local radar would generally be okay; drizzle with potential rain showing on the radar is at best 50/50; raining with more to come is a definite cancellation. At no stage should a ride be started when conditions are plainly detrimental, which includes consideration of wind speeds and storm alerts.
Be aware of debris after high winds, and communicate this at the ride start if necessary.
In general terms, the larger the anticipated turnout for the ride, the higher the element of caution should be. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
Once underway, if conditions deteriorate beyond safe and sensible riding at any stage, the Ride Leader must halt the ride and re-assess. Generally a safe, slow ride to the nearest place of shelter — preferably with coffee — is recommended.
If the Ride Leader lives a distance from the start or intended route, it is useful to have a couple of contacts who live locally and regularly join the ride, who can provide more detailed information on the weather situation and assist in making a balanced decision.

Cancellation protocol

All cancellations — public rides and MC Velo rides alike — go out through the MC Velo app at app.mcvelo.cc. Add a comment on the ride itself, and a new post in the Chat so it reaches riders who aren't already watching that ride.

Where the call can be made the night before, schedule the cancellation then rather than leaving it to the morning.

Ride Leader fitness and availability

If for any reason you, the Ride Leader, become unwell and cannot lead the ride, this should be communicated as soon as possible. A deputy system should be in place for your ride and your deputy must be informed. If this is not practical, then the ride should be cancelled.

Under no circumstances should a ride take place without either a designated leader or deputy. Any riders who set off without an approved Ride Leader do so as an unsanctioned MC ride.

Bunch riding calls and signals

A glossary of typical terms used by Ride Leaders, Captains and Sweeps on the road. Please obey the calls made at all times.

Stopping: When approaching a red light, stop sign or other.
Clear: When entering a roundabout or intersection and it is safe to proceed.
Rolling: When approaching a set of lights or intersection that may require stopping.
Car up: When a car ahead may require single file or keep-left.
Car back: When a car behind may attempt to overtake.
Car right / left: When a car is approaching an intersection.
Lights: When red light.
Glass, hole, stick: And pointing it out — when an obstacle is on the road.
Slowing: When slowing down significantly or preparing to stop.
Wait / Hold: Sweep at the back indicating that it is not safe to change lane, or Ride Captain mid-bunch relaying calls from the Sweep.
Over: Sweep at the back calling the bunch across a lane when it is safe to do so. Or Ride Captain mid-bunch relaying calls from the Sweep.
Single: Group adopts single file to deal with a hazard or narrow lanes whilst passing parked vehicles etc. This may have to be done quickly. If the Ride Leader cannot visually determine whether it is safe to resume two-abreast, they should ask for a call from the Sweep to confirm it is safe to do so.

In mid to strong headwind or crosswind conditions it is highly likely that calls for obstructions and hazards will not carry beyond 2–3 wheels. Remember to watch for clear hand signals for this, as opposed to shouting, and in good time — for example well prior to potholes, other obstacles or street furniture, and when slowing or stopping.

Thanks for leading

These rides only happen because people volunteer to run them. If anything here is unclear, or you've hit a situation it doesn't cover, tell us so we can add it.

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