Winchester CTC Notes for Riders

Introduction

Riding in a group is great fun but is different from cycling on your own. The following notes are designed to make our rides safe and enjoyable for all.

Before your first ride, please read through this document so you are familiar with what to expect, what to bring, and rider etiquette and safety.

Contents

Choosing a ride

Choose a ride that is suitable for your preferred pace and distance (see Our Rides). Do get in touch with the Club Secretary if you are unsure: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Preparing to ride

• Check your bike is roadworthy. A useful pre-ride format is the ABC check. The M check is a more detailed safety check.
• Bright coloured / reflective clothing is recommended to help other road users see you.

What to bring with you

1. Emergency contact information (see below)
2. Puncture repair kit, pump and tyre levers
3. Spare inner tube
4. Multi-tool for minor repairs / any tools specifically needed to adjust your bike
5. Water/other drink
6. Snacks (e.g. energy bar, banana) in case your energy flags during the ride
7. Mobile phone
8. Money for refreshment stops/emergencies.

Depending on conditions:

9. Mudguards (highly recommended as a courtesy to other riders and may be required on certain rides)
10. Lights
11. Wet weather / warm clothing or removable layers.

Emergency contact information

The Club strongly recommends that you carry easily accessible In Case of Emergency (ICE) information with you on all rides. At a minimum this should give a name and telephone number for who to call in an emergency. To help emergency services/first responders, also include your name, address, date of birth, gender, next of kin, medical conditions, and allergies.

ICE tags to attach to your bike are available at a subsidised rate through Winchester CTC and are strongly recommended.

See this document for how to set up emergency information on your phone lock screen.

At the start of the ride

Do introduce yourself to the Ride Leader if you are new to the group. There will also be a backmarker to ensure that no-one is left behind.

During the ride

Always follow the Highway Code and above all, ride safely and with courtesy to other road users.

Rider etiquette and safety

• Follow instructions from the Ride Leader and do check if you are unsure about anything.
• Look out for others in your group and don’t be afraid to ask for assistance yourself.
• At turnings/junctions, ensure that those behind you can see the route ahead. Wait for the rest of the group at junctions unless otherwise advised by the ride leader.
• Communicate your intentions to other riders:
  • Look behind before starting or changing position
  • If you need to stop/slow down, call out “Slowing” or “Stopping”
  • When coming to a stop, pull in close to the verge and avoid blocking junctions or stopping on a blind bend.
• Make other riders aware of potential road hazards ahead:
  • Dangerous road surfaces such as potholes/gravel – call out and point down with left or right hand
  • General hazards such as pedestrians/dogs/parked cars – call out “on the left” or “on the right” and slow down as appropriate
  • Approaching traffic – call out “car down” or “car coming” for oncoming vehicles and “car up” or “car behind”
  • Pass messages up and down the group so that everyone follows suit.
  • You can find more detail in Warning calls for group riding but if in doubt, just call out!
• Don’t let your lights impair the vision of other riders (this can happen with very bright or flashing lights). Do not use flashing lights on a group ride after sunset.

Road position “do’s and don’ts”:

• Do not ride too closely to the rider in front
• Split into small groups on busy stretches to allow cars to overtake, leaving a gap of about four car lengths between groups.
• Do not ride more than two abreast. If riding on the inside, do not ride too close to the kerb where road surfaces are often poor, and if riding on the outside, leave a handlebar’s width between you and the rider on your left.
• Be prepared to change to single file riding when necessary and take especial care when approaching blind bends and on narrow lanes
• If you’re changing from two abreast to single file, the rider on the outside drops back and moves in behind the rider on the inside
• Always overtake on the right
• On ascents, ride on the left to allow faster riders to overtake
• On narrow roads, it may be courteous and appropriate to pull in where safe to do so, to allow cars to pass.

• Take particular care when passing horses (for more information see British Horse Society advice):
  • Alert the horse rider you are there, by calling out in advance “Hi, is it ok to pass?”
  • Once the rider is aware of your presence, pass wide and slow, and never pass on the inside of a horse
  • Slow down or stop if the horse rider asks you to, and always give way on bridlepaths.

Exceptionally, riders who repeatedly ignore Ride Leader instructions and rider etiquette may be asked to leave the ride.

If you don’t feel well or are struggling with the distance/pace

Do let the ride leader or a fellow rider know. Most of us have experienced this at one time or another so please do not worry. It may be possible for another leader to take slower riders on a short cut or make other arrangements. We do not leave riders behind, and the situation can usually be handled so that everyone enjoys the ride.

Leaving the ride

As the ride heads back towards the start point, some riders may take a direct route home rather than returning to the start. If you wish to leave the ride early, please ensure that the ride leader knows where you will be leaving the ride.

Finally

We hope you enjoy riding with Winchester CTC. If you have any queries, comments or suggestions, do speak to your Ride Leader or get in touch with the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..