Carlisle Reivers CC
Ride Leader’s Checklist

Becoming a Ride Leader

• Speak to someone on your Committee so they can register you in order to be covered by 3rd party liability insurance from British Cycling.
• Familiarise yourself with the Checklist below:

Before the ride

• All riders should be encouraged to take part in the rides that that are within their capabilities.
• Familiarise yourself with the risk assessments from the CRCC website and update as needed for your ride.
• Be prepared to vary the ride if weather or road condition dictates, this is called a Dynamic Risk Assessment.
• Decide how you will navigate and ensure you know the route well and any potential shortcuts if needed, e.g. weather, rider struggling etc.
• Advertise your ride – don’t forget to include: the meeting time and place; the approximate distance and pace; likely return time; and other essentials, create an event on the Club FB page and add it to the Team Up calendar.
• Each rider is responsible for their own safety and should be personally prepared according to our Club Etiquette

Leading the ride

• Find out the names of everyone on your ride – not just for insurance purposes but it’s also friendlier. Check that everyone is a member of the club (or if they are on a Try Ride).
• Enlist the help of any experienced riders to keep an eye on newer ones; act as back markers; lead a second group; or even act as ‘human signposts’; at junctions or gates.
• Explain how you will lead the ride: e.g. riding in pairs, when to go single file, reminder about hand signals, shout outs etc.; when and where you will wait for stragglers; how you will deal with traffic and so on.
• Point out any likely hazards in advance. In the unlikely event of an incident, please complete an Incident Report form as soon as possible. (see Items to Carry below).
• Avoid blocking roads and junctions – choose stopping points carefully.
• Keep the ride flowing smoothly but do be prepared to stop if required to give anyone struggling a rest before restarting.
• You have a duty of care to the riders and the public, so if you think someone may endanger themselves or others, have a quiet word. If their behaviour persists, you are entitled to ask them to leave the ride.
• You should lead by example and remain courteous and considerate to all road users and fellow riders.
• Ensure anyone who wishes to leave the ride is happy to make their own way home.

Items to carry

It a good idea to carry a few essential items such as:

• Selection of small tools, inner tubes, tyre levers and a puncture repair kit
• A mobile phone
• Money
• Sweets/gels for anyone who “bonks”.
• Basic first aid items -sterile wipes, small bandage, plasters.
• Pen
• Incident report form. Click here to download