Here are some Do's and Don'ts for club rides that people new to cycling or cycling in a group should find useful. In fact a useful reminder to us all. 

Please take time to read this important post. Many members will be familiar with the contents but can everyone remember the hand signals and calls to others in the group to indicate potholes and other hazards. Apologies for the length.

Punctures: Please see the final section.

Weekend bike rides are popular sessions at the club and the number turning out on even the coldest of days can be very high.

But, with the large groups of cyclists comes the high risk of danger, we need to make sure the 7Oaks Tri Club rides continue to be safe, as well as enjoyable training.
Our club rides are unsupervised and the club is not responsible for our safety. 
As triathletes we compete as individuals but the club bike ride is all about cycling as a group, working together to get up those hills and staying together for the duration of the ride so no one gets left behind. When cycling with others, we all have a responsibility to look out for others' safety as well as our own.
Here is a list of essential basic things to remember to keep it safe while cycling on our own and within groups. It is divided into the following sections:

· Do's 
· Don'ts
· Calls 
· Hand Signals

Please try and remember to apply these rules next time you are out.

Do's

- Follow the Highway Code at all times - it applies to ALL road-users.

- Wear a cycle helmet.

- Ensure your bike is road worthy, brakes are fully operational, your tyres are pumped up to the recommended PSI (as written on the tyre) and are in good condition.

- Divide into smaller groups if necessary - be prepared to split into groups of 12 maximum to be safe.

- Cycle a maximum of two abreast in 2 close parallel lines where appropriate; focus on keeping it neat and tidy.

- Ride with 1ft (30cm) approx. between your front wheel and the back wheel of the rider in front. There should also be 1ft (30cm) between your shoulders and the rider beside you.

- Be prepared on small or busy roads to ride in single file.

- Riders at the back of the group to shout "Car back, single file" if there are vehicles behind. Listen and act on their calls, DON'T look back and check for yourself, as you will move off your line and may cause an accident.

- Lead cyclists to navigate and point out hazards in the road by either shouting or using hand signals. Listen to them and act on the calls, and most importantly, repeat them for the cyclist behind you.

- Ride directly behind the wheel of the rider in front. If you cycle in the middle of the two wheels in front of you, you WILL push the cyclist on your outside into the path of passing vehicles.

- Brake as gently and smoothly as you safely can when riding in a group

- Cover your brakes at all times.

- Talk to each other. Point out either with hand signals or shouts, all potholes, manhole covers and other dangers in the road that could cause punctures or accidents. Follow the hand signals and calls of the riders in front as they will have seen the danger before you and then you can all communicate down the group.

- If you are at the back of the group and either see someone dropping or are being dropped it is your responsibility to call to the cyclists in front that the pace is too high. The group must communicate this up to the front. The lead cyclists will not be aware if you start to drop. Ask them to slow down, it is your ride too.

- Ride at a steady pace, keeping the group as a compact unit

- Check over your shoulder for other riders or traffic before moving out to the right

- Slow right down when passing horses, and pass them as wide as it is safe to do so.

- If you are on the front, remember that people are following your calls. If you make a decision to pull out on a roundabout or junction, you need to call "Clear" or "Wait" to warn the pack of hazards.

- If you are feeling tired let people know. Accidents happen when people are tired and lose concentration. Everyone gets tired; let people know so they can slow the pace down and tuck you in the group to carry you home.

- Cycle with confidence. If you're nervous you will tense up and then are less likely to be able to respond to things quickly.

- Always cycle with an appropriate group. Check anticipated pace in weekly email. Take a look at the cyclists in your group. You might be able to cycle with them for 1 hour at their pace, but can you do 3 hours? Be realistic so that you enjoy the entire ride and don't end up bonking after 1 hour, then forcing the group to slow down for you

- When cycling at dusk or night, wear appropriate reflective bright clothing and ensure you have working lights on the front and rear of your bike.

- Dress in appropriate clothing for the weather

- Bring everything you might need. Prepare for every eventuality. For example, puncture kit, tyre levers, inner tubes, pump, allen key set, helmet, waterproof jacket, food, water, money, credit card, mobile, contact details in emergency.

- Plan your nutrition according to your ride duration. You will burn on average 500 calories per hour when cycling. You should be drinking one 750ml bottle of water every hour. You must have enough food to last the entire ride (riders may not wish to stop, especially if it’s cold or wet). Individual’s energy needs are different, but a guide for a 3-hour ride might be 2 bananas, 1 sports bar, 1 jam sandwich, and 1 gel for emergency pick-me-up! Water is required as defined above.

DON’T

- Overlap wheels, or nudge in between the wheels of the riders in front. You will come off if they move off their line.

- Ride on tri / aero bars in groups as you will not be able to brake or steer quickly. Ideally consider taking tri bars off the bike completely for group rides.

- Make any sudden movements/changes in direction off your line when in the group. You are responsible for the cyclist behind you; they are following YOUR wheel they need to trust you.

- Ride off the front. This is a group ride, not a race. If you want to go faster then let the others know what you are going to do and if no one wants to join you then go off and enjoy your ride alone.

- Stop pedalling if you are on the front, even going downhill. The cyclists behind you will read this as you slowing and could be forced to brake and bunch up.

- "Zone out" on the wheel in front. Keep aware of everything that is going on around you, look ahead and that way you can avoid most hazards.

- Whip round the outside of the group to get to the front unless in an emergency. Shout up the group any communication. If you do need to get to the front then make sure you check in front and behind for cars, remember three abreast will push you out into on coming traffic.

- Pull out at junctions without looking, having heard the "Clear" call from a fellow cyclist. Check whether there is a vehicle coming yourself.

CALLS

These are some calls you might hear. It is essential that you repeat them down the group so everyone can hear:

- "Car Up/Front/Back"
Keep tight to the cyclist next to you, and be prepared to cycle in single file

- "Hole"
Upcoming pothole to avoid. This can also be followed by a direction i.e. "HOLE LEFT".

- "Slowing"
Usually accompanied by a hand signal. The cyclist in front needs to slow down for some reason.

- "Stopping"
Brake!

- "Wait"
Usually at junctions to indicate there is a car coming

- "Clear"
To indicate that a junction is traffic free. You must check yourself and not rely on others.

- "Heads Up"
Hazard ahead, pay attention.

- "Single out/ single file"
Get into single file safely and promptly

HAND SIGNALS

These are some hand signals (other than the obvious left and right turns!) It is essential that you repeat them so everyone can see and pass it on:

- Single hand in the air (up or down)
Rider is signalling that he/she needs to stop or slow down. Usually followed by the call 'Slowing', 'Stopping'.

- Pointing down at the road
This is to point out hazards such as pot holes, manhole covers etc. PLEASE copy this signal, it stops accidents and punctures.

- Arm out left or right
Everyone in the group needs to indicate when turning left or right

- Left arm signalling behind back
Signal the cyclist is about to move out into the road, e.g. to pass a parked car, to go round debris in the road.

PUNCTURES

The group will traditionally wait if a rider punctures but in the winter months it can get very cold hanging around waiting for it to be repaired. Ride leaders should consider continuing up the road for 5 minutes with the group and then returning to link up again with the rider who by now has hopefully repaired his/her puncture. Obviously in some areas a lady shouldn't be left on her own and one of the group should remain. All group riders should be able to repair a puncture and carry at least one spare tube, three tyre levers and a pump that works. Riders on the beginners/improvers ride will always be given assistance if required.

The club has in the past run puncture repair classes and plans to again in the very near future (end Jan or early Feb 2012)

Please try and remember this, it will keep our rides even safer and more enjoyable than they already are.

Happy and safe riding!