Road Rides
Contact:
road@rivercitycycle.ca
Recreational Road Rides
Recreational Rides on Wednesday Evenings @ 6:30PM. Meet at the upper Sportsplex Parking Lot (off of Alder Street, near the skate park).
Intermediate/Advanced Road Rides
Intermediate/Advanced Road Rides: Wednesday evenings @ 6:30PM starting May 02. Sunday mornings @ 10:00AM. Both rides start from the upper Sportsplex Parking Lot (off of Alder Street, near the skate park).
Note: please email to confirm the start time and meeting place for group rides as changes may occur depending on the season and weather.
** Helmets are mandatory on all club rides
Group Road Ride Etiquette
Group rides are a wonderful way of sharing your enjoyment of cycling with others. Group rides can range from a very socially- paced 8Km "ice cream or breakfast" ride, 50Km training ride, or a conversationally-paced 100-mile century ride. Riding etiquette and common courtesies apply to all group ride regardless of the number of riders, distance or predetermined pace. River City Cycle Club schedules group rides for benefit of our membership to experience cycling with others of similar skills and interests in a social atmosphere. It is expected that every cyclist attending group rides will respect the work and effort of the ride leader and their fellow cyclists. After all it is called a group ride. If you find the pace of the group rides are either too fast or too slow for you, then volunteer to lead a ride at the pace you enjoy. You're sure to find a group of cyclists who would love to join you.
Basic Guidelines for Group Rides
* Provide Camaraderie and Support - Remember we are mostly a social and recreational bike club. Watch out for you fellow cyclist before, during and after the ride. Help make newcomers welcome by introducing yourself. Don't immediately spin off to join up with your old cycling buddys, but spend a portion of the ride with the new cyclist. Give them some information on the club, the route and introduce them to your friends. If the newcomer appears to be having gear or equipment problems, don't pedal impatient circles in the parking lot, get off your bike and offer some assistance. The ride will get moving that much quicker and you may need the favor returned some day.
* Be Punctual - Arrive at the ride start with your gear and equipment ready to start riding at the posted time (ex. A 10am ride will leave the meeting place at 10am sharp). Accidents and equipment failures happen, so plan to arrive early enough to repair a flat or perform minor adjustments. Check your gear the night before so your fellow riders won't have to wait while you hunt the missing glove or sock.
* Be Predictable - Group riding requires even more attention to predictability than riding alone. Other riders expect you to ride straight, at a constant speed, unless you indicate differently.
1. Change Positions Correctly - Generally, slow traffic stays right, so you should try to pass others on their left. Say "on your left" to warn the cyclist ahead that you are passing. DO NOT PASS ON THE RIGHT. In many cases a cyclist may not hear or be aware of you approaching them from behind. An unexpected noise may cause that cyclist to swerve in your direction when you pass. If approaching a lone cyclist, the offer of "good morning" or "nice day for a bike ride" lets the cyclist know your position and intent to pass.
2. Watch Out At Intersections - When approaching intersections requiring vehicles to yield or stop, signal your intention with hand and verbal signals. Call out "slowing" or "stopping" to alert those behind to the change in speed. In the event the leading cyclist calls "CLEAR" remember each cyclist is responsible for verifying that there is no approaching traffic before entering the intersection.
* Communicate with the group - Use hand and verbal signals to communicate with members of the group and with other traffic.
1. Hand Signals - Hand signals for turning and stopping are as follows: Left arm straight out to signal a left turn. Left arm out and down with you palm to the rear to signal slowing or stopping. And, for a right turn, put your left arm out and bent up.
2. Verbal Warnings - Along with hand signals, verbally warn cyclists behind you of your changes in direction or speed. The lead rider should call out "left turn," "right turn," "slowing," stopping," etc. Announce a turn well in advance of the intersection, so that members of the group have time to position themselves properly.
3. Announce Hazards - When riding in a tight group, most of the cyclists do not have a good view of the road surface ahead, so it is important to announce holes, gravel, grates, and other hazards. Indicate road hazards by pointing down to the left or right, and by shouting "hole," "bump," "glass" etc., where required for safety. Everyone in a group should be made aware of hazards. However, not everyone needs to announce them.
Ride with Safety and Courtesy as your guide
* Watch For Traffic Coming From The Rear - Since those in front cannot see traffic approaching from the rear, it is the responsibility of the riders in back to inform the others by saying "Car back". This warns leading riders to maintain position and the potential of a passing car. Use discretion on the car back warning: on busy roads with continuous passing traffic, the call out of car back tends to lose it's significance. Use the warning "Car up" on narrow road to warn following riders of approaching traffic.
* Leave A Gap for Cars - When riding up hills or on narrow roads where you are impeding faster traffic, leave a gap for cars between every three or four bicycles. This way motorist can take advantage of shorter passing intervals and eventually move piecemeal around the entire group.
* Wait At Turns - If the group becomes at all separated, even by a few dozen meters, someone should wait at the turn until the next rider arrives at the intersection, and so on until all riders have made the turn.
Move Off the Road When You Stop - Whether you are stopping because of mechanical problems or to regroup with your companions, move well off the road so you don't interfere with traffic. It is usually best for the lead rider to pull forward in the stopping area and for other riders to pull in behind the rider in front of them. As a courtesy, during regroups the last cyclist in controls when the group will restart.
Remember The Lead Cyclist Is In Charge Of the Group and as the lead cyclist it is your responsibility to keep your group informed of road conditions.