So - You want to lead a Cycle Ride (for Adults)

First you need to do a bit of preliminary planning.

1 Decide on a date and time. Full or half day ride? Lunch / tea stop to be made? Or picnic - no need to make for a venue providing food.

2 How far? How long will it take? Depends on the experience and competence of the riders. If planning for beginners (assuming they can all ride bikes), 5 - 10 miles is plenty to start with, therefore a half day ride with tea or picnic stop plus stops en route to allow slower ones to catch up. Expect an average speed of about 7.5 - 8 mph actually on the move. Thus our beginners' ride would take 1.5 - 2 hours altogether. Add a tea stop and you have a pleasant afternoon's ride.

More competent riders would expect longer, up to 30 miles of more. Riding with a group is slower than on one's own, so probably 9 - 10 mph would be the average speed. It's nice and friendly being able to chat as one rides along, so don't expect to get anywhere fast.

As to stating mileages when announcing rides for novice / beginner cyclists, I tend not to. Some feel intimidated by the idea of a 10 mile ride; tell them afterwards that's what they've just done and they feel great about it. Times too can be dodgy. Just say we expect to be back by 6 o'clock, or whenever.

3 Where to? Where should we meet? If you're new to leading rides it's a good idea to start with a route you're familiar with, from a point convenient to getting on to without too much hassle. Novice cyclists feel daunted by main roads and fast traffic. They may prefer to bring their bike on their car which they can leave in a nearby car park or layby before joining the ride. Try to ensure such a facility is available; its lack may deter a potential participant from joining the ride. If a pub or tea stop is planned, ensure a suitable one is open and available.

4 Who is joining the ride? It's a good idea to know everyone's name, address and telephone number before you start, just in case anyone should be taken ill and need emergency attention. For CATI (Come and Try It) rides all new participants are asked to complete a form, which also acts as a disclaimer:

/ understand that if / take part in any ride organised by, or in the name of, the above named club, / do so entirely at my own risk. The club, its officers and ride organisers, accept no responsibility for any loss, damage to property, accident, injury or death that may occur, howsoever caused, whether by negligence, deliberate actor otherwise.

Name (block letters) ............ Signed ............ Address:......... Tel. No. ............

5 Before setting off on a ride, make sure you have a competent cyclist as 'sweeper' or 'tail-end Charlie', someone who has been briefed about the route and destination. When leading, I find a rear-view mirror invaluable here; as long as I can see my 'tail-end Charlie' (usually Bob, conspicuously clad) in my mirror I know we're all present and correct.

6 New routes - where shall we go next? One of the best ways of enlarging one's repertoire of routes is to go out with other cycling groups. Their ride leaders have a different repertoire and I must admit to having learnt many new routes from joining CTC rides. Alternatively, one needs to resort to planning new routes from maps, or using cycle route maps devised by other organisations. I prefer to use an Ordnance Survey map, even if a route leaflet is available. The OS map shows so much more detail than a leaflet and I find it much easier to follow. Also if you lose the route for some reason, the OS map will show where to get back onto it, or will indicate any short cuts available.

As OS map is a diagrammatic form, drawn to scale, of an aerial photo; imagine yourself looking down from on high to follow it. Sometimes the OS map looks complicated, even daunting - the reason why leaflet maps are simplified, but one can be easily led astray by the omitted detail. But look closely and follow it a step at a time -the route unfolds before your eyes.

7 Safety and Courtesy. As leader of an adult group I expect all participants to have road-worthy bikes and know how to use them effectively. Novices may need help in sorting out which gears to use, and this can be explained during the ride. Some cyclists feel safer wearing a helmet; this is a personal choice best left to the individual. The effectiveness of wearing a helmet is still questionable, but often picked up and remarked upon by non-cyclists. I consider that wearing conspicuous and reflective clothing is essential, particularly in poor light conditions. And of course, it is essential to use lights after dark.

Although cyclists are legally permitted to ride two abreast, I prefer to ride single file along a road carrying any significant amount of traffic, only doubling up after reaching quiet country lanes. If the group is large - 12 or more - it is best to split into two or more smaller groups with space between to allow refuge for overtaking traffic. This is a courtesy issue, as is a wave to acknowledge a helpful move. Keeps motorists happy!

Ride participants are expected to follow the Highway Code. We are, after all, on show and cyclists have a bad enough name already for their 'gung-ho' behaviour on the road.

8 Is everyone happy? Ride leadership brings with it some responsibilities, even with adults. It is up to us to make sure everyone feels included in the group, safe and secure. With a novice or beginners' ride there may be some who do not feel safe cycling alone and prefer only to venture on the roads in the company or more experienced riders. They need to be nurtured and it's helpful if the more experienced riders make themselves known to the novices and `take them under their wing'.

The ride leader must make sure everyone is ready before setting off, whether at the beginning of the ride or after a rest stop. I have known leaders, of both rides and walks, who suddenly disappear thinking everyone is following behind, only to discover later that the group hasn't even noticed their going - in one case some of the (walk) participants were still queuing up in the village shop. Therefore, the leader needs first to observe that everyone appears to be ready (counting how many participants there are is a good idea) and then calling out `Everyone ready? OK, we're off, or some such.

Once underway we cycle at a pace that everyone, even the slowest, can keep up with. This will be slower than one's normal speed, but then, we're leading a group. When on the move it's essential that everyone indicates their intention to turn, slow or stop to avoid conflict with other riders. Essentially, a group ride is a social occasion. Everyone chats, while paying little attention to where you're leading them. Make sure, if you too get into conversation, that you're not distracted from where you're going and that everyone is following happily behind. Keep a watchful eye for your'tail-end Charlie' and listen out for any shouts which may indicate someone is in difficulty - a chain off maybe or a puncture. If that happens, everyone stops and waits, or some other arrangement is entered into.

If these suggestions are followed, hopefully your ride will be a happy occasion which participants will want to repeat. As well as the usual tools and spares one carries in case of breakdown, it's a good idea to take a map, wet weather gear, and any programmes or other information one may be asked for.

Finally, as ride leader, enjoy yourself! Leading a ride needs some preparation but is not onerous or even worrying. In eleven seasons of CATI rides we've had nothing more serious than a few punctures. But the benefits have included many happy social occasions, with some former novices now experienced and committed cyclists, even ride leaders themselves.

Phyll Hardie