This page provides information for new and experienced riders.

Group Riding

Follow these links for advice on riding in groups:

Group riding advice from Cycling UK

Group riding advice from British Cycling

Club members may consider using the ICE (in case of emergency) feature available on mobile phones. 

Riding Etiquette

In a group it is essential to cycle in a disciplined manner for your own and others’ safety. The guidelines below are designed to make your ride as enjoyable as possible:

• Always maintain full control of your cycle and follow a steady course
• Keep an adequate safety gap between you and the cycle in front
• Every rider should be aware of the person behind. If you turn off the existing route you should check that the person behind has seen you.
• It is OK to cycle two abreast on quiet, traffic-free roads and lanes. When you need to move into single file this is usually done by the outside  rider coming in behind the nearside one.
• Always cycle in single-file if there are double white lines, on busy roads, if the road is narrow and you cannot see ongoing traffic or if double-file is preventing cars from overtaking.
• Cycle in groups of no more than seven cyclist and leave a gap between groups for a bus to slot into it
• It is OK to overtake the leader on hills but wait in a safe place at the top for the group to re-form. Otherwise do not overtake the leader without permission.
• If inexperienced riders are having difficulty keeping up with the group, they and the leader should discuss whether the group would be better split.
• When riding in the rain or when the roads are wet please consider others and use a bike with mudguards. If you find yourself in a position where it is wet and you have no mudguards please ride at the back of the group to avoid spraying those behind you.
• When stopped to regroup, especially at a junction, make every effort to get off the road, if possible move onto a grass verge, pavement or layby

Verbal and Hand warning signals

Verbal and hand signals are used in group cycling to warn the group about potential hazards. When possible use both means since some riders may have impaired vision or hearing. Use the links at the end of this section for explanations of the hand signals using either photos or videos and here is a description of the verbal warnings:

All cycling clubs use verbal signals during group rides to alert members to hazards
and to provide information. They differ slightly at different clubs but these are the signals our club generally uses.

Warnings and hazards

“Car up” or “car back”: A vehicle is approaching from behind. The back marker is
primarily responsible for giving this warning.
“Car down”: A vehicle is approaching from ahead. The ride leader or one of the
riders at the front of the group will normally give this warning.
“Hole”, “Gravel”, “Mud” etc: Any rider can give these warnings although hand
signals are more often used.
“Runner”,“Walker”, “Horse” etc: Any rider can give these warnings although they
will commonly be given by the leader or riders at the front
“Bike up/down”: A cyclist is overtaking or approaching. This can be a significant
hazard because other cyclists can arrive rapidly, are silent and are less easily
spotted than a vehicle and we definitely want to avoid crashes involving other
cyclists.

Directions and Intentions

“Slowing” or “Stopping”: Used by any rider to warn riders behind
“Clear”: tells riders approaching a junction that it is safe to proceed.
“Car left/right”: A vehicle is approaching from the left or right. Normally used at
junctions.
“All up”: Normally used by the back marker to advise the ride leader that all the
riders in the group are present and the ride can proceed

Hand signals explained with photos

Hand signals explained with videos

Bike Maintenance

For help with maintaining your bike either talk to another club member or click on one of these links:

wikibooks bike maintenance

Riding your bike Safely

Our risk assessment has important information (including in respect of health and safety matters) of which riders should be aware.

Click on the link below for more information about cycling safely:

ROSPA sharing the road

 

 

Riding on Towpaths

Please see the attached information from the Stroud Valleys Canal Company

SVCC-Towpath-users-note-January-2020

 

Cyclists’ Touring Club (Cycling UK) a Company Limited by Guarantee registered in England No 25185, registered as a charity in England and Wales Charity No 1147607 and in Scotland No SCO42541. Registered office: Parklands, Railton Road, Guildford, Surrey GU2 9JX