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Club Run Guidelines
Beacon Club Runs are group rides taking place on public roads,
and as such, it is expected that all those taking part will
obey the highway code and instructions given by the run leader.
Please ride sensibly, with thought for your own safety and
that of other club members and road users.
- Be Prepared:
- Wear suitable clothing for the expected weather conditions
- Bring suitable waterproofs if necessary
- Carry appropriate tools and pump to fix a puncture
(including spare inner tubes)
- Take money for emergencies and for use in the café
- Carry a drinks bottle and suitable energy bar or food
- Make sure your bike is in roadworthy condition, pay
particular attention to tyres and brakes
- Carry some form of ID and emergency contact details
- Riders who are new to the club should make themselves
known to the leader before the ride starts and should take
particular care to carry ID and emergency contact details.
- Most Sundays we have three club runs, offering a choice
of distances and average speeds. Participants should join
the club run that is most appropriate for their ability
level. Faster riders may occasionally wish to ride with
a slower group than they would normally join but when doing
so they should observe the pace of the ride and not overtake
the leader and take care not to inadvertently increase the
pace.
- Ride no more than 2 abreast, and be prepared to ride single
file on busy or main roads, when passing other groups of
cyclists, or at any other time when instructed to by the
leader.
- No single group should exceed 15 riders. If there are
more than 15 riders on any club run the run should split
into two distinct groups of roughly equal sizes leaving
a sufficient gap between for any vehicles to pull into safely.
- We aim to maintain a steady pace within the guide
average speed range for the club run. We do our best
not to leave anyone behind but a reasonable rate of progress
needs to be made and participants should ensure that they
are self-sufficient and able to complete the ride alone
if necessary.
- The leader should not be overtaken unless he/she has consented
and in this case those riding ahead of the leader should
take care to continue to maintain the pace set by the leader.
In order for those riding ahead of the leader to be able
to judge the appropriate pace, no more than two riders should
ride in front of the leader.
- Those riding within the group should be aware of riders
that are behind and should immediately warn the leader if
anybody has 'dropped off the back'. It is particularly important
for those riding in the middle of the group to warn the
leader if a gap develops.
- When in the group ride at a steady pace in tight formation.
Follow the wheel in front, and always consider that there
will be other members of the group following your wheel.
Do not accelerate or brake suddenly.
- Good communication is vital when riding in a group. For
the safety of everyone in the group, riders must not use
earphones of any sort on our club runs.
- When cars or other vehicles are trying to pass the run
they should only be called on by the lead riders, and then
only when the road ahead is clear and suitable for overtaking.
It may be necessary to single out to allow traffic to pass
safely.
- Where possible indicate to other riders any obstacles
on the road, ie pot holes, parked cars, pedestrians, glass
or other debris.
- When encountering horses, slow down, communicate with
their riders, and then pass single file when it is safe
to do so. Do not shout, or undertake any action that may
startle the horse.
- Please remember, we are all ambassadors for our sport
and pastime of cycling, and as such we should always consider
our behaviour towards other road users and the impression
of us they take home.
It is important to understand that, when you go on a club
run, you are not being 'taken out' by an organiser who is
responsible for your safety and wellbeing. You are part of
a group of individuals on a joint excursion, each of whom
tacitly accepts the risks inherent to group cycling on public
roads, some of which may be poorly maintained or slippery.
Club run leaders determine the route, take names of participants
and are welcoming, but they are not responsible for rider
safety.
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