Guidelines for leading GGTC bike rides for Board Members and Ambassador Team.

When leading a bike ride for the club, remember that our main objective is to ensure everyone completes the ride safely and has fun. This isn’t the time to plan on meeting specific training goals in your personal plan. It is also important to know who is on the ride (get a head count) and share contact information (such as your cell number) in the case of an emergency.

These are guidelines and common terms to be used when posting rides:

RIDE TYPE DESCRIPTIONS

These are GGTC guidelines for our club rides:

• Beginner: 20 mile max ride, under 1k elevation (examples: in Golden Gate Park to the Zoo, Out and back on Canada Road in Woodside, Hawk Hill, Marin Headlands)
• Intermediate: 20 - 50 miles, 1k - 3k elevation (example: Paradise loop, Fairfax and back, Stinson Beach)
• Advanced: Over 50 - 75 miles, 3k - 6k elevation (example: Point Reyes loop, Alpine Dam)
• Expert: Over 75 miles, over 6k elevation (example: Morgan Territory and Mt Diablo , Marshall Wall)

TABLE OF RIDE DESCRIPTIONS

DROP DEFINITIONS

NO-DROP: This means NO ONE will be left on their own. It is best to have a leader and a sweep person on a no-drop ride. These are suggested ways to address a no-drop ride:

• The entire group stays together and rides at the pace of the slowest rider.
• The ride leader knows the route and stays with the slower rider/s separate from the rest of the group. Another person who is familiar with the route takes the lead.
• Under no circumstances will the slowest rider be left on their own, even if they say “its ok, I’m fine, go ahead.”
• All beginner rides will be no-drop rides

SEMI-DROP: On a semi-drop ride, regroup points will be designated by the leader. These should usually be at turns, at water and/or food stops, and the tops or bottoms of hills. The ride leader should assess the skill levels of the riders in the group and insure that EVERYONE makes it through the ride safely and no one rides a significant part of the ride on their own. The leader does not leave the regroup point until all riders have arrived. If a significant amount of time passes, the leader (or designated person) back tracks to make sure the missing rider/riders are ok.

DROP: On a drop ride, everyone who joins should make sure they know the route before the ride begins. The leader needs to reiterate that the ride is a drop ride. Riders may or may not stop to assist in the event of a mechanical or flat tire. We encourage the leader to provide assistance to people in the group.

POSTING RIDES ON THE CALENDAR

WHAT TO INCLUDE

• Catchy yet non-intimidating name if you can think of one
• Type of ride using the rating system as a guide
• A link to the route: Strava, Garmin Connect, Map my Ride, etc if you have one
• Meeting Place, be as specific as you can be
• Rolling time, can also include a meeting time, also an expected ending time
• If it is: No-Drop, Semi-Drop or Drop ride
• Any plan for social activity at the end or extended stop mid ride
• Your contact info

GGTC Ride Essentials - Checklist

• Helmet
• Bike
• Spare tube / patch kit (recommend both – flats tend to come in multiples)
• CO2 cartridge + device / pump (recommend both – flats tend to come in multiples)
• Tire levers
• Emergency cash
• I.D. / emergency contact – recommend Road ID or sticker in helmet
• Appropriate amounts of food & water
• Before you leave the house: 
  • shoes, shorts, jersey, gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen, lube (yourself & your chain), cell phone in a plastic bag & extra layers (you never know when it’s going to rain)
  • Pump your tires & check your tires for damage – every ride!

GGTC Ride Rules

• Single file
• Maintain a safe following and passing distance
• When riding in Aero maintain 3+ bike lengths from the person in front of you
• No ear phones
• Follow the rules of the road – stop signs, red lights, yield to pedestrians, do not cross a double yellow line ever
• Bike DEFENSIVELY – anticipate and be prepared for the worst from vehicles/ other cyclists/ pedestrians/ nature
• Communicate – with hand signals and verbally
  • Upcoming hazards (road debris, potholes, upcoming traffic)
  • Stopping/ slowing
  • Signal turns
  • Passing – ‘on your left’

Pace-line Rules:

• OVER-Communicate – with hand signals and verbally
  • Upcoming hazards (road debris, potholes, upcoming traffic)
  • Stopping/ slowing
  • Signal turns
• No Aero – except if you are leading 
• Do not half wheel, ever
• Request to join pace line – no one likes a stranger on their back wheel that they didn’t know about
• Do not join a pace line unless you are 100% confident in yourself and others abilities

Plan ahead – in the event of a crash / emergency :

• Keep calm
• Safely block/ alert oncoming traffic
• Check for injuries
• Dial 911, if necessary
• Get out of the road as soon as possible
• If no apparent injuries, evaluate for head trauma:
  • Check helmet for any cracks
  • Any loss of consciousness? 
  • Ask orienting questions (Do you know what happened?  Where are you?  What day is today?)
  • Any disorientation, loss of consciousness, or cracks in helmet needs medical evaluation for possible head trauma.
• Get witness information & file police report, if necessary.
• Look for emergency contact info, if necessary.
  • RoadID, sticker/ written in helmet (recommended)
• If you escape with only some minor road rash – Remember:
  • Do not ride away without a thorough evaluation of bike for damage.
  • Get some tegaderm, celebrate your fantastic luck, and use the experience as a reminder to ride safely & defensively

Bike Rentals & Demos

Here are a few options of local bike retailers who rent and demo:

• Sports Basement Columbus (Basically free bike rental)

• Sports Basement Presidio (Rentals and Demo)

Route Links

• Strava San Francisco Cycling Guide

Questions? Ask the Bike Director, Rémy Chiapolini bike@ggtc.org