Leader’s DOs and DON’Ts
- Try to get people’s emergency contact numbers and regular cell phone number before the ride. If people are trusting you to lead they should trust you with handling that information.
- Try to talk to your fellow riders and make sure that you understand their skill level as well as what type of riding they expect to do (relaxed, spirited, etc…). If you find someone who you believe won’t fit the group then you should address this issue right away before you start.
- Talk to your fellow riders about the kind of formation you will be trying to keep and how you expect everyone to behave and signal and make sure to answer people’s questions before the ride.
- Make sure everyone knows where all the stops are. If necessary give them a piece of paper with the stops so that in case you fail to notice someone go missing and you cannot find them then there is a chance that you will all meet up at the next stop.
- Please warn your riders about areas which could potentially be dangerous to the unexperienced.
- Try to estimate how many km each bike in your group can do on one gas tank and use the smallest number to determine when you are all going to gas up.
- Try to show up earlier than everyone else.
- If you are setting up an occasional ride then you should have some else in the group that you should trust in leading the group in case you are not available. You should test and see how they lead during a regular ride.
- Talk to your fellow riders and arrange on how and where you will end the ride.
- If you are going to have a zero patience kind of attitude then please let people know about that in your post.
- When posting about your group ride, please post the skill level and type or riding that you are looking to do. Please be detailed as that will help riders decide whether they want to go on your ride or not.
- If you find that one of your riders is not behaving in the best interests of the group then you need to stop the ride and politely ask that rider to leave the group. Let your group members know of this decision.
- Post times and locations clearly on the forum and provide some information as to when you will be leaving.
- When riding on roads or highways don’t stick to the passing lane. Use the passing lane to pass vehicles.
- When riding check to make sure that no one is falling behind.
- When calling a ride make sure to specify how many people you want to lead and ask for people to PM you so that you can control the size of the group and not just have a few dozen people show up.
- Don’t post your routes on a public forum.
- Don’t add people to your group if your group is already big enough.
- Don’t allow for any disrespect in the group.
- Don’t criticize your fellow riders behind their backs. This one I see happening ALL the time. If you don’t like something about a rider, keep it to your self or discuss it upfront with that rider. Criticizing your fellow rider behind his back brings down the group morale. It makes other people stop trusting you because they realize that you could be doing the same thing to them.
- Don’t EVER let someone new lead the group. I cannot think of any reason that this should happen unless it is an emergency situation and you are heading back at a relaxed pace.
- Don’t leave injured riders behind. As a leader, your fellow riders are your responsibility and you should make sure that they get back home safely. Sometimes that may require for an escort.
