By Dave Oniffrey - updated 2/03/12
SAVE THE DATE: There will be a Ride Leader meeting for all Ride Leaders on Sunday, March 4, 4-6pm, place to be announced. This is an important meeting for all Ride Leaders to attend. There will be a general discussion of Ride Leader issues, followed by ride level meetings led by the Coordinators followed by interesting and informative round table discussions with several topics available for you to join. Food and beverages are included. It is important (one level below mandatory 
) for all ride leaders to attend - newer leaders will be able to gain valuable information to help enhance their rides, and experienced ride leaders can share their experience and knowledge with other ride leaders, and perhaps like old dogs even learn a new trick or two. So save the date, and see you there.
WCC ride schedule policy: From 3/15 to 11/30, leaders can post new rides for Saturday, Sunday and holidays no later than three days in advance (i.e. post by Wednesday for Saturday, Thursday for Sunday) and for Monday through Friday (non-holidays), no less than 24 hours in advance.
Safety: The ride leader information page provides valuable references for leading safe and successful rides. Be sure to give a thorough safety talk at the beginning of your ride and adhere to all safety rules during the ride (i.e. riding single file, calling out hazards etc.).
Pace guidelines: Please classify your ride according to the expected final mph and the club pace guidelines, which you will find on the ride categories page. We strongly encourage you to include as much detailed information about the ride as possible, including type of terrain and difficulty along with a "more defined target pace range" to help riders better understand what to expect. Please lead your ride as advertised.
Updating your ride: As a courtesy to all riders, don't change the key details of your ride (i.e. date, start time, pace, location, terrain) after you post it. Only change the start time or date if there's a legitimate weather-related reason. Please post any cancellations as soon as possible, but no later than one and a half hours before start time. Contact the rides chair or ride coordinators with questions about posting new rides.
Reporting your ride: On the day of your ride, you will receive an e-mail asking you to report the status of your ride once it is complete (or cancelled). Please click on the link provided and complete the information so that the club can keep accurate statistics on all the rides. Also, don't forget to mail or scan your signed release forms, both for insurance purposes and to earn your incentive points.
Ride leaders chat group: WCC has a Yahoo Chat Group for all of its leaders (WCCRideLeaders) that offers a forum for dialogue or questions about leading club rides. See the Yahoo! eGroups page for more details. You can bookmark it for future reference.
Incentives: For 2012, if you lead 5 rides including 1 "D" or "O" ride, or 4 rides including 2 "D" or 2 "O" rides, you are eligible for either a free club jersey or shorts. You must send in your completed sign-in sheets to Steve Carre after the ride for credit.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact the Rides Chair Dave Oniffrey.
Suggestions for leading a ride
Planning the ride
- Decide when and where to start your ride. Consider the pace, length and terrain. Use a cue sheet from the online library, or create your own. If you use a library cue sheet, check for accuracy and updates. It’s a good idea to add your name and cell phone number to the cue sheet and plan to carry your cell phone. You can take along a GPS or map of the area as well.
- Write a description and requirements for the ride, and include a link to the cue sheet and post your ride announcement.
- Decide time and location of rest stops and make sure the places will be open with bathroom available.
- If you are not going to have a cue sheet, state that in your ride announcement and make a plan to stay together, or otherwise ensure riders know the route.
- Know the route. If you are not familiar with the roads, or unsure of road conditions, drive the course a few days ahead of time. Make sure street signs are visible.
- Print out cue sheets, SMART pre-ride briefing, accident reports, minor release and release form (sign up sheets).
- Check the weather. If you feel conditions are unsafe you may elect to cancel the ride, but follow posted guidelines.
At the start
- Introduce yourself to all riders and hand out cue sheets.
- Make sure all riders sign and complete the release form, even if their names are already printed.
- Survey riders to find out if anyone is new to club riding and/or new to the ride level.
- Helmets are required. You may also want to check supplies such as tubes and water bottles.
- Appoint a sweep, especially if the group is large.
- Talk about safety and your expectations for the ride.
- If you have listed a target pace, suggest that faster riders may go ahead on their own.
- If you do not plan on regrouping, let slower riders know they may be dropped.
- Take a head-count.
- Leave within 10 minutes of published start time.
On the road
- Lead by example, obeying traffic laws and riding safely.
- If you have listed a target pace, lead at that pace.
- If you have planned on regrouping, make suggestions for where to wait, and then wait for the sweep, or last rider, before continuing.
- If somebody cannot keep up with the group, speak to that person and give directions for return to the start, joining with another group, or calling for a pick up.
- Give guidance about safety, technique and group riding skills as needed.
- Take a head count occasionally. The rest stop is a good time to check in make sure everyone is OK and has what they need to continue.
In case of emergency
- If rider has a serious injury, call 911.
- Give comfort and reassurance, but do not move rider.
- Signal traffic so that injured rider is protected from oncoming cars.
- Call rider’s emergency contact. If rider is to be transported to hospital, inform emergency contact of the location.
- After the ride, follow up to find out condition of rider and offer assistance.
- Fill out an accident report and send to the treasurer.