Information for Ride Leaders

Every month many members volunteer to lead rides. If you have been riding with the club you probably have come to appreciate the members who have taken the time to list a ride in the Newsletter calendar for you to enjoy. Here is some basic information to get you started should you decide to lead a ride.

• Online Ridelist Print out the ridelist for participants signatures
• You may decide on leading a ride because
• Co-Leader
• Newsletter's Ride Calendar
• Information needed for the Ride Calendar
• Other helpful information
• RideLine
• Information for the RideLine can be provided in the following ways
• Things a Ride leader should carry
• Nice to have
• Planning your ride
• Day of ride
• During the ride
• If you can't lead your Ride
• Last but not least

You may decide on leading a ride because:

• The ride on the calendar is always too long, too short, too fast or too slow.
• You would like to ride in a particular area.
• You would like to take some bicycle buddies on a trip to a favorite restaurant.
• You have been following everyone in the club for a year, and now it's your turn to help out.
• You would like to take advantage of the "96 Birthday Ride Incentive Program".
• The view always changes from the front.

There are many advantages to being a ride leader. With a little preparation you will find that it is very simple procedure for providing your club a ride that other members may enjoy. If more members volunteer, the ride calendar will have many more rides to choose from each month. Just imagine the possibilities if each of us committed to leading a ride once a month.

Co-Leader

Many members are more than willing to co-lead a ride with a new ride leader. A co-leader can help you resolve any problems that may arise on your first experience as a ride leader. If a co-leader isn't designated in advance, a member on the day of ride any volunteer to help. On most rides there are at least a couple of members who can help when someone has minor mechanical or medical problems.

Newsletter's Ride Calendar

The first step to being a Ride Leader is providing information to the Touring Captain on the ride you wish to lead. To be published in the Newsletter the information must be given to the Touring Captain by the third Tuesday of the month prior to the month you have planned to ride. If you attend the monthly club meeting the Touring Captain will be available to schedule your ride. If you are considering the first weekend of any month it is helpful to provide that information on the third Tuesday two months prior to the ride. Rides may also be added to "just" the RideLine or the website by calling the Touring Captain with your information. For a mid-week ride call be fore Sunday night, for a weekend ride call before Thursday night. The RideLine is generally updated late Thursday and Sunday nights.

Information needed for the Ride Calendar

• Start Point - Name and Address of Location.
• Start Time - The time you would like to be rolling.
• Description - Some leaders provide creative names, others provide information on the ride or activity.
• Code - 1, 2, 3, or 4
• Miles - If you are guessing, a higher guess might be better to prepare people.
• Leader(s) - Your name and if you have a co-leader theirs. Also a phone number where you can be reached should riders have questions.

Other helpful information

• Breakfast, lunch or dinner stops - restaurants, bring $, or brown bag.
• Money for park entrance fees, ferry boats or other activities.
• Approximate return time, are you planning an all day scenic ride or a ride for a couple of hours and return before noon?
• Terrain - Examples: "Up Windy Ridge" or "Flat Ride Through the Valley"
• A detailed article may also be included in the Newsletter Ride Notes.

RideLine and RidesCalendar

RideLine: (253)759-2800

RidesCalendar: http://j3tec.com/twbcRidesCalendarBrowser.aspx

Twice a week, Thursday and Sunday, the Touring Captain combines the rides listed on the Ride Calendar and any additional rides that have been called in and records them on the RideLine. So even if you missed the Newsletter deadline you can still get your ride on the RideLine. Provide the same information that was listed above for the calendar to the Touring Captain and it will be included on the RideLine. Anyone can call this number and find out what is happening that week with TWBC. Also remember that the website is also updated at this time.

• The RideLine and website can also provide and clarify information that was in the monthly Newsletter.
• The RideLine and website can be used to provide a last minute ride for TWBC on a nice weekend when the calendar is short on rides.

Information for the RideLine can be provided in the following ways

• To the Touring Captain in person.
• Call the Touring Captain at home, (253) 566-1255, and speak to her in person or leave a message on the answering machine.
• Dial the RideLine, (253) 759-2800, and leave a message. You don't need to listen to the whole recording just hit "*" and leave a message with all the information. Messages are retrieved about four times a week.

Things a Ride leader should carry

• Insurance Form(s) and pen. Before starting a ride take time to have all the riders sign the insurance form. A guest is permitted to ride with the club but that guest must also sign the insurance form. In case of an accident your personal primary provider will be billed first but the TWBC can be billed for the remainder. It is vital to have everyone, who is riding, sign the insurance form. It also provides a list of names of the riders for your trip. You might want to carry a couple of forms in a plastic bag with a pen or two in a bike bag. Then you will always be ready to lead a ride!
• Map and/or cue sheet (Required for rides over 35 miles). You can be reimbursed for any copying by providing the Treasurer a receipt.
• All bicyclists should carry a first aid kit, basic repair kit, pump and water on rides.

Nice to have

• Map of the areas - this could come in handy if someone needs to take a short cut back to the start of the route.
• Quarters - for phone calls if someone needs a ride home.
• Cell phone - great in an emergency.

Planning your ride:

• Know the route you are planning to ride.
• Prepare a map and/or cue sheet. Make copies if over 35 miles in length.
• Ride the course on the day of the week and time you plan to lead the ride to get an idea of what kind of traffic you will encounter.
• Check where you can get food, water and restrooms on the route.
• Your Touring Captain is a good resource person, able to provide ideas, maps and or cue sheets. Please do not hesitate to contact her.
• Be flexible. Things may not always go as you had planned. Don't let a glitch spoil your ride.

Day of Ride

• Arrive 15 minutes early so you can be prepared to leave at the time noted in the newsletter.
• Have everyone sign the insurance form.
• Introduce yourself and explain where you are riding. Go over the rules of the road.
• Announce where the group will regroup.
• If it is a group larger than 10 and you don't have a co-leader, ask for a volunteer to "sweep".
• Emphasize riding safely and announce any hazard(s) that the group may encounter.

During the ride

• Ride the code, if the ride is a 1 or 2 code you should be taking time to keep the group together.
• Count heads to make sure you haven't lost any one.
• Be aware if a rider is having any mechanical or physical trouble.

If you can't lead your Ride

Please try to lead any ride that you have listed in the Newsletter or on the RideLine. On occasion an emergency may arise which prevents you from leading your ride. If you are often having to find someone to lead your rides, maybe it is not the right time to be leading rides.

Suggestions to resolve this situation:

• Find someone to lead the ride. Call someone from the club using the roster.
• Find someone to arrive at the start location on the day of the ride to announce that you cannot lead the ride. If you can provide maps of your intended route, it would be nice.
• Leave a message on the RideLine explaining your problem. Remember the RideLine is only updated on Sunday and Thursday.

Last but not least

• Complete the ride sheet by entering the number of miles ridden, and any particular "notes".
• Turn completed ride sheet in to the Touring Captain. You may want to send your map or cue sheet as well. This may be helpful for others wanting to lead rides.

ENJOY!!!

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Last modified: 2006-11-19 7:56:37 pm

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