Daily Archives: March 13, 2014

1.  Don’t pass the leader or you’re on your own (ride).

The leader is designated by a reflective triangle.  If other people know the route, they will also have reflective triangles.  Only follow the large crowd or the reflective triangles.  Ride leaders are familiar with the route in advance and are designated with a reflective triangle.  Only follow the designated leaders.  Or use Glympse to find us.

2.  Ride in one lane – May use full lane.

I believe the safest place in the lane is in the middle of the lane for maximum visibility.  We like to stay in one lane to allow motorists to pass in the other lane.  If we are turning left, we will be in the left hand lane.    Always ride on the right side of the road (in the road, and not on the sidewalk).

3.  Obey all traffic signals.

When the group is large, the group will get divided up.  It happens.  Stop at the light and wait your turn.  Do not try to stop traffic.  Do not run lights.  Find us at the next regrouping stop – every 2 miles or so.

4.  Communicate passing, turns and slowing with hand signals.

Make sure everyone around you knows where you are.  Do not get hit or run into someone.  Communication is very helpful to everyone.  If someone calls out a hazard, please call it back so others will be aware behind you.

A helmet and lights (front and rear) are required.  If you ride a tall bike, brakes are also required.  If you ride fixed, you need  to be able to stop your bike.  You need to be able to stop at ALL times -especially in a big group.  Be prepared to stop at all times.  Use BOTH brakes for maximum braking power.

Rider responsibilities:

Each traffic decision you make is YOUR responsibility.  Only you can decide whether each intersection is clear to cross.  We plan the ride and the route.  Your riding is your responsibility.

Ride responsibly.  Open containers are against the law and are not allowed.  Wheelies, bunny hops, hopping curbs are frowned upon.  If you fall and someone runs you over, that’s your problem.  Do that on your own ride.  Hazardous riders will be asked to leave.  The safety of the group is important.  Let’s all have fun.

We generally plan regrouping stops to make sure the group is together along the way.  We do not want anyone to get left or lost.

Updated: 3/25/16

Over time, based on past rides, we’ve tried to fine tune some things so you’ll know what to expect from the ride.

Nothing’s perfect but we do try to make the ride fun.

Distance:  Both rides (PMTNR and Sunday Slow Ride) are structured as a 15 mile ride each week.  The first segment is 10 miles to the first stop then another 5 miles to the ending destination.

Pace: We try to go around 10 mph.  Sometimes it’s a little faster if we’re rolling down a hill or slower when we’re going uphill.  If you are concerned, ride up front and help set the pace.

Stops:  Our destinations are generally Bicycle Benefits businesses.  We like to support the businesses who support people riding bikes.  Each ride we can support up to 3 local Bicycle Benefits businesses.

Time:  We leave at 8 pm each week from the Common Market (Plaza Midwood).  This time works well to give everyone time to get home from work and get to the beginning of the ride.

Return:  It usually takes about an hour and a half to get to the first stop then another 30 minutes for everyone to get back on their bikes to ride back which puts us back at the start around 10:30.

Route: I try to plan the route to be enjoyable.  Which means quiet neighborhood streets.  We will cross many busy streets but we generally do not ride on main roads for very long.  I try to make it flat to rolling hills.

Helpers: I’m always on the lookout for people willing to help lead or organize the ride.  You can mark a turn, blow the whistle at regrouping stops, relay messages from the rear to the front in the event of a mechanical problem, sweep to make sure no one gets left behind.  Let me know if you plan to be at the ride and if you are willing to help out.  As the ride gets larger, we’ll need more people to keep the ride running smoothly.

Let me know if you have suggestions to make it better.  We’ll keep trying until we find something that works.

Thanks for reading this.