BOGNOR REGIS & CHICHESTER C T C
GUIDANCE FOR LEADERS (January 2009)
1. General
All those taking part in Sunday Rides must be members of the National CTC as well as the local Group. This is an Insurance reqirement. Non members are allowed up to 5 rides as a Guest before joining. This rule does not apply to Saturday Rides, Evening Rides and Wednesday Rides as these are organised by an associated Club. All Leaders will have a pack of forms. There will be sheets listing current members and their CTC Numbers. Take one of these forms with you and tick off those attending. Any newcomer or member who is not a CTC Member must complete a Guest Rider Form. Take some of these forms with you. As riders may join later it is suggested that you sort out the forms at elevenses or lunch. Pass on all forms to Edwin Jones or Avryl Bavister after the Ride.
This paragraph applies if the Lunch stop is a Pub rarther than a Café.Although arrival time at a pub is not too crucial in the Summer especially to a pub with good seating in the garden this can be very important in the Winter. Leaders should have regard to any riders in the group who do not have sandwiches and wish to have a pub lunch as there is more and more a tendency for pubs to book many tables with a relatively small number of inside tables left for arrivals "on spec" and if the Ride arrives at the pub much later than 12.15 or 12.20 it may be difficult to obtain seating.
Please note that it has been agreed that the start time shown in the list would be the departure time for the ride and there is a warning about this in the Rides List. Leaders should not give a ten minute leeway because if the general practice is that there is a ten minute leeway riders will tend to arrive during that ten minute period rather than on time. Leaders should aim to depart on the time stated or no more than two or three minutes after that time. This should apply to evening rides as well as Sunday rides.
Note that if it is pouring with rain by the Start Time you are not obliged to go down to the start regardless. The Leader has a discretion to call off a ride in the event of adverse weather and there is a warning to Riders in the Rides List to telephone the Leader to check in these circumstances.
2 Planning the Route
The route is entirely at your discretion. It is suggested that main roads be avoided wherever possible. If rough stuff is intended the group should be advised and if necessary a road alternative offered to a point where members can re-group. The distance given for the ride in the Rides List is only an approximate indication of return distance from the start point. There is no need to plan the rides to this exact distance. Up to five miles above or ten miles below the estimate would be acceptable.
3 Pace on Rides
Leaders should aim to keep the pace of the ride down to that of the slowest member on flat sections of the ride so that nobody especially new members feel too pressured by the speed of the group. Hills should normally be taken by all the riders at their own pace and then aim to re-group at the top. Especially for a long or difficult hill Leaders should have regard to the need of the last member to arrive to have some recovery time before the group sets off again.
4 Large Groups
When there is a large group at the start i.e. more than ten it would be helpful whenever possible to appoint a back marker who can look after the back of the group and tell the Leader if anybody falls behind.
To avoid problems with traffic and to assist in keeping the group together the ride should be split if numbers at the start or the numbers leaving the lunch venue are 16 or more. It will be the responsibility of the Leader to approach someone else in the group with sufficient experience and knowledge of the area to lead a second group.
5 Children on Rides
After consultation with the National CTC the general advice from the Club is that children under 16 should not come on rides unless accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult. Leaders should note that if there is no such responsible adult they could be taking on legal responsibility for such child.
6. Rough stuff on Main Rides
Cyclists are legally entitled to ride on bridle paths subject to giving way to horse riders and walkers. Cycling on footpaths constitutes civil trespass if undertaken without the consent of the owner although there have been no known proceedings. Cycling on a pavement or footpath adjoining a road is a criminal offence but only if it adjoins a road. Routes should be planned using bridle paths as much as possible. Use of footpaths not adjoining roads which have been used by the Club for many years without objection would be acceptable unless a member on a ride objects.
7 Arranging Stops
Riders will normally expect either a stop for coffee or a roadside break mid morning. Wherever possible it would assist if Leaders decided on the location of this break in advance so that anybody who wished to meet up with the group part way could telephone the Leader and arrange this. The afternoon tea stop will normally be arranged by discussion among riders at the pub.
8. Evening Rides
Wherever the distance of the destination allows routes for an evening ride should be planned to ensure arrival at the pub by 8.30pm or sunset if earlier. You should aim to leave the pub by 9.15pm or such time as will enable a return home by approximately 10.15pm.
9. Saturday Rides
Saturday rides are designed to encourage newcomers and should be at an easy pace and the route planned to avoid hills as much as possible. Rides should be planned to enable a return home before dark in the Winter.