GGCC Safety Advice and Announcement - PLEASE READ!
We pride ourselves on providing a safe, fun and inclusive environment for all and we want everyone to feel safe in the club, ultimately it’s your club so each and every one of you have a responsibility for your own and your fellow member’s safety.
We appreciate that accidents 'do' happen, but it’s far from ideal.
Safety is by far THE most important factor, when its safe you have fun, FACT!
We canvass opinion about lots of things but the following is absolutely non-negotiable so please take a moment to read and digest and have a think if you can amend or change anything that you do so that we all finish a ride as we set off.
We make no apology for the length of this post as its IMPORTANT.
- Hold your line and under no circumstance fill a gap, wait for the line to catch up
- Do not half wheel.....ever. Whether that be at the front which is just a bit aggressive and when behind someone.
- In a rotation when going through DO NOT go through too hard, 2 x soft pedals at the front adjusts your speed to let outside line pass
- When in a line, sit off the rider in front 18 inches so you can see around them so you can react if required. DO NOT sit right on the wheel, we are not a pro-peloton!
- Look 'through' the rider in front and don't fixate on the wheel, if you do that you are not aware of what's happening around you. Watch for riders moving and braking and LISTEN to what people are doing........you will hear brakes and if you do, you may need to react........don't wait for it to happen in front of you.
- DO NOT do a Froome and stare at your stem or get wrapped up in your Garmin.......watch what is happening around you and in front of you.
- ALWAYS cover your brakes whether that be on the drops or on the hoods, DO NOT rest your forearms on the tops.......you are NOT a pro and this IS NOT the tour
- If you feel strong, do a longer turn at the front, don't act like a hero and tear the group apart.
- Attack in the group at agreed and discussed points to give everyone the chance to react and make everyone aware of what's happening or about to happen, don't be a hero and suddenly ping off the front as this just causes confusion and the group explodes
-If you are on your limit then either move down a complete group or sit at the back of the group you are in and miss turns until you recover. When you are on your limit you are doing nothing else other than trying to hang on! Your head dips, your shoulders rock and you become less aware of what's happening and that can cause a lack of concentration so if this is you (and it happens to every single one of us at some point), sit at the back and take a rest, ITS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to acknowledge your own ability and do what's right for the safety of your fellow members. **If one of your fellow members observes this from a rider then it may be suggested that you sit out, it’s easy to spot! Don’t be a hero, everyone drops back a group now and again and everyone has missed a turn in a group!
The above list of guidelines / rules isn't exhaustive and lots of it is just common sense.
Everyone knows that we have experienced group leaders but it’s not just up to them to instruct and suggest, it’s up to everyone so help by doing what’s right so we stay safe.
One thing that we will go back to is that every single new rider (irrespective of the experience they say they have) will spend week 1 in steady so that they can see how we ride and also WE can assess their level of competence. No new rider should be immediately joining a faster group. I appreciate that this then puts the responsibility on the group leaders and the steady group to assess them but Ray and I will help with this.
We 'may' move to Spells in the groups rather than a D-Rotation but we will explain this at the start of the next ride, it may promote a safer environment but that will be decided.
Ultimately it’s down to communication, awareness and honesty. DON’T make any sudden moves……. you may know what you are trying to do……. but nobody else does!
If you want to treat the club ride (especially the Sunday ride which is our weekly social ride) like a race, then there are many chain gangs you can go and try that will give your legs a stretch. Sundays are about fun, safety and enjoying the bike.
Thanks from The Team @ GGCC