Ride Planning
- Plan your route using RidewithGPS or select one of the routes from the Bella’s route library. It is best to pick a route that you are familiar with and have ridden previously.
- If you create a new route in RidewithGPS, be sure to save it to the Bella route library (as PUBLIC) so that other Bellas will be able to download the route.
- Create a meetup event. The easiest way to do this is to copy a prior event that is similar to yours. Provide a good description of the level of the ride, the distance and elevation gain, the pace and any additional information that will be useful to the riders.
- Communicate with the riders if anything changes prior to the ride. This could be a cancelation or time adjustment due to adverse weather conditions or smoke or any other reason.
Day of the ride
- Arrive 15 minutes or more before the ride. You may need more time to complete the pre-ride discussion, safety check etc. before the roll-out time.
- Carry contact information – Create contacts in your phone or carry a paper with the contact information for all the riders. You may not have cellular coverage to get the information from Meetup if needed on the ride.
- Conduct a pre-ride meeting
- Introduce yourself and the sweep (if there is one). Have everyone introduce themselves.
- Check for helmets (lights, mirrors for road rides)
- Describe the ride and what to expect for pace, regroups, etc..
- Safety briefing. Remind riders to ride their own ride; no peer pressure to attempt any obstacles that they are not comfortable with; live to ride another day and injuries can put a damper on the day and the rider’s season.
- Start on time. (Within reason). Riders are expected to arrive on time and be ready to roll by the posted start time.
- Keep the advertised pace – as described in the Meetup. This could be specific like ‘Average 12 mph over the 25 miles’, or something less specific like ‘relaxed conversation pace’ or ‘brisk pace’.
- Interact with the riders in a friendly and professional manner
- Make sure everyone makes it back to the ride start (no dropped riders).
- Regroup at intersections. For a ROAD ride, this should mean regrouping on the OTHER SIDE of the intersection so drivers are not confused as to your intention.
- Be prepared to handle an incidents/accidents – Notify [email protected] of any incidents with details of what occurred, etc..
- Reflect positively on the Club
- Take a group photo.