When riding with the Club it is important to remember that you are riding as a member of a group and not as an individual. You are also representing Kenilworth Wheelers Cycling Club!

The Club organises many regular rides and members join those rides at their own risk. Leaders of such rides are offering their local knowledge to decide a route and are no more responsible for the group safety than any other member of the ride. Each member is responsible for riding in a manner which helps ensure the safety of themselves as well as other members of the ride.

All Club members should act with consideration towards their fellow cyclists as well as other road users to help ensure the safety and enjoyment of the Club rides.  To that end, there are a few dos and don’ts within the Club, aimed at promoting a safe and enjoyable riding culture. If in doubt ask and don’t be offended if advice is given!

Third Party Liability Insurance

Unfortunately, sometimes things can go wrong and incidents can happen.  To ensure everyone in the club is protected we require all members to have 3rd party liability insurance, there is no restriction on who this is provided by but you will be asked as part of your membership application to confirm the provider.

Because, our safety is our top priority. We are responsible for taking care of each other.

So, Here are the 10 commandments!

1. Follow the Highway Code!

  • Ride in pairs.  But, never ride more than two abreast.  Single out on narrow lanes, busy roads or when holding up traffic. 
  • Don’t ride through red lights.  Don’t ride on pavements.
  • Pass horses slowly and carefully and in single file.  Warn the horse rider when approaching from behind. 
  • Be courteous to other road users.  Don’t shout abuse.  Don’t make offensive gestures to other road users.  You are representing KWCC.  Poor behaviour damages the club’s reputation. 
  • Leave room when passing parked cars and watch out for doors being opened or people stepping into your path. 
  • Watch out for potholes, debris on the road, drain covers, and signal or call them out to the group 
  • Pay particular attention to long vehicles at corners and don’t ‘under-take’ them if they are turning left. 
  • Have working front and rear lights in low visibility or at night

2. Smaller groups are safer.  No more than 15!

  • The maximum group size is 15.   
  • When there are more riders, split the group.

3. Stop and be very careful at road junctions!  Don’t roll through them.

  • Stop at junctions!  Remember that even if it may be safe for you to cross, it may not be safe for the riders behind you!
  • So, don’t roll through or jump across when vehicles are approaching.  
  • Ideally, wait until it is safe for you all to cross.  Or, when busy, cross in groups in an orderly fashion.  
  • When pulling up at a junction, stay in two lines: don’t scatter across the road.  Don’t crowd around vehicles at the junction. 
  • Riders should warn of traffic and call out when it is safe or not to cross. 

4. Don’t sprint for signs, ride hands off or use your phone!

  • Club runs are not a race.  Sprinting for village/road signs is more dangerous than steady riding and must only be done with a great deal of care and consideration for the safety of your club mates and other road users.
  • Don’t ride ‘hands off’ in a group. Don’t take off or put on a rain jacket when in the middle of the group.  Both are dangerous.  If you need to, ask the group to stop where it is safe to do so, or move to the back of the group.
  • Do carry a phone for emergency use.  But, don’t make or answer calls when riding. 

5. Don’t half wheel.  Be aware of how your riding impacts the rest of the group!

  • Look where you are going.  Be aware of the other riders around you.  Think about how your actions might affect them.
  • Ride in a smooth and predictable manner.  Avoid sudden braking or swerving. 
  • Ride close to the rider in front of you, but only as close as you are comfortable with.  Leave a larger gap in wet or windy weather conditions or if you are less experienced. 
  • Do not ride with your front wheel overlapping the rear wheel of the rider in front.  It is dangerous. 
  • Ride in line with rider in front of you.  Avoid riding outside the line of the group. 
  • No “half-wheeling”!   When on the front, do not edge ahead of the rider next to you.  Be aware of their speed and adjust your speed to match theirs.  Instead of forcing them to catch up to yours. 
  • And, within the group, each pair of riders should ride ‘shoulder to shoulder’.  Do not edge ahead or fall back from the rider next to you. 
  • Be aware of the riders behind you!  Don’t ride so hard that you open up gaps and cause the group to splinter.  If asked to slow down, do so.  At junctions don’t sprint off so hard that you leave riders behind.  
  • When singling out, each rider in the outside line should drop in behind the rider on their left.  This is also adviseable going round bends on narrow roads.

6. Take turns on the front

All riders in the group should take turns on the front.  Don’t hog the front.  But equally, don’t avoid it!  Change over at the front roughly every 5 to 10 minutes so that everyone gets a turn.

Use the following procedure to change at the front: 

  • The rider on the outside at the front pulls forward and over in front of the rider on his left.
  • Then, the outside line of riders moves forward. 
  • And the last rider on the inside line moves over to the rear of the outside line.

And, when you do get to the front, maintain a steady pace for the group.  Don’t speed up to show everyone how strong you are.  You will break up the group!

7. Respect your ride leader, and make sure there is one!

On a group ride, it’s important that someone in is charge!  Make sure one person in the group is nominated as the leader for the ride.  The leader should give clear directions ahead of turns.  If the leader happens to be near the back of the group, make sure that any ride directions are passed forward through the group to the front, so that everyone knows where to turn.  Respect your leader.

8. Keep your bike maintained and carry tools and tubes: be self sufficient!

  • Keep your bike well maintained, especially tyres, brakes, gears and wheels.
  • Always carry two spare inner tubes, tyre levers and pump.   Carry either a multi-tool or allen keys and a chain tool.
  • In wet weather your bike must be fitted with effective mudguards and a rear mudflap that extends  sufficiently far below the rear axle height so as to avoid spraying your fellow riders with a mixture of road slime and slurry. 
  • Your bike must be fitted with front and rear brakes. 
  • Tri-bars should not be used on club rides 
  • Carry a phone and some money for café stops and/or emergencies! 
  • Carry some identification and an emergency contact phone number. 
  • If you have a medical condition or potential for severe allergic reactions, make sure that at least one other person on the ride is aware of the necessary response.

9. Wear suitable clothing and a helmet

  • Always wear a helmet.
  • In low visibility wear reflective or high visibility clothing. 
  • Wear appropriate clothing for the time of year.    
  • Carry a waterproof or windproof top in case the weather changes 
  • Wear KWCC kit to promote a positive image of the club! 🙂

10. And finally, talk to each other!

Riders on the front should point or call out hazards such as potholes, debris, parked cars etc.  Warnings should be passed back through the group so that all riders are aware of the danger.

Some shouts and signals are standard:

“Car down” To warn of a vehicle coming towards the FRONT of the group.
“Car up” To warn of a vehicle coming towards the BACK of the group.
“Car up” To warn of a vehicle coming towards the BACK of the group.
“On the left” This shout, often accompanied by putting the left arm behind the back warns following riders of an obstruction on the nearside of the road such as a parked car or a pedestrian.
“Hole (left/right/middle)” This shout accompanied by pointing to the road with the appropriate hand is a warning that there is some hazard in the road such as a pothole, branch etc.
“Easy” A request to slow down and be careful because there is a hazard ahead: a dog, pedestrians etc.
This shout is also used when approaching a junction.
Or because the group is breaking up because the speed is too high.
“Stopping” Hopefully self explanatory. Stop slowly and avoid spreading out across the road.
“Puncture” If you have a puncture or other mechanical problem, then use this shout. It is important that you hold your line as you slow down, don’t swerve or brake suddenly.
You and the rest of the group should slow down in an orderly fashion and pull in to the side of the road at a safe spot. Don’t just stop and spread out over the road.
“Horse” We often encounter horses and riders on country roads. They are unpredictable animals. The rider on the front of the group should shout “horse” and should shout a warning to the horse rider of “cyclists behind” Pass horses wide and slowly and in single file if necessary