Cycling with a group of friends can be a very pleasurable activity. It’s an opportunity to practice riding skills, try out the latest riding gear, and experience new routes together. A group ride can involve plenty of fun and excitement but it does require some careful planning.
Choose a route
Design the route you want to take and try it out so you can make adjustments if necessary. You may find a few surprises along the route, such as roadworks taking place. If so, you will have to consider choosing an alternative route.
Certain routes could prove hazardous for riders and result in unnecessary accidents. Cyclists involved in accidents need to get advice from accident lawyers, such as those at USAttorneys.com who have experience in handling cases of this nature.
Share the route
It’s good to share the route ahead of the group ride, especially if a number of people are involved. New riders may be intimidated by unknowns, such as the length of a ride and the end location. Sharing the route means they can familiarise themselves with it and start preparing mentally for it.
You can put the route on MapMyRide or share a GPS file so riders know what to expect and won’t get lost. Riders also like to know certain other details in advance, such as whether there are any scheduled pit stops and the expected pace of the ride.
Plan the pit stops
The pit stops can make a group ride even more fun. Planning a pit stop at the halfway point of a long ride can give riders a good break before going on to complete the route. Stopping at a famous ice cream place could do the trick.
Having a cold Coke or a snack from a food shack on a gorgeous route so riders can stop and take in the view is another great idea. A group ride on a hot summer’s day with a stop for a swim at the end of the route could be amazing. The more memorable the stops, the more enjoyable the ride will be.
Check the route out the day before the ride
Just to make absolutely sure there are no detours or obstacles on the route, you need to check it out the day before the ride. Something may have happened since the last time you saw it that could affect the safety of the riders.
Construction work with semi-trucks driving around can make an area dangerous for cyclists. Accidents can take place in such a situation and cyclists can get advice from semi-truck accident lawyers at USAttorneys.com if they are involved in an accident.
Set etiquette expectations
Riding alone is very different from riding in a group. When a group of people go on a cycle ride together, it is important that everyone has some consideration for others on the ride and for other drivers on the road.
Riding two abreast may be mandatory in some places. Wide tires may be recommended if there is plenty of sand or dirt along the route. You may decide that everyone needs to regroup at intersections. For larger groups that may cross major intersections, recruiting some people to cork (stop directly in front of crossed traffic) can ensure no one sneaks through a gap.
Recruit a sweeper
If you expect a large group of riders, you should recruit a friend to be a sweeper who is at the back of the group at all times. This ensures that no one gets left behind and there’s someone to assist any riders having difficulties.