Configuration - The joy of riding in a well-ordered group is hard to describe. It’s definitely one of the best things about road cycling. To get to this point requires some discipline – riding this way is not intuitive, so it is something to learn. But when you get it right – voila! You will never want it to stop.

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Pairs – on road rides, we usually ride in pairs. This means keeping your handlebar aligned with the person’s next to you and aligned with the bike in front. Never more than 2 abreast as the middle rider is unable to avoid obstacles. Never ride up the middle of the group and make sure the inside rider has room to manoeuvre around obstacles.

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Turns/rotation – unless stated otherwise road groups roll in an anti-clockwise ‘up and over’ chain pattern.

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No Half Wheeling - when you sit half a wheel or so ahead of your partner, it’s called ‘half- wheeling’. This is poor form and annoying as it causes surging in the group with riders trying to keep up. Overlapping the wheel in front in a line is also half wheeling. It is dangerous if the rider swerves to avoid an obstacle and clips your front wheel When rotating, the front right-side rider indicates the change. The front left-side rider slightly eases the pace and the right-side rider moves up and across. The next rider on the right side, moves up into the first position.

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It’s helpful to let the person in front of you know they’ve reached the ‘last wheel’ position (as you move across to the back right-side). This should all be accomplished smoothly, without surging and in a timely fashion.

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Don’t be a hog on the front of the pack. Give everyone a turn and share the load.

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No gaps but leave space – on-road rides gaps (more than a metre) reduce the drafting benefit, disrupt the pairings and encourage riders to pull in on you. It makes negotiating junctions or when signals are changing more hazardous. Conversely it’s not a race so keep back 30+cm from the wheel ahead and stay offset. Align your front wheel with the quick release of the wheel in front as a guide. Try and stay slightly one side or other of the bike in front rather than moving back and forth.

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Allow more space when descending, on wet and slippery surfaces, in heavy traffic or with less experienced riders.

Fatiguing, leaving or joining a group – communicate explicitly with the RL if leaving or joining a ride. If slipping off the back shout up straight away. The group will ease or stop but only if they know. Equally if you see someone struggling inform the RL.

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In Town – rides can encounter traffic, junctions and unpredictable events. Typically the RL will lead until outside the town and may require no rotations and single file. It is imperative to concentrate, stick close and follow the call outs.

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In the Country –we enjoy diverse terrain, road/trail types, road/trail conditions, weather and road/trail users. We often use single track lanes, sometimes with poor road surfaces, and with overgrown hedges in the summer. We should single out and ride slower, just as we do in a car – we don’t know what’s round the corner. We have to anticipate and adapt to situations. This requires full concentration, good communications and empathy with other road/trail users.

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Litter - please take your bar / gel wrappers and damaged inner tubes home with you or dispose of them responsibly whilst on your ride.