Thinking about becoming a ride leader? It's easy. You just need to be a DVBC member and use the club's Sign-In sheet (download from the Ride section on the website).

After you have formulated a route and have an idea of the ride category, contact the Ride Coordinator. If you wish, you can request a Ride Leader mentor to help you throughout an initial ride.

Then write a brief summary of your ride and submit it for posting in the club's newsletter and on the ride calendar and start collecting Ride Leader Jersey points.

The following guidelines are to help new ride leaders understand their role and responsibilities.

As a Ride Leader, you are not expected to be a proficient mechanic but you should know how to change a flat.

Neither are you expected to be proficient in First Aid. However, both skills will make you a better and more confident ride leader and, from time to time, the club provides optional skills seminars. Ride Leaders are expected to plan safe routes and help riders in trouble.

Before the ride

Plan a route or reuse one of your favorite DVBC routes. Safety should be your primary criteria in choosing roads. There is no easy measurement to say whether a road is safe for bicycling. If you are unsure, err on the side of caution or ask a Ride Leader Mentor for advice.

Plan food and water stops at distances that are appropriate for the ride level you will lead. There are a number of free mapping programs available as well as good commerical products that can help you plan new routes.

Write a description and confirm the ride level. Use the Ride Pace Guideline on the website to make sure you are setting proper expectations. Cue sheets are not required. If you want to make a cue sheet and do not know how, contact your Ride Leader Mentor.

1. Send your ride description to the Ride Coordinator and check that it is properly posted on the website. Also make sure that your ride start location is posted on the Ride Start Locations.
2. If you are unable to lead a scheduled ride and there is sufficient time, ask another ride leader to take over. Try to post cancellations due to weather on the club's list serve at least four hours before the ride. If some last-minute problem prevents you from leading, try to get to the ride start and let the group know or call someone you know who is planning to attend.
3. Download the club's Sign-In Sheet

Arrive 25 minutes early. You need to do your regular pre-ride prep and make sure everyone signs in. Carry the sign-in sheet in case you need an emergency contact number.

Make the rounds. Introduce yourself to newcomers while they sign-in. Learn their level of experience and conditioning to ascertain if they are capable of keeping up or mismatched for your ride.

Do a rider count -- take a quick inventory of # riders

Helmets are strongly suggested but not required by the club (Boarders --comments???)

Test novice riders' bikes for safety

Check tires for dry rot and cracking

Are tires properly mounted and inflated?

Is wire bead showing?

Pull hard on handlebars

Are they tight or did they rotate?

Squeeze brakes

Are they properly adjusted?

Rock the bike forward to check for play in the headset

Grasp each wheel and wiggle side-to-side to check for bearing play

Grab each pedal and rock side-to-side to check for play in the cranks

Push and pull on seat to see if binder bolt or seat carriage is loose

Ask if the rider is having any shifting or mechanical problems

Assess if rider is properly dressed and prepped

If any of the above are problems, either make adjustments or suggest the rider take the bike
to a shop for repair

Circle the bikers and introduce new riders. Set expectations of how your ride will unfold, such
as whether you will regroup after hills, what the overall distance and difficulty of the ride will be, whether there are sprint ahead spots. Discuss unusual terrain and/or easily missed turns, when you need the group to stick together because
of heavy traffic, and where the food and rest stops are.

Discuss hand and word signals.

Discuss ride etiquette, such as no passing on the right, not calling out "clear" at intersections, ride safety, and riding conventions, such as leaving the group or going off the front.

Ask if everyone has signed in.

Ask if each rider should has ID, spare tubes, tool kit, and inflator.

Give out your cell #.

After the ride

Mail your Sign-In sheet to the Ride Coordinator to get your ride leader points. If there was an accident, download an Incident report from the club's website, fill it out and send it to the club president.

During the ride FAQs

Where should I ride in the group?
The best answer is, if you are maintaining the advertized speed, wherever you are most comfortable.

What if riders go off the front?
You don't need to chase them down even if they miss a turn. If frisky riders want to go ahead, you can designate sprint sections and ask then to wait for the group at certain landmarks. However, riders are officially on their own when they are ahead of the ride leader.

What if riders lag behind?
Try to designate an experienced rider who knows the route to sweep. Or you ride sweep and let another rider take the group to the next stop. Or make the group wait. Cue sheets help resolve the problem when a rider is mismatched to the pace. When a rider is sick or feeling poorly, you or another rider should stay with them.

What if riders keep upping the pace?
This is sometimes known as hijacking a ride. Upping the pace is okay only if the entire group
can keep up, but if riders are struggling, your job is to enforce the posted speed.

What if someone has a mechanical?
Generally, our club waits for and assists with mechanical problems.

What if someone is riding dangerously?
You need to politely tell them why what they are doing is dangerous – either to themselves
or to other riders. If they persist, you can ask them to leave the ride.

What if someone is lost?
Boarders – any good suggestions???

What if someone gets hurt?
The American Red Cross says the appropriate response order is "Check-Call-Care are the three basic steps for you to take. As a responder, you must always check to make sure the scene is safe for you and any bystanders. Next, call your local emergency number for help. Then care for the person. Always care for life-threatening emergencies before those that are not life-threatening. The ABCs, which stands for airway, breathing and circulation, will aid you in determining what care the person needs. Determine if the person's airway is open. Check for signs of life (movement and normal breathing)."

You may need to contact the rider's emergency number and accompany the rider to the hospital. Other riders can take care of the bikes either by having someone wait with them while other fetch a car or by stashing them at a neighboring house.

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