HEATHFIELD CYCLING CLUB WELCOME Thank you for joining Heathfield Cycle Club and on behalf of all of us, welcome. This is a members only club aimed at the promotion of cycling amongst our community. Your membership entitles you to participate in club activities and to have access to the full range of member benefits. The Club is managed by a volunteer committee who plan and arrange all aspects of the Club. Details of all events, activities and member benefits can be found on our website at: www.heathfieldcycleclub.co.uk We recommend that you visit the website frequently to keep abreast of developments and club news. We also have a Facebook page for Heathfield Cycle Club. Club rides are posted as Events on the Facebook page and members are asked to review events carefully to check the suitability of the ride to ensure that the route distance, target speed and the overall level of difficulty are suited to their requirements. The Committee and our volunteer ride leaders try to ensure that our programme includes a mixture of rides to suit all abilities but are always keen to hear from members regarding suggestions for rides. The following pages provide some guidance and instructions for members with regard to cycling; including some essential safety advice, notes on etiquette and some helpful guidance to help get to grips with riding in groups on the road. Be Safe and Enjoy. Derek Day Heathfield Cycle Club. Handbook Rev 01 September 2017.
RIDE SAFETY Cycling is generally very safe, whether you are commuting to work, enjoying a club run or participating in a race. However, we share our roads with an increasing number of motor vehicles, and so accidents do occur from time to time. There is also a rise in incidents of conflict between cyclists and vehicle drivers due to impatience, lack of respect and not knowing the Highway Code - as cyclists we need to know our rights, cycle within the Code and not antagonise drivers in the first instance - the roads are there for us all to use safely in unison. In view of the large number of new cyclists now on the roads, we have prepared this short guide to safe cycling as a way of encouraging new riders to Ride Safe, and perhaps to offer some reminders to more experienced cyclists. SAFETY Be Seen: You need to be clearly seen by drivers so try to wear light coloured clothing. Black looks cool (and makes you appear slimmer ) but, unfortunately, on those darker days you are almost invisible. By the same token, a flashing rear light is particularly effective in making your presence known to drivers and you might also consider a similarly flashing front light if the visibility is poor. Be assertive: You have a right to be on the road, so you should not need to ride in the gutter where you are more likely to pick up punctures and where there are the additional hazards of drain covers and so on. More importantly, if an inconsiderate driver does squeeze you off the road, being too close to the kerb means that you have nowhere to go. In general, you should ride about a half metre from the kerb or road edge, moving in or out to avoid the inevitable potholes and other obstacles. However, caution and courtesy dictate that there will be times when you need to kerb hug due to other road users. Take the lane when necessary: From time to time you will need to take the lane, that is ride in the middle of the traffic lane, for example when you are turning right or passing parked cars. Some motorists may object to you behaving as if you are a car, but in many situations this will be the safest thing to do and is recommended by the Government-approved cycle training scheme Bikeability. A particular hazard is that of drivers opening the door of a parked car into your path. Always assume that this might happen and be prepared to move out and take the lane. Make eye contact with motorists: You need to anticipate drivers actions and ensure that you have been seen. If, for example, there is a car waiting to turn into your path from a side road, assume that you have not been seen until it is clear that you have made eye contact with the driver. Ride positively Heathfield Cycle Club. Handbook Rev 03 July 2018. Page 2 of 16
COURTESY We share the road with other users and it is incumbent upon us, and in our longterm interests as cyclists, to create an atmosphere of mutual tolerance and respect. We must obey the Highway Code no jumping of red lights, riding at night without lights or going the wrong way down one-way streets. If we want motorists and other road users to accord us respect, then we must ensure that we act appropriately. Horses and their riders are common in our Sussex lanes and they demand particular care since some horses appear to be distrustful of bikes. Always slow down, and if necessary stop, making your presence known to the horse riders before you pass. In most cases there will be no problem, but sometimes horses can be spooked, which clearly can be dangerous to both horse rider and cyclist. Riding two abreast is legal. However, considerations of safety and courtesy demand that if riding in company we single up, perhaps to let cars pass, or when riding on a particularly busy road. Most other road users are considerate. However, from time to time we will all experience verbal abuse, dangerous driving or even physical threats from motorists. If this does happen you are advised not to respond, but if possible to take note of the perpetrators registration number and to report them via Operation Crackdown (www.operationcrackdown.org), the Sussex Police antisocial driving website. In our experience, the Police take such reports seriously and will follow them up. ETIQUETTE If you are new to cycling, riding in a group or bunch can be intimidating. However, there are some conventions, or unwritten rules that can help. We provide guidance for new members joining a club run, which is available below. All things being equal, a group of cyclists can generally ride faster than a single rider because in a group riders can take advantage of riding in the slipstream of the cyclist ahead. This can save around 20% of effort for the riders behind, rising to 30% or even 40% in the case of racers in the middle of a large bunch or peloton. So, in order to share the work, the riders at the front will periodically move over and let the next riders take over. If a group of cyclists want to keep up a good speed, they may opt for a quick change of riders at the front. This is often called through and over as each rider will only spend a few moments at the front of the group before moving over to let the next rider take over at the front. As a courtesy to your fellow riders, please consider fitting a rear mudguard during rides on wet roads. Riding in close proximity can be fun but not so much when a spray of dirty water is being thrown-up into your face. Heathfield Cycle Club. Handbook Rev 03 July 2018. Page 3 of 16
RIDE SAFE WITH HEATHFIELD CYCLE CLUB Cycling has never had so high a public profile in Britain, thanks to our Olympic teams and the success of Sky in the Tour and elsewhere. However, this does not necessarily translate into greater consideration for ordinary cyclists on the roads of Sussex. We need to make sure that we stay safe, and that we nurture a climate of courtesy and mutual respect on our local roads. Heathfield Cycle Club is a members only club open to adult cyclists. Cyclists over the age of 14 years are also welcome if accompanied by a responsible adult. Members organise a series of club rides that are open to all members and those who are interested in joining the club. It is a requirement of the Club s membership of Cycling UK that all members have 3 rd party insurance (in addition to optional insurance against theft of bike). If you'd like to come and give us a try you can ride with us 3 times for free, after which you are required to become a full member. Currently membership is 12 per year for unlimited riding. You will also need to arrange appropriate ride insurance. This can be done through the club's associate membership of Cycling UK (formerly known as the CTC) which offers full 3rd party insurance for any accidents you might have on your bike, either whilst riding with the club or while out on your own. This currently costs 24 per year for members of Heathfield Cycling Club (quote Club Code: 90146377). Club runs are generally social group rides with a coffee stop and may incorporate some group riding practice (e.g. chain-gangs) and occasional faster sections after which we will regroup. Please feel free to come long and join one of the group runs. Please advise the ride leader if you may split off early or are worried about keeping the pace for the distance. The route of a club run will usually be posted in advance on our Facebook page with details of group ride guidelines. In order for the rides to run smoothly try and make sure you ride with a group that you are comfortable with (i.e. not too slow or too fast for you) and load the route onto your GPS device if you have one. Note that rides may split on fast sections and up hills but will regroup. Whilst we do regroup and try to make sure we don't lose anyone please accept the risk that it may happen. If you don't know the route or area please tell the ride leader who will take care to not lose you. Riders attend club rides strictly at their own risk. Heathfield Cycle Club. Handbook Rev 03 July 2018. Page 4 of 16
Club run leader guidelines Thank you for volunteering, without leaders there would be no runs. Plan your route and post as an Event on our website and Facebook page at least 24 hours in advance of the start time. Plan routes suitable for the applicable Ride Group (ie. consider distance, pace, climbing etc) Post route details as event on our website and Facebook with link to course using www.ridewithgps, Strava, Garmin Connect or similar. This will help others if they need to cut off back. Please include copy of the club run rules above. If you can t lead a ride you have committed to please try to find a stand-in. If you need to cancel a run due to weather please post it with as much notice as possible. Arrive at the starting point in plenty of time and be on the lookout for new riders and welcome them. Consider taking a few photos or videos at a safe and convenient point, to assist with our news and promotional activities. Up to 10 riders in a group for the safe running of the ride. If you have a large group appoint a second leader and separate the groups by a few mins. (you can always regroup at points if desired). Ask someone to act as a rear gunner to assist in ensuring people don t get dropped or lost at the back. Run at approx. guide pace unless group agrees to go slower/ faster. In particular if people are being dropped and the ride pace is higher than the target pace then slow the group so they are not continually on the limit. Never leave a rider or group to find his or her own way at a junction. Always wait at every junction until everyone is with you. Pay special attention to new riders to ensure they are comfortable riding in the group. Educate on basic group riding skills and hand signals if necessary during the ride. RIDE GROUPS As a guide: Group 1-10+ miles at approx. 10mph Group 2-20+ miles at approx. 12mph Group 3-30+ miles at approx. 14mph Group 4-30+ miles at approx. 16mph Group 5-40+ miles at approx. 16mph+ Heathfield Cycle Club. Handbook Rev 03 July 2018. Page 5 of 16
HEATHFIELD CYCLING CLUB CLUB RUN ETIQUETTE 1 Club runs are an ideal way of meeting fellow riders and club members in a more social atmosphere. 2 A typical club run may consist of 1½ to 2 hours riding to a designated tea stop. After refreshments often the ride back is a bit shorter, but this does depend on the destination, some club runs are longer than others. 3 Club Runs are arranged for Saturday or Sunday mornings and occasionally, mid-week. Runs usually start from either Cross in Hand, Mill Road Car Park (by Heathfield Fire Station) or Cade Street. Club runs usually start at 9am. Please arrive in good time for the start. 4 The latest club run information can be found at the club Facebook page and may be notified to members via personal messaging. Please confirm your attendance by clicking Going on the Facebook event. 5 Club runs are open to all and we invite riders of all abilities to contact the club to find a ride suitable to their levels of fitness and confidence. 6 Riders are responsible for their own safety at all times. Riders must ensure that their bicycle is road worthy and that they are wearing appropriate clothing. A safety helmet is mandatory. 7 Club run numbers can vary depending on races, weather etc. If you re not used to riding in a group please speak to the person leading the club run that day. It soon becomes second nature by following these common sense guidelines. 8 9 Riders are requested to sign up for rides by responding to the Events posted on Facebook. If you are unable to attend a ride that you have committed to please advise the ride leader at the earliest opportunity. All riders must obey the instructions of the ride leader at all times. Generally no rider should proceed ahead of the ride leader. 10 The club s strength is its reputation. Bad behaviour or poor riding etiquette can damage the club s reputation. Please keep in mind the following etiquette rules when riding; especially when riding in club colours, or on a Club run. Ensure your bike is well maintained (gears, brakes, wheels, tyres etc). Carry spares and tools including inner tubes, tyre levers a pump and a multitool is recommended A mobile phone is always useful. Carry clothing appropriate for the day s weather, take a rain jacket if rain is forecast. Heathfield Cycle Club. Handbook Rev 03 July 2018. Page 6 of 16
Carry sufficient water and nutrition for the ride. Always carry enough money if required for a café stop, refreshments or emergencies. Club members are encouraged to wear Club Jerseys. Arrive on-time. Club runs do leave promptly. Remember that other road users will be sharing the road. Be courteous and considerate and obey all traffic rules at all times. Observe all aspects of the Highway Code - red lights, stop signs, & no riding on pavements etc. Everyone climbs hills at different rates, please wait and regroup at the top so no one is dropped. Stronger riders should wait at the soonest opportunity if the group fragments to avoid missing a turning. Similarly, the group should wait or assist those who experience punctures or problems. It does not matter how near to home the ride maybe, it is discourteous to leave a fellow rider stranded. As your forward view is limited, it s essential that hazards, obstacles and potholes are pointed out and communicated down the line. The front riders will point out, indicate and shout appropriate hazards, such as holes, parked cars, joggers, horses, sharp bends, gravel, etc. If you are new to group riding you will soon get used to the signals and calls made by riders. See our guide below. Ride at a maximum of two abreast, but be prepared to single out where necessary, warn other riders of approaching traffic. Ride close to the rider in front of you, less than 1 metre. This gives you a slight draft from them, making it easier for you and also causing less of an obstruction to other road users. Maintain a steady, confident line and do not half-wheel (overlap wheels) with the rider in front. Remember that vehicles will need to pass the group. Therefore allow larger groups to split into groups of about four or five riders, allowing vehicles to pass the peloton in safe phases. Remember many of our rides are on country lanes at the weekend and in addition to motor traffic, expect to encounter walkers, dogs and horses so take great care in passing them. Slow down for horses and give them plenty of room. If approaching from behind call out in good time to warn them. It safer for them AND us. We will need to single out to allow cars to pass. The riders at the back of the group are responsible for cars overtaking from behind by calling CAR BACK. Conversely, those at the front are responsible for cars approaching from the front by calling CAR UP. Ensure everyone knows what s happening. To single out usually the rider on the left moves forward and the rider on the right drops in behind. Heathfield Cycle Club. Handbook Rev 03 July 2018. Page 7 of 16
Ride in a manner that is predictable and safe. If you need to stop, call out stopping or slowing so the riders behind do not crash into you. At junctions and roundabouts give clear warnings and indications of other traffic, so the group can move smoothly. Such calls are Clear, Clear left/right, Car left/right etc. as appropriate. Do not over take on the left without warning the rider first. On your left. More experienced members should set an example to the new or younger riders. It is considerate to other riders to use mudguards in the winter and on rainy rides (they also protect you and your bike). Above all - enjoy yourself! HEATHFIELD CYCLE CLUB RIDE GROUPS We try to arrange club runs based on the experience, fitness and levels of challenge desired by the members. Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Group 5 A group for those starting road cycling who want to build their confidence and fitness. Rides likely to be 10+ miles at up to 10mph. A social group for those who enjoy a steady pace. Rides may be longer. Rides likely to be 20+ miles at up to 12mph For road cyclists with some experience who want to develop their fitness and proficiency but for whom Strava PRs may not be a priority. Rides likely to be 20-30 miles at up to 14mph For experienced road cyclists who want to push on. Rides likely to be 30-40 miles at up to 16mph One for the racing snakes. Rides with performance or training objectives - likely to be 40+ miles at over 16mph From time to time, rides may be suggested which vary from the above. For example, a longer but slower ride to tour the countryside or a ride aimed at performance training. Heathfield Cycle Club. Handbook Rev 03 July 2018. Page 8 of 16
Group rides are demand-led meaning that some groups are more popular than others and therefore may meet more frequently. If your preferred group does not appear to have a ride planned, or, if you do not see the type of ride you would like, please make a request via the members section of the website or the Facebook page for Heathfield Cycle Club. Details of all events, activities and member benefits can be found on our website at: www.heathfieldcycleclub.co.uk Heathfield Cycle Club. Handbook Rev 03 July 2018. Page 9 of 16
GUIDE TO HAND SIGNALS AND CALLS Taken from Essential Guide to Road Cycling Hand Signals and Calls by Road Cycling UK https://roadcyclinguk.com/how-to/technique/essential-guide-road-cycling-hand-signalscalls.html#j01d7606vozgzcdz.97 Slowing With your arm outstretched, palm-down, and slightly behind you so cyclists behind you get a clear view of your hand, move your hand up and down at the wrist to indicate that you re about to slow. In addition to the signal, and if braking is more urgent and you haven t got time to indicate safely, call out Slowing! loudly and sharply. This will give riders an additional stimulus to react to, apart from your rear wheel suddenly rushing towards them. Stopping Optional call: Slowing! Raise a hand straight above your head to indicate that you expect to stop. This indication supersedes the indication and call to slow. While optional, the call of Stopping! can be absolutely necessary if the nature of the stop is sudden or sharp, and if you therefore haven t got the time to make the signal. This can make the difference between a safe stop and a potentially very dangerous situation, so ensure the call is loud, sharp and urgently made with as much notice as possible. Optional call: Stopping! Heathfield Cycle Club. Handbook Rev 03 July 2018. Page 10 of 16
Indicating An essential signal for all road users. Outstretch your arm straight out to the side of you to indicate your intended turn. Ensure you make this indication before you edge out to the middle of the road in the case of a right turn in the UK, so other road users have plenty of notice of your intentions. Always have a quick look behind you to make sure those other road users have seen and reacted to your indication. If you re at the head of a large peloton, it can be helpful to raise your hand to just above shoulder height, and point in the direction of the upcoming turn. Pothole or hazard on road If you are approaching a hazard in the road, for example a pothole, manhole cover or drain cover, outstretch your arm on the side that the upcoming hazard will pass your bike and point to the floor. This will sometimes be accompanied by a circling motion if there s time. For deep and sharp holes in the road, a clear and loud call of hole or holes will help notify your fellow cyclists of the severity of the upcoming obstacle. However, this is not to be overused on UK roads, if we all shouted hole! every time the road surface was less than perfect, we d probably never stop. Optional call: Hole! Heathfield Cycle Club. Handbook Rev 03 July 2018. Page 11 of 16
Gravel/debris For specific hazards where the effect will be a potentially slippery surface, take your outstretched hand, palm down and wave at the floor. This can also be used for a broken or unconsolidated road surface. Calling out the nature of the hazard loudly can add extra important information to your fellow cyclists. Ensure you use clear, single word calls to avoid confusion. Optional call: Gravel!/Loose!/Ice!/etc. Oncoming hazard As you approach a physical oncoming hazard, take the arm on the side of the hazard behind you and point across your back in the direction the cyclist behind you will need to move in order to avoid it.in the UK, the hazard usually approaches on the left in the form of a parked car or similar, so the left arm is normally used Heathfield Cycle Club. Handbook Rev 03 July 2018. Page 12 of 16
Come through We ve all been there, where we ve been doing far more than our fair share of the work at the front of the group, and have seemingly been left out to dry. While riding, flick your elbow out on the side you want the wheelsucker(s) to come through. Emphasise this by safely moving out slightly to give them extra room to come by, and ease off the pedals very slightly; they ll get the message. Cattle grids, railway tracks, speed bumps For hazards running across the road like rail tracks, cattle grids and speed bumps, take your hand behind you and draw a line horizontally back-and-forth across your back. If a hazard of this type is even close to being in line with the direction you re riding, such as tram lines, trace that line clearly in the direction it runs to point it out to your fellow cyclists. Heathfield Cycle Club. Handbook Rev 03 July 2018. Page 13 of 16
Thanks/acknowledgement It s so easy to forget to do this, but makes the world of difference for road-user relations. If an oncoming vehicle has let you and/or your group have space to make a turn or have access to a narrow stretch of road first, acknowledge them with a raised hand of thanks. Making this sign obvious for example with an additional smile or a raised thumb can help humanise you on the road, and conveys genuine appreciation for the actions of the other road user. It s also a fine road cycling tradition, especially in the UK, that road cyclists acknowledge each other as they pass by. A nod of the head and smile, or a hand raised off the bar, will do the trick for oncoming riders, or just say hello if passing a cyclist on the same side of the road. Be nice out there! Heathfield Cycle Club. Handbook Rev 03 July 2018. Page 14 of 16
Calls On top of the calls that function in tandem or in place of signals, here are others that rely solely on clear vocal communication. Clear left/right Used when attempting to join the flow of traffic from a junction to indicate that the road is clear and the group can begin to move through the junction without stopping but, crucially, after slowing to check for traffic. As a result, this call should only be used when the junction offers a clear line of sight in both directions. The absence of this call indicates the default position that a vehicle is approaching, and that it s unsafe to pull out of the junction or across the split road. Some riders also use a car left/right call to emphasise the presence of traffic in this situation, but make the call loud and understandable so not to confuse car with clear. On the left/right For use between cyclists, this warns a rider in front of you where you are in relation to them on approach. For example, calling on the right as you approach a slower cyclist from their right flank, and vice versa. This is particularly common in sportives, especially on the continent where the route can be mountainous and the speeds higher on descents. Here, the language of cycling French is generally used and understood. A gauche means on the left, and a droite means on the right. Car up Warns of a car approaching from up the road, usually actively travelling towards the group. This call is used when the road is narrower than a dual-direction single carriageway with enough space for vehicles to pass each other without avoiding action. You can also tweak the call to indicate other common hazards in this scenario, such as bikes (pedal- or motor-powered), runners, tractors and horses. Heathfield Cycle Club. Handbook Rev 03 July 2018. Page 15 of 16
Car back Warns of a car approaching from the rear of the group, which means it s also the only call which originates from the rear of the group. As a result, it s vital to call clearly so that other group members hear and pass it up the line as your voice won t travel as far forward against the flow of the bunch. Variations as with car up can be used, but in reality are only needed very rarely. TO AVOID CONFUSION CAR DOWN IS NOT TO BE USED The call of car down is also commonly used, but, while not wrong, can be confusing because of its potential dual-meaning: warning of a car down the road, ahead of where the group is, or a car back down the road, where the group has just come from. Horses It is very important to make horse riders aware that you are approaching. Horses have a large blind spot if you are approaching from behind. Let the rider know you are there by calling good morning/afternoon or similar. Don t ring your bell. If appropriate, ask rider if it is OK to pass. Slow down Pass wide. Details of all events, activities and member benefits can be found on our website at: www.heathfieldcycleclub.co.uk Heathfield Cycle Club. Handbook Rev 03 July 2018. Page 16 of 16