Ride Guide
Table of contents Message From The President....................................... 3 The Ride Guide................................................... 4 Ride Formations.................................................. 5 Why Do We Continually Pass Other................................. 6 Ontario Cycling Association s Perspective............................ 7 Waterloo Regional Police Association s Perspective................... 8 Rules For The Ride Coordinators................................... 9 Ride Coordinator Notes........................................... 10 WCC Board Of Directors........................................... 11 2
Message from the President I want to take a moment to thank you, the Ride Leaders of the Waterloo Cycling Club. The strength of the club is entirely based on your volunteer time and willingness to help organize rides and coach people so they may have a quality ride experience. And to the members who pay their dues and put their trust in us to offer a full spectrum of challenging programs to allow you to ride, race and lead within your community. Last year, we introduced an entire new set of rides. The novice and intermediate rides grew faster than any other segment. These are athletic people who learn fast and demand structure, safety and the steady pace of a challenging group ride. The kids MTB ride was packed and rolled right through the summer, sparking the idea for a Family MTB Ride Night. The CycloCross (CX) group became the ultimate cross over sport with MTB and Roadies riding together over gravel roads and bridges, or jumping over barriers and racing up hills in the dark to the sound of heckles and cheers. The WCC website had 588,310 page views over the past 12 months as a result of 158,329 visits from 42,190 people. We have 1263 Twitter Followers and 1329 registered web users who have generated over 10,000 posts in the discussion forums. With such an increase in interest and activity, we knew we had to take the club to the next level. We re formalizing Ride Leadership and increasing the Quality of club rides. It s about capturing what we do well during our rides and recognizing that one set of rides don t fit all levels in the Club. We re capturing The Art Of The Ride as done in the upper groups and apprenticing it down through the club, through action and example. We ve heard that the best rides have you pushing your limit; helping others when needed; challenging others to be better; sometimes rotating; sometimes single file; never touching wheels; not screaming car-back or ease up every minute. On a quality ride everyone knows when to go fast, when to ease up, when to group tightly, when to split, when to rotate and when to go single file. It is not strictly about paceline or single file. In the best rides we are one smooth, dynamic rolling machine that adjusts to the terrain and shares the road. Capturing how we do that and introducing and achieving it at different levels of the club is the challenge and responsibility of the ride leaders this year. We ve captured the key rules and considerations in our new Ride Guide and in an evolving WCC Ride Credo. The Art Of The Ride is more difficult to capture in writing, it is practiced by our Ride Leaders and passed down to new members. It is the WCC ride experience. Ride well, Alain Francq, President Waterloo Cycling Club president@waterloocyclingclub.ca 3
Obey The Ride Leader. They have been briefed on the rules of the road. Do not stay with a ride in which you do not feel comfortable. Before leaving a ride, make sure to tell the ride leader. Share the Road Be courteous to other road users. Help motorists pass. Give a thumbs up and wave thanks to courteous drivers. Be careful not to startle horse drawn buggies. When wearing club colours, you are Ambassadors on the road Obey the HTA We stop and put one foot down at all stop signs. If you are at the front, call stopping, or put your hand up to signal to the entire group that you are stopping. New riders will model the behaviour of the current members. Lead by example. Stopping also allows for regrouping. We ride tight-to-the-right, in a straight line, and pass on the left. Tight-to-the-right means within a foot of the rider in front and a foot between the rider you are passing on your right. Rotation is always clockwise, with faster riders moving forward on the left, passing slower riders on the right. Ride immediately behind the rider in front of you Do not overlap wheels No diagonal echelon in cross winds WCC Ride Guide When a rider passing up the left side arrives at the front of the group rotation, s/he pulls slightly ahead, until s/he hears that it is clear to move over to the right, taking a position at the front of the slower moving line of single- file cyclists who are riding next to the curbside. Once in position, s/he can ease up and let the faster riders continue to pass on the left, and indicate when it is clear for the passing rider at the front to rotate off and to the right. No heroic pulls The rider behind you should not have to speed up to pass you If you find the group too easy move to a faster group, next ride Do not disrupt the smooth rotation of the group If you find that you cannot pull through, stay at the back, - Perhaps drop back to the next group - Chose a slower group next time Ride Formations Group size: 8-12 riders. A smaller group is: More efficient for motorists to pass Easier to match abilities Easier to shift formation Faster to communicate road hazards Ride coordinators will organize groups before the start Let people group together and then have ride leader break them up to get the right numbers. Initial groups Fast (and you know it) Fast (just not as young or light) Sportif Weekend warrior Novice 4
EZ Echelon is the new paceline EZ Echelon is a Tight-To-The-Right formation that dynamically adjusts to the road and traffic conditions. WCC Ride Guide If there is a vehicle behind that wants to pass call out Car Back and do not move into the passing line of riders - eventually we will single up and the motorist will have more room to pass. EZ Echelon We are allowed to pass other cyclists (Under the HTA and even within the local by-laws) but if we are doing so with other vehicles approaching from behind, we must turn out to the right to let faster vehicles pass and they must turn out to the left to safely pass us. What a group of 8 can do is rotate clockwise in a paceline formation until a car approaches from the rear. Then call car-back, and the last person will stick and not pull into the passing line of bikes. With only had 8 riders, the 2-3 riders passing on the left would rotate up and over to the right and single up in no time. The car would pass seconds later (with a wave of thanks) and the last rider would immediately pull out and start the rotation again. Most cars will make a wider pass because upon their approach we were taking the lane while passing, but then sharing the road. There is respect and safety in the process. 5
Why Do We Continually Pass Each Other (Rotate)? Group riding is about working together as a team to go faster and longer by sharing the work of breaking the wind, 10 seconds at a time. It requires 35% less effort to draft behind another rider. The lead rider can only pull the group into the wind for a few seconds before becoming tired and is passed by the other riders moving faster on the left. Unacceptable formations (because they are more dangerous for motorists and cyclists) Too Long Single file lines are difficult to pass Motorists will be tempted to squeeze by when it is not safe There is no communication between cyclists in a long single line to inform of an approaching car or hazard on the road, resulting in a snaking line which draws riders into traffic. Too Wide - Block motorist s view of approaching traffic Diagonal echelon Double paceline, dropping back on both sides Real world situations Cyclists in a group are constantly moving and passing. On longer, more relaxed rides, on less travelled roads with low traffic the speed of passing and rotation may slow down. The passing line of single file cyclists on the left may take time to move past the slower moving single file line on the right (curb side). In this case, we assume a steady, tight-to-the-right echelon, so that approaching traffic can see clearly up the road and choose to make a wider pass or wait until the group quickly singles up. Single File Pace Line Ride single file when roads are narrow or busy. Circular Pace Line Riders continuously cycle in two parallel lines and circulate, each taking an immediate turn once coming to the front When a rider passing up the left side arrives at the front of the group rotation, s/he pulls slightly ahead, until s/he hears that it is clear to move over to the right, taking a position at the front of the slower moving line of single- file cyclists who are riding next to the curbside. Once in position, s/he can ease up and let the faster riders continue to pass on the left, and indicate when it is clear for the passing rider at the front to rotate off and to the right. 6
RAC E LE AD R IDE RAC EL www.wat erloo cycli ngclu b.ca IDE A perspective from the Waterloo Regional Police Drivers need to be aware that even when there is only one cyclist on the road that they have to cross the centre line to safely pass the cyclist. This cyclist is riding the recommended 1m away from the curb or edge of pavement. This is a typical 3.75m road, which leaves 2.75m. 6m 1.5m 3.75m In a single file formation it takes longer for vehicles to pass the cyclists. Given that it takes more time there are likely fewer opportunities for a vehicle to pass legally and safely. There is also no communication between the cyclists in a single line to inform the group of an approaching car or hazard on the road, resulting in a snaking line which swerves riders into traffic. 1.5m 3.75m 6m 20m When riders are Tight-To-The-Ride even when passing each other, the driver can still see clearly up the road and needs a much shorter distance to pass. The riders are holding a straight line and communicating to hold steady during the pass. Images and notes from S. Gollish of Morning Glory Cycling Club (Toronto)/ Board Member of the Ontario Cycling Association and Jody Wilson of the Collingwood Cycling Club 1.75m 3.75m 2m 6m 4.5m 4.5m 7
By-Laws A perspective from the Waterloo Region Police Services The Highway Traffic Act does not prevent cyclists from riding two abreast, HOWEVER, several municipalities in Waterloo Region have a local bylaw that does not permit the riding of bicycles two-abreast. No persons shall ride a bicycle on any highway abreast of another bicycle except in the course of passing the other bicycle Pack Riding Bike Clubs/cycling groups are known to ride in teams and may form what is referred to as a paceline Oval form riding two abreast This tempo ride would not be an infraction of the By-Law due to the riders continuously rotating around the oval formation, overtaking each other. Every Rider must still obey the rules of the road and when being overtaken by a vehicle travelling at a greater speed, shall turn out to the right and allow the vehicle to pass At WCC We accept the Police interpretation that riding a paceline is NOT riding two abreast. Collingwood OPP Constable Piet Huyssen, who is part of the OPP s bike patrol, says the rules of the road in Ontario do not dictate that cyclists ride in single file though that s a commonly-held misconception among motorists. From the Waterloo Region Police Services Thumbs Up presentation during Bike Month. At WCC We adopt smaller group sizes and follow an EZ Eschelon formation to ensure we are turning out to the right to allow vehicles to pass 8
Rules and Tips for the Ride Coordinators: Helmets required on all rides Bike in working order Arrive before the start time. We leave on time Be self-sufficient, bring your own: o Water, food o Money, cell phone, ID, membership card o Spare tube, pump / CO2, repair kit Zero tolerance o Riders who break safety rules will be warned ONCE o Next time they will be asked to leave the ride o If it happens on two rides in a row they will be asked to leave the club Etiquette o Wait at top of hill or next intersection for dropped riders If they are being dropped repeatedly o Ask if they are okay to ride alone and/or drop back to next group o Do not let a rider that is trying to get back on dangle off the back o Ease up so that they can get on. Seriously, EASE UP Do not stand ON the road Sprints o When we stop for any length of time, get off the road o Only sprint at known safe spots o With clear lines of sight o And NO following or approaching traffic o Do not cut-off other cyclists by changing your line KOM s o Do not cross the yellow line o Ensure no following traffic before breaking formation o Do not throw bike back when standing Do not ride in aero-bars in a group Hazards and Hand Signals o Yell Car Back - vehicle approaching from behind o Yell Clear - no vehicles when going through an intersection o Point to road hazards (hole, debris) o Move to other lane passing buggies Mechanicals (+ flats) o The group stops until it is fixed or the rider waves you on Accidents o The group stops o Care for anyone who is injured (911 if necessary) o Ride leader to record info for OCA Share the Road o Be kind, make it easy for them to pass o Do not engage angry drivers o Report belligerent and/or dangerous drivers to WRPS: 653-7700 9
Bring to ride: Extra waivers Cell phone OCA accident reporting form and a pencil Pre-ride Announcements 1. Ask if there are any new riders out; if so, ensure they are club members, ask them what their riding capabilities are/ comfort level is with riding in a group. Depending on response, steer them to appropriate group. For riders who are not experienced/ comfortable riding in a group, strongly suggest they join Wednesday night learn to ride sessions. 2. Confirm that all riders are Club members; when in doubt, ask for membership card. If non-member present, they must sign an OCA waiver before they are permitted to ride 3. Early in season, explain intended ride loop. Explain we want groups to stay on loop because as people get dropped, they can get picked up by next group. 4. Reminders: we need to follow rules of road stop at stop signs, keep to road edge, etc. riders need to communicate with each other e.g., road conditions, dog ahead, car up/ back. ensure road is clear front and back before any sprints if there is a crash with injury or bike damage, we need to have witnesses fill out OCA forms and Board needs to be advised. All riders should carry a cell phone and call 911 in emergency. Ride Coordinator Notes each person is responsible for their own safety, and the Club cannot prevent accidents/ injuries. Remind people that if they feel group or individuals are riding unsafely, they need to tell group and withdraw if they feel unsafe. Also, they should report circumstances to ride coordinator. Electrical storms: ride cancelled if lightning seen. Check out Environment Canada website re: what do in event of getting caught in storm: get away from each other, avoid high spots, stay away from metal, including bikes. If someone has a mechanical issue please ensure that they have everything necessary to get their bike back on the road. DO NOT LEAVE THEM WITHOUT CONFIRMING THIS. 5. Make announcements about recent races/ tours/ events and upcoming events. 6. Ask if anyone has any questions or announcements. 7. Tell riders to break into groups of 8-16; each group should leave at least 100 m between themselves and the group in front. 16 is the maximum permitted per our risk management plan submitted to the OCA. 10
Leading in our Community Cycling is a team sport.the real-world drafting techniques, advanced bike handling skills, and real-time team tactics for winning races are learned and practiced on the roads in the Region. Where else would you learn and practice to produce the next generation of top cycling talent? While we are clear on our training methodologies, safety strategies and risk management, we are still honked at, harassed, buzzed, screamed, hit, injured and charged while training safely, and within the law, on the road. WCC Quality Ride Credo We will: 1. Stop at All Stop Signs 2. Share The Road Single file on busy and narrow roads EZ Echelon on less travelled roads Stay Tight-to-the-Right in formation Help cars pass 3. Ride in smaller groups of 8-16 riders. 4. Teach the Art of the Ride to others 5. Follow the Ride Leader & seek to have a quality ride 6. Not engage angry motorists 7. Leave no rider behind 8. Be ambassadors on the road References & Acknowledgements www.waterloocycingclub.ca @WaterlooCC info@waterloocyclingclub.ca www.thehydrocut.ca @WCCTrails Graphic Design Provided by: Lee Fitzgerald ~ www.laf-design.com 11