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On the half day rides, we average 32 mph, so when you are planning a route, an hour is about 32 miles. Obvious really! If you need to do 35 miles to your first comfort stop, then try and reduce the second half of the ride to say 30miles, so that we still get to the destination between 12:30 and 12:45, and we can meet up with the rest of the Observers and Associates.
You and the Back Marker should exchange mobile numbers, just in case you need to liaise during the ride.
You should give a short briefing to the group, 5 to 10 minutes before departure, outlining your planned route, indicating the stop for the intermediate comfort break, the timing and possibly mileage. Introduce the Back Marker.
Ask if anyone has any issues and maybe talk to them privately after the briefing.
Make sure everyone understands the drop-off system. For new riders, ask them to start the ride at the back of the group, just in front of the Back Marker, so they can see it in action, before they take part.
While riding, you will get a feel for how the group is staying together – or not! If you’re riding at 60mph, the riders at the back, as they get further behind, will be tempted to speed to catch up and not lose you. It may be better to ride some roads at 50mph, so everyone feels in touch. See how it goes on the day.
It’s a good feeling getting everyone to the destination safely, having travelled along interesting roads.
Briefing Check List
1. Start the briefing 10 mins before ride due to start
2. Advise set off in 5 Mins
3. Identify the T&P stop location and approximate ride length
4. Advise the destination
5. Relay any known issues
6. If riding on a Motorway is involved remind everyone not to mark Motorway exits, the exit point should be relayed during this briefing so riders know where to get off.
7. Identify the back marker to all riders
8. Check everyone is clear about the second man drop off system
9. Remind riders to “bunch up” at junctions so more than one gets into each gap.
10. Remind about “staggered riding” on long straight roads
11. Remind everyone to ride to their own judgement
12. Remind everyone to ride to the road not to the bike in front of you
13. Leader and back marker to exchange phone numbers
Wear an orange vest; this is so the riders can easily identify you while moving. T5 will provide these to be loaned to the back marker, to be returned to the Leader each week at the end of the ride.
Exchange phone numbers with the Leader before departure.
Make sure you know where the intermediate and destination stops are, just in case things go wrong during the ride.
As you approach a rider marking a junction, indicate with an arm wave that it is really you in case other bikes have become mixed up in the Ride! So they can move off safely and re-join the group.
In the event of an incident during the ride, you will come across it before the Leader. You should contact the Leader as soon as is practicable via phone or text and decide between you, how to proceed.