Taking beginners out for a bike ride - whilst very rewarding - requires a little more attention. This is especially true if you don't know the riders, their riding capabilities and their levels of road confidence. These notes assume you will follow normal British Cycling best practice.
If you want to lead a Beginner Bike Ride then help getting started is here:
- Beginner Bike Rides
Compared to a ride with experienced riders whose capabilities you know your focus is more about encouragement and reassurance.
Be flexible and respond to the riders who turn up on the day by adjusting the plan if required. You may have riders who have just learnt to ride, or riders who have built up riding fitness and confidence and need a ride that confirms they can move on to 10-mile rides.
The Route
1. Five miles is long enough to be rewarding for riders and short enough to be a manageable distance using water breaks as required
2. Riders will welcome practicing on the same familiar route and will also welcome variety
3. Some short easy gradients and off-road can be helpful elements
4. Sample routes in Harrow are available
- Organised Rides
Introduction
1. Start with group introductions which allows people to engage and offer the opportunity for people to give their riding background; this might expose any concerns
2. Do the bike check; depending on the group consider doing ABCD rather than the M-Check. It's your role to request the check then it is down to the riders. "D" stands for drop where you lift the bike six inches off the ground and drop it to listen for rattles.
3. Consider doing a preliminary ride such as a simple lap of a park, or round the block. Do enough that you can assess rider capabilities
4. Explain the ride focusing on the need to stop, walk through subways and so on. Keep it simple and short
5. Give your riders some key words that the whole group can use. "Easy!" to mean we need to slow down. "Stopping!" to mean I am stopping.
The Ride
1. Set a gentle pace and if the group is bunching behind you consider going slightly faster
2. An average speed of 7-8mph is enough for beginners; remember they won't want a top speed over 10mph