Thursday, 02 December 2021
These guidelines are supplementary information for anyone leading a group ride during the current phase of the Coronavirus (COVID‑19) pandemic. The basic rules for leading a group ride still apply.
Leaders are strongly advised to carry out a self-assessment of symptoms before attending their ride and should definitely not attend if unwell or if contacted by NHS Test and Trace and told to self-isolate. If you have to cancel the ride, you will need to contact any booked riders to inform them. And also contact the runs secretary - for both booked and unbooked rides - to ask for the website to be updated.
Cycling UK advise that limiting group rides to a maximum of 15 people is sensible. In line with that advice, we ask you to limit your rides to an absolute maximum of 15. Leaders have the option of setting a lower limit for their rides and we recommend that you limit your rides to between 6 and 12 people.
Leaders have the choice of either booked or unbooked rides. We recommend that most rides continue to be booked rides where all riders are asked to pre-book a place. We ask leaders to try and allocate places fairly, nominally using a "first-come, first-served" principle. But leaders can opt for an unbooked rides, where people can turn up on the day without booking. Leaders are expected to manage the numbers (e.g. appoint a second leader and ride in two separate groups) if there are too many people on the day.
Leaders are asked to book any planned cafe stops for their ride for the expected size of their group. Leaders are responsibile for the whole group and should confirm the social distancing rules with that cafe. We recommend that you contact cafes in advance to confirm that the planned group is welcome.
We recommend that you appoint a back marker on any ride with 8 or more riders. And if the ride is fully subscribed with 12 or more riders we recommend that you appoint a deputy leader to lead a second group.
Leaders are asked to complete a ride registration form and send this to the membership secretary within 24 hours of the ride ending - ideally send it on the same day. We may need to use this information for contact tracing - hence the urgency.
The Leader is asked to give a special "Covid-19" briefing at the start of the ride. This to remind everyone of the need to maintain sensible social distancing and to follow government guidelines if they develop symptoms following the ride.