We've all been on that group ride that was advertised as "No-drop", only to be left behind on the first climb. It's not a good feeling for anyone, no matter how long you've been riding. It can be especially discouraging for newer riders or folks trying out group riding for the first time.
There are a few fairly simple things you can do as a ride leader to make your rides more inclusive to all. Read on for my top 5 pieces of advice.
1. Be honest about what pace you're going to ride at and stick to it.
Going fast on a group ride is ok - in fact, I can ride a lot faster in a group than alone thanks to physics (hello drafting!) But I need to know what pace the ride is planning to go at so I know if its an appropriate ride for me to attend. As a ride leader, you need to set the pace and stick to it (obviously hills are the exception.)
2. Publish your intended route before the ride.
I used to ride with a group where part of the adventure was never knowing where you were going to end up. This was fun for a while and then I realized it was causing a lot of anxiety. I didn't know if I was going to end up 2 or 20 miles from home. Let folks know where you're planning to ride so they can plan accordingly. Sure, it might take away some of the mystery and intrigue, but it'll reduce stress when people know where they're going.
This also includes descriptions of the ride, such as expected elevation gain, road condition (paved, gravel, single track, etc.) and planned stops. As a person who snacks frequently, I want to know if I need to pack food or if we're stopping somewhere along the way.
3. Have a sweeper at the back of the ride who knows the route and intended destination.
Flat tires, red lights, bathroom breaks - things happen on rides and sometimes no matter your best intentions, groups can get split up. Having a designated person at the back of the ride who knows the route and where the ride is ending is crucial to ensuring all your participants make it to the end safely. Make sure this person is introduced to everyone at the beginning of the ride and its made clear that they'll be at the back of the group. (I also find it helpful for this person to have some basic mechanical skills just in case somebody gets a flat or drops a chain and doesn't know how to fix it themselves.)
4. Regroup at the top of hills, and actually give the last people up the hill a chance to rest.
I'm always the last person to the top of the climbs. I can't even tell you how many times I've gotten to the top, gasping for air, for the group leader to immediately start riding again. Don't do this. Give the people at the back the same break you got.
5. Drop the judgement-based descriptions such as "beginner" or "advanced" when you actually mean slow or fast.
This is a personal pet peeve of mine, because I'm slow, but I'm definitely not a beginner. I want to be very clear that there is absolutely nothing wrong with being a beginner.
But using descriptions such as "beginner" or "advanced" to describe pace can be dangerous and misleading. Harking back to #1, use actual pace descriptions, and if you truly mean a beginner ride, explain what that means. If folks are expected to know how to hold a paceline, make that known!
Any other best practices your cycling group uses? Share them in the comments below!