This advice has been compiled using Cycling UK Guidelines and past MCG experience to ensure compliance with insurance requirements and overall ride safety.

Planning a ride

We recommend:

• That leader and back-up do a recce.
• That the route avoids busy roads, especially A roads.
• That all hazards are assessed for risk.
• That the starting point has suitable parking.
• That there are suitable refreshment options available.

Posting a ride summary on the MCG website

Send this to the website administrator [Clive Allen] ensuring that the specific location details are not disclosed in order to avoid security issues.

The summary should include:

date, start time, duration, general location, names of leader and back-up, leaders email, ride grading [see Calendar page], maximum numbers, distance, elevation, proportion of on-road/off-road and breaks/lunch availability.

Receiving requests to join ride

• Do not confirm places on rides, or otherwise, until they go live on the website.
• Do not accept any MCG non-member who has already done 3 Monday Rides.
• Do not accept more than 10 MCG non-members.
• If appropriate, reply with full details including exact location of the start.
• Indicate all hazards and risks.
• Give details of lunch and mid-ride breaks.
• Say if toilets are available at the start.
• Ask for emergency [ICE] contact name and phone number for that date - if leader chooses.
• Ask for the participant's own mobile number that they will carry on that date - if leader chooses.
• Advise bringing spare inner tubes, tools, lights, first aid and water and waering a helmet.
• Include your own mobile number for possible use during the ride.

Before setting off

MCG leaders and back-ups have total authority over the conducting of the ride. This includes dealing with unforseen problems and if necessary refusing to allow someone to join the ride if their bike or behaviour poses too much of a safety risk.

Also:

• Keep welcome remarks brief, and avoid delays.
• Introduce guests/new members.
• Ask people to tell you if they have any problem that may affect them adversely during the ride.
• Remind everyone that they are responsible for their own safety.

During the ride

• Match the pace of the ride to the performance of the group on that day.
• Keep the group together by using occasional stops and short breaks.
• On busier roads split up the group to help avoid traffic congestion.
• At junctions, use people to stop and mark the way to avoid uncertainty.

After the ride

Send the names of participants to the website Administrator with 24 hours.

This advice has been compiled using Cycling UK Guidelines and past MCG experience to ensure compliance with insurance requirements and overall ride safety.

Planning a ride

We recommend:

• That leader and back-up do a recce.
• That the route avoids busy roads, especially A roads.
• That all hazards are assessed for risk.
• That the starting point has suitable parking.
• That there are suitable refreshment options available.

Before setting off

MCG leaders and back-ups have total authority over the conducting of the ride. This includes dealing with unforseen problems and if necessary refusing to allow someone to join the ride if their bike or behaviour poses too much of a safety risk.

Also:

• Keep welcome remarks brief, and avoid delays.
• Introduce guests/new members.
• Ask people to tell you if they have any problem that may affect them adversely during the ride.
• Remind everyone that they are responsible for their own safety.

During the ride

• Match the pace of the ride to the performance of the group on that day.
• Keep the group together by using occasional stops and short breaks.
• On busier roads split up the group to help avoid traffic congestion.
• At junctions, use people to stop and mark the way to avoid uncertainty.

After the ride

Send the names of participants to the website Administrator with 24 hours.