We no longer lead road rides.

However here are some tips if you would like to lead a road ride group.

At the beginning of a ride and at the ride briefing we will recommend splitting into groups based on similar ability and where to regroup on the ride, often at several points. Have a no-drop policy, so no one is left behind. Everyone starts at some point and we’d like you to enjoy your ride, no matter your ability.
When riding in a group we recommend riding in bunches of 6-10 max. This ensures we can all communicate easily when learning and that we don’t create large bunches for vehicles to pass. This helps keep us safe and ensures we share the road with respect.
Try having shorter and longer distances for the road rides. If you can indicate in advance that you are coming and which group, it helps organisers. Learning a route is an important skill – helps you avoid getting lost.

What to bring
Make sure you have on you or your bike; a helmet, drink bottles, snack food, ICE card (in case of emergency contact details), spare tyre tube, tyre levers, bike pump and some cash or card for coffee. Check the weather in advance and dress accordingly; layers that you can take off and pop in a back pocket are great. Gloves and glasses are useful. We recommend a rear facing red flashing light attached to your seat post.

Ride Leaders
We usually get one of our ‘Ride Leaders’ to volunteer and organise a ride. Please listen to their ride briefing so you know what to expect on your ride and feel free to ask questions – there are no dumb ones. You are responsible for your actions and they are there to help you learn and enjoy riding with other like-minded women. Its takes time to learn how to ride in groups and with others, below is some information to get you started on your journey. Note: If no ‘Ride Leader’  is available to lead a ride we’ll post where to meet and you can see who turns up and then decide on a suitable ride.

Be predictable 
Whether riding on the road with traffic or with a group, always be predictable, keeping a steady straight line at the left road side verge and indicate your movements verbally and visually. Remember to keep left as far as practicable when riding on the road; again we share the road with other road users, so keep safe. Avoid sudden braking and changes of direction and always try to maintain a steady straight line. Remember that there are riders following closely behind. To slow down, let others know behind by calling out or signalling (waving your arm up and down at your side). When you’ve had your turn at the front, move out of the main line and slow down by sitting up and letting wind resistance work, if you need to slow down more stop pedalling, as you slip back and into the rear of the group.

Point out obstacles
Point out obstacles such as parked cars, loose gravel, broken glass, holes, rocks or debris on the road, calling out "hole" etc. as well as pointing is helpful in case someone is not looking at your hand when you point. Make sure if you're at the back of the group to let the rest of the group know if there is a car coming up to pass the group with a the 'car back' call. It is just as important to pass the message on, not just letting those close to you know.

Holding a wheel
Maximise your energy savings by staying close to the rider in front. Cyclists save about 30 per cent of their energy at speed by following a wheel. Hold the wheel in front of you in a group, an appropriate gap between your front wheel and the person in front is around 50cm. If you drop back too far you don’t get the benefit of drafting and maybe dropped from the group. Each time you leave a gap you are forcing yourself to ride alone up to bridge it and using a lot of energy doing so. Also, riders behind you may become annoyed and ride around you. We will ride either single file or two abreast depending on traffic and road conditions. If you are in the bunch, riding two abreast and there is no one beside the person in front of you, you should move into that gap (otherwise you will be getting less windbreak than everyone else will).
If you get dropped off the back of a faster group, sit up and wait for the next group to pick you up, so you can work with them. Or if only one group, let them know the pace is too fast, a small adjustment will mean all riders can keep together. Keep your hands close to the brakes in case of sudden slowing.
Sometimes people who are not used to riding in a bunch will feel too nervous at this close range - riding on the right side is generally less nerve-racking for such people as they feel less hemmed in. Watching "through" the wheel in front of you to one or two riders ahead will help you hold a smooth, straight line and let you know what’s going on ahead. Check the wheel gap but keep lifting your head to watch what’s going on a few riders ahead.
Don’t worry if you’re slow when you first start, your ride leader or one of the more experienced riders will always try and ensure your group goes at a suitable speed or they will ride with you and the group will wait at designated stops. You’ll get stronger/fitter with practice – we’ve all been there and understand.

Braking
Ride safely and try to stay off your brakes.  For small changes in group speed try sitting up on your hoods, this helps the wind slow you and stopping pedalling can slow your speed. Listen for the noise of a cassette clicking, this is also an indicator of speed changing as someone stops pedalling. If you are inexperienced or a little nervous about riding too close to the wheel in front of you, let others know and keep a longer gap and/or stay at the back of the group, till you gain confidence and practice your bunch riding skills. When the pace eases, don’t brakes suddenly, instead ride to the side of the wheel in front, this closes the gap safely without you riding into the rider in front, then ease back into position again behind the wheel. Practice on the back and soon you will be able to move up the line with a partner.

Roll through - Take turns
Taking a turn at the front is hard work and you’ll soon want a rest in the group, sharing the load helps everyone. The most common way to take a turn on the front of the group is for each pair is to stay together until they get to the front. After having a turn on the front (generally about the same amount of time as everyone else is taking), the pair moves to the right side one at a time, (this can be done when riding in single file also), allowing the riders behind to come through to the front. After moving out of the line, to get to the back of the peloton, stop pedalling for a while or ease off to slow down, keep an eye out for the end of the bunch and fall back into line there. If you're the last rider in the group, let those dropping back know with a 'last rider' call.  It is safer for everyone if you get to the back as quickly as possible. Remember to communicate with your partners and riders behind. From behind look out for the rider in front of you moving out and even a small ‘flick’ of the elbow to indicate that it’s your turn. Never cross the centre white line.

Be smooth with your turns at the front
Avoid rushing forward or surging when it’s your turn on the front. Surges cause gaps further back in the bunch which affect the riders at the back as they have to continually chase to stay with the bunch – the bungee effect.

Plan when to come off the front and retire to the back
When riding in pairs in a group you need to do some planning when you get on the front so that when you roll through you come off at a place where the road is wide enough for the group to be three or four-wide for a short time. With some planning, it is often possible to come off the front a few hundred metres earlier or later to avoid a dangerous situations i.e. poor visibility on corners and passing motorists. When you’ve had your turn at the front, pull out and retire to the back. If riders push in somewhere in the middle of the bunch rather than retiring to the back after taking a turn, cyclists at the back will not be able to move forward and take a turn of their own. Remember that riding in a bunch is about all riders sharing the workload.

No half-wheeling
When you’re riding single file, don’t ‘half wheel’. This means keeping your front wheel a ‘half wheel’ or alongside the rear wheel of the rider in front of you. A slight direction change or gust of wind could easily cause you to touch wheels with the rider in front and the rider behind will fall. If riding in pairs ride side by side, don’t half wheel, this automatically makes your partner speed up slightly to pull back alongside you. Often this speeding up causes some of the group invariably to change speed as the riders behind try to catch up and can create confusion and the bungee effect at the back. Keep it steady and predictable.

Regrouping
Often the group will spread out on a climb or decent/downhill. When at the front of the group remember to slow down and let everyone re-group to work together again as a group. Be aware if you are on the front on a downhill, to pedal downhill as cyclists behind you will not want to ride with their brakes on consistently. If you’re not confident stay at the back on descents and then pedal to catch up at the bottom.

Don't follow too close when riding up-hill
Many riders, even the experienced ones, freewheel momentarily when they first get out of the saddle to go over a rise or a hill. When doing this, the bike is forced backwards. Many riders often lose their momentum when rising out of the saddle on a hill which can cause a sudden deceleration.  Following the wheel in front too closely when climbing may result in you touching the wheel and falling.

Don’t panic if you brush shoulders, hands or bars with another rider
Try to stay relaxed through your upper body as this helps absorb any bumps.  Brushing shoulders, hands or bars with another riders often happens in bunches and is quite safe provided riders do not panic, brake or change direction.

Look ahead
Do not become obsessed with the rear wheel directly in front of you. Try to focus four or five riders up the line so that any ‘problem’ will not suddenly affect you. Scan the road ahead for potential problems, red lights etc, and be ready.

Obey the Road Rules
Especially at traffic lights - if you are on the front, and the lights turn orange, they will definitely be red by the time the back of the bunch goes through the intersection. You will endanger the lives of others if you run it and cause justifiable irritation by other road users.  If you ride up to a Stop intersection, you must stop completely, check it’s safe and then ride off.

In front you’re leading
Remember when you are on the front, you are not only responsible for yourself but everyone in the group. When you are leading the bunch, try to monitor potential problems and give plenty of warning of impending stops or changes of pace. Make sure you know where you are going, ensure you read or listen to ride briefing and know your local roads.

Don’t use aero bars in a bunch ride
Never use your aero bars in a bunch ride as it’s not safe and often where accidents occur. Do not use even if you are at the front of the group. Using aero bars means that your hands are away from the brakes. Aero bars are for time trial use only please.

Have fun, keep safe and enjoy!