Beacon club runs are group rides taking place on public roads and as such, it is expected that all those taking part will obey the Highway Code and instructions given by the club run leader. Please ride sensibly, with thought for your own safety and that of other club members and road users.

  • Be prepared:
    • Wear suitable clothing for the expected weather conditions
    • Bring suitable waterproofs if the weather forecast suggests they may be necessary
    • Carry appropriate tools and pump to fix a puncture (including spare inner tubes)
    • Take money for emergencies and for use in the café
    • Carry a drinks bottle and suitable energy bar or other food
    • Make sure your bike is in roadworthy condition, paying particular attention to tyres and brakes
    • Carry some form of ID and emergency contact details
  • Riders who are new to the club should make themselves known to the leader before the ride starts and should take particular care to carry ID and emergency contact details.
  • Most Sundays we have three club runs, offering a choice of distances and average speeds. Participants should join the club run that is most appropriate for their ability level. Faster riders may occasionally wish to ride with a slower group than they would normally join, but when doing so they should observe the pace of the ride and not overtake the leader and take care not to inadvertently increase the pace of the group.
  • Ride no more than two abreast, and be prepared to ride single file on busy or main roads, when passing other groups of cyclists, or at any other time when instructed to by the leader.
  • No single group should exceed 15 riders. If there are more than 15 riders on any club run the run should split into two distinct groups of roughly equal sizes, leaving a sufficient gap between for any vehicles to pull into safely.
  • We aim to maintain a steady pace within the guide average speed range for the club run. We do our best not to leave anyone behind but a reasonable rate of progress needs to be made and participants should ensure that they are self-sufficient and able to complete the ride alone if necessary.
  • The leader should not be overtaken unless he/she has consented and in this case those riding ahead of the leader should take care to continue to maintain the pace set by the leader. In order for those riding ahead of the leader to be able to judge the appropriate pace, no more than two riders should ride in front of the leader.
  • Those riding within the group should be aware of riders that are behind and should immediately warn the leader if anybody has ‘dropped off the back’. It is particularly important for those riding in the middle of the group to warn the leader if a gap develops.
  • When in the group, ride at a steady pace in tight formation. Follow the wheel in front, and always consider that there will be other members of the group following your wheel. Do not accelerate or brake suddenly.
  • The presence of and/or the use of tri-bars, aero bars or handlebar extenders (henceforth referred to as tri-bars) are not permitted on club runs.
    • The one exception to this is where there is a rider has a confirmed medical reason for their limited use, as under the Equality Act 2010, companies and organisations such as Beacon RCC are required to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ for those with medical conditions or disabilities.
    • Where this is the case, the rider should inform and discuss their specific requirement with the committee via the Club Runs Secretary and provide confirmatory evidence if necessary before approval is given for that person to ride.
    • Once agreed with the Committee, that rider can lead rides or join rides led by others but must not use the tri-bars when riding in the group, i.e. they must ride off the front or off the back of the group whilst the tri-bars are in use.
    • That rider should also caveat all their Message Board club run posts stating that they use tri-bars as a medical aid, and that other riders should not join that ride if this bothers them.
    • This approach has been discussed with Cycling UK, and does not invalidate our club run liability insurance.
  • Good communication is vital when riding in a group. For the safety of everyone in the group, riders must not use earphones of any sort on our club runs.
  • When cars or other vehicles are trying to pass the run they should only be called on by the lead riders, and then only when the road ahead is clear and suitable for overtaking. It may be necessary to single out to allow traffic to pass safely.
  • Where possible indicate to other riders any obstacles on the road, such as pot holes, parked cars, pedestrians, glass or other debris.
  • When encountering horses, slow down, communicate with their riders, and then pass in single file when it is safe to do so. Do not shout, or undertake any action that may startle the horse.
  • Please remember, we are all ambassadors for our sport and pastime of cycling, and as such we should always consider our behaviour towards other road users and the impression of us they take home.

It is important to understand that, when you go on a club run, you are not being ‘taken out’ by an organiser who is responsible for your safety and well-being. You are part of a group of individuals on a joint excursion, each of whom tacitly accepts the risks inherent to group cycling on public roads, some of which may be poorly maintained or slippery. Club run leaders determine the route, take names of participants and are welcoming, but they are not responsible for rider safety.

Ridesmart: How to ride in a group

Be Nice Say Hi: How to pass horses safely