It looks like we’re getting back to normal a bit quicker than I thought.

[Mr Whyte]

I really don't know why any of you bother, RR has only one view; he's 100% right about everything .You can present all the counter arguments and evidence you want on any subject and he'll still firmly believe that it's the rest of the world that's wrong. Combined with the desperate need for attention and self validation it's quite sad really.

I find some folk who are new to photography on a site I`m a member of, they ask advice you give it and then they go and do it a total different way.

 

[I like Skol]

Yes. That’s assuming there aren’t other leaders involved. The worst ones are where you are the solo leader and have to sprint like mad from the back to cover the junctions, let everyone pass, keep the elastic together, rinse and repeat, whilst simultaneously keeping the riders at the front from getting too far ahead, and not knackering the riders at the back out. I see it as good interval training.

I see it as negligent risk taking, irresponsibility and giving possibly naive and inexperienced riders a dangerous false sense of security by leading them to believe they are in the care of a competent, expert, trained ride guide! There is no way a single guide/leader can safely manage a random group of untrained cyclists of more than 3 or possibly 4 at a maximum, no matter how good they think they are.
To undertake such a challenge is madness and to be faced with such a situation (either through oversubscription or due to guides/leaders failing to show up) and still go ahead with the ride demonstrates poor risk assessment, decision making and weakness. Should the worst happen and said ride leader ended up in court, they would be pretty much defenceless purely for allowing the ride to go ahead. A sensible person with any balls would have rightly cancelled the ride unless they could reduce the number of riders to a controllable level or enlisted the help of a fellow guide/leader.

 

[classic33]

What I can't comprehend is why people need someone to take them on a ride.
Can't they just get on their bike and go and ride for themselves? It's not hard is it?
It really is beyond me!

If you're new to an area, it's one way of finding out what's in the area.
Other than that...

 

[itboffin]

I don’t want to add to any “personal” tensions in this thread but yes club riding in groups of up to six has now been approved by BC and Gov I have no doubt this was because of last weeks BC zoom meeting for club officials where over 300 club chairman and committee members top poll results asked when can we ride again in small groups, whilst bojo said at least a week ago that outside gatherings of small numbers are allowed having sanctioned club rides covered by BC insurance is vital and I’m glad they’ve listened to the members.

As I said in the meeting we’ve extended club membership to cover 2020 into 2021 for the services we’ve not provided our members and we will be running refresher sessions for group riding and social distancing, unlike the club ride I saw last Saturday riding in tight formation shoulder to shoulder in full club kit.

 

[itboffin]

If you're new to an area, it's one way of finding out what's in the area.
Other than that...

Agree with classic33 I rode alone for 10 years and tended to head east towards the hills and Berks/Hants border even though I live in Windshire, once I finally plucked up the courage to attend a local club ride I’ve discovered so many more routes and a lot more of the West Country not to mention making a lot of new friends.

Sadly I also discovered that I’m very slow ☺️

 

[I like Skol]

What I can't comprehend is why people need someone to take them on a ride.
Can't they just get on their bike and go and ride for themselves? It's not hard is it?
It really is beyond me!

Yes, but.....
Some people like the social aspect of a group ride. Some like to meet new people. Others may be seeking inspiration for new places to ride or may be new to an area and unsure of good destinations. They may be wanting to ride longer distances than normal but are not confident to do so on their own? There are a multitude of reasons to join a group ride, it's one of the things that make forum rides a success.
I do not consider myself to be particularly sociable but I still really enjoy the atmosphere of a good forum group ride, but these only have a leader in as much as one person plans and knows the route. Other than that it is just a collection of like minded and friendly cyclists that have chosen to go for a ride together

 

[Blue Hills]

After many years of cycling unaccompanied during which I had become a competent roadmap reader, I was encouraged to do a few group rides. This thread reminds me of why my group rides phase was brief.

Maybe find some less "full on" rides. I've been on loads of rides (london cycling campaign local group, ctc, cyclechat, friday coast rides) enjoyed them all. Also used to lead loads of local lcc rides. There's lots of nice rides around. And nice folk - even the ones with maybe dodgy tendencies tend to chill with a few endorphins. Maybe best to avoid the current affairs weekly rides though - i hear the stops can turn into bunfights.

 

[Blue Hills]

What I can't comprehend is why people need someone to take them on a ride.
Can't they just get on their bike and go and ride for themselves? It's not hard is it?
It really is beyond me!

Well your choice roger, but maybe they like discovering new byways that some folk have discovered/researched, and like socialising. Folks are different. What I Really don',t understand is folks paying to go on a bike ride.

 

[Brandane]

Other than that it is just a collection of like minded and friendly cyclists that have chosen to go for a ride together

Like minded? If I ever become minded like the OP, please shoot me.
It actually concerns me a bit that he is an accredited BC ride leader, to the point that I was thinking about firing off an email to them with links to this thread and a number of others pointing out his dangerous lack of roadcraft and general attitude. But would they listen to the reason why I won't be renewing my £40 membership and probably jumping ship to the opposition? Maybe a waste of time.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Well your choice roger, but maybe they like discovering new byways that some folk have discovered/researched, and like socialising. Folks are different. What I Really don',t understand is folks paying to go on a bike ride.

I'll be honest I haven't partly as I'm a tight wad, but if I was going on holiday & saw a MTB social ride advertised, that somebody had taken the time to prepare around an area I didn't know, then I might consider throwing a few shekels in to go along.

 

[Racing roadkill]

FFS!
Nothing you have said in that post contradicts anything that I have said [Edit - accredited ride leaders are never automatically assigned a leader role on a Ride Social]. If an accredited ride leader sets up a guided ride they are the ride leader for that ride - in the riders list, they are listed separately as a ride leader. An accredited ride leader can sign up as a participant for a guided ride set up and led by another accredited ride leader. They will still have the "L" next to their name but they will be listed as a participant - not as a ride leader. Having the "L" next to your name does not automatically make you a ride leader on every ride you sign up for and certainly doesn't make you a ride leader on a Ride Social even if you set it up - because they are effectively leaderless.

EDIT:
Here's what I mean - there is an accredited ride leader on a guided ride and she has an "L" next to her name but she is signed up for the ride as a participant - not as a ride leader and not as an assistant leader - the "L" denotes her accreditation but her listing as a participant and not a leader shows that she is not a ride leader on that ride. View attachment 530877

At last you’ve ( sort of ) got it. On a ride social that ride leader is still an accredited leader, and still gets the L, just not an official separate bit. But they are still leading the ride. I was one of the original leaders who were asked to trial the ride social idea, the key difference used to be that we didn’t get paid to do ride socials, and we did get paid to do guided rides. We now don’t get paid to do either, so getting paid or not used to be the only real difference, now there essentially is no difference, if an accredited leader sets up a ride social or guided ride ( other than the restrictions on size of group / leader to participant ratio / risk assessment and route distance / terrain ). Clearly you don’t understand, so don’t tire yourself out trying to explain it to me ( a very experienced Accredited ride leader, with many years, and rides under his belt).

 

[I like Skol]

Things appeared to have calmed down quite nicely in the last week or two and I had hoped it would remain so but, it looks like we’re getting back to normal a bit quicker than I thought.

 

[Landsurfer]

I still don't get the Leader thing ..... why do you need a Leader ....

 

[figbat]

...club riding in groups of up to six has now been approved by BC and Gov...

Yes, but even BC acknowledge that there are ongoing risks of cycling in groups of 6:

While the Government guidance now permits groups of up to six to ride together, British Cycling believes that the need to maintain a two-metre distance while riding as a group of six may present practical difficulties and potential risks. For this reason, in some environments we would encourage riders to continue to cycle in smaller groups at present, and only ride in a group of six if they are absolutely sure that it is safe to do so.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

I still don't get the Leader thing ..... why do you need a Leader ....

To follow?