Safe Riding Policy

YOU – The Rider

Remember, you are always riding at your own risk. The club or other Peak Cycling Club Members including assistants/associates cannot be held responsible for any injuries or damages that may occur while riding indoors or outdoors.

To ensure you are better covered, we strongly advise all members to take out a cycling insurance to cover theft, liability, accidents and legal assistance. For more information on getting insured please click here.

Peak Cycling Club Rules

Here at Peak Cycling Club we don’t have a lot of rules for you to follow, but there are a few things that we do ask all our members to do. So, take time to read the following and please stick to our policies. 

Covid-19

As a club we aim to operate in line with the government Covid-19 guidelines. As a result, our riding timetable may change to adhere to the latest guidelines. For more information please visit our events page or contact us. 

Our Non-discrimination Policy

As a diverse cycling club, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of our activities or operations. 

We have a zero-tolerance policy for bullying, inappropriate behaviour, sexual harassment or discrimination, racial harassment or discrimination, foul language or any other form of harassment and discrimination based on religion, age, culture, race, language, or sexual orientation. Failure to adhere to our non-discrimination policy will result into your membership being terminated immediately.  

Our Safety Policy 

If you fall off your bike, that’s certainly a painful experience. But if you collide with a car or other vehicle the consequences can be extremely severe. If you follow our sensible safety precautions you can reduce your chance of having any kind of accident. 

• Know your Highway Code but avoid quoting it at any motorists. 
• You should know basic First Aid techniques.
• You should have third party insurance. 

Some Safety Precautions To Check Before Leaving Home 

• Are you fit to ride? Should you have any concerns about your suitability to exercise or your overall health, see your doctor. If you’re feeling ill during a ride, don’t carry on. Instead, stop and let others near you know. If you take any essential medications, tell other riders and/or wear neck or wrist tags. If you suffer from any allergies, tell us. Also, use a heartrate monitor and keep track of your data. 
• Always dress so you can be seen – forget fashion! You should also use your flashing lights regardless of the conditions as this will make it easier for motorists to see you. If possible, you should use a camera/light combo. 
• It’s compulsory to wear a crash helmet when you’re riding with us. Ensure you’ve fitted it properly, and if it becomes damaged, you should replace it straight away. 
• Think safe bike. Make sure you frequently and thoroughly check your bicycle including the rims and brake pads. If you drop or crash your bike, make sure to check it over carefully, or even better, get an expert inspection carried out. A slow puncture can appear overnight, so check the tyre pressure before riding. You can have fitted tri bars, but you can’t use them when riding in a group. You should be familiar with using pedal cleats. It’s advisable to have full-length mud guards on your winter bike, and it’s also courteous to other cyclists during wet weather.
• Clothes essentials. Mitts or gloves are vital as even a slow tumble onto a gravel surface may be painful. You should also wear eye protection as grit or an insect getting into your eye may result in a crash. You should also bring a rain jacket with you, even if no rain is forecast. If you become stranded, you’ll feel warmer if you have a gilet or rain jacket to put on. If you’re even in doubt you should wear more clothes than you think you need – it’s always possible to take items off if you’re too warm. 
• Mechanical problems and punctures. You should carry with you tyre levers, 2 spare inner tubes, and a CO2 inflator or pump. Learn how to change a tube by practising at home. Bring a multi-tool along with you (and make sure you know how one works.) A “Slime-Filled” self-repairing inner tube will fix the majority of punctures, especially during winter. #
• Eating and drinking. Make sure you’ve eaten well before riding, and bring along a snack and drink with you. You should also carry cash with you. Of course, it goes without saying that you should never drop gel wrappers or litter (or leave your old used inner tubes) by the roadside! 
• Whenever possible attend first aid courses and study the NHS’s online First Aid web pages. Carry one big injury patch as a minimum and know CPR techniques. 
• It’s always possible to become lost during a ride or experience a mechanical issue. Therefore, you should always bring your phone along with you. Make sure you’ve got the number for the ride leader and make sure they have yours. Have an In Case of Emergency (ICE) number on your mobile, and if you ever change the information for your next-of-kin’s contact details, tell us. 
• Always check out the weather forecast before leaving home and wear appropriate clothing. If you’re riding during the winter months, expect the roads to be in worse condition, so fit mudguards and tougher tyres. If the weather is icy, stay on main roads which have been gritted. Even better, avoid riding altogether. 
• Anyone aged under 18 must have a signed Parental Consent form returned to our club. 

During Your Ride – Traffic 

• Always quickly move into a single file if you can hear traffic approaching from behind. Be aware of any electric cars as they are virtually silent. If you hear traffic approaching from behind, the riders to the rear should shout “CAR BACK”. This signals the riders in the group to promptly move into a single file so cars can easily pass. When a group has more than 6 – 8 riders, you should make a gap so cars can “bunny hop” when passing. Ensure that all of the cars have finished passing before you resume “two abreast.” Never ride with more than two people side-by-side. If the road is busy, ride at all times in a single file. If the road is narrow, when the rider leading the group sees a car they should shout “CAR UP”. The majority of car drivers will be considerate, but avoid having an argument with any who aren’t. Never make a rude gesture or shout. Avoid passing any cars on the inside, and be polite – having a good relationship with motorists is important (although using a discreet camera may help with a dispute). 
• Our Ride Leader will always try to  find a quiet route that mostly has left turns. However, they can’t know everything! If you’re familiar with an area, don’t be afraid to speak up, and be alert at all times, bad drivers may appear on all kinds of road. 
• Stay within a group. Usually, car drivers will treat a group more respectfully than they treat solo riders. Partner up with another rider. If you’re struggling to keep up, tell people. If somebody falls behind, help them out by going back, however tell the others first as the rider leaders can’t be everywhere at once! 
• Take extra care at junctions. Make sure to look twice before moving. Have patience with traffic too. Only call “CLEAR” for the other riders if you’re completely certain that all of the traffic has fully passed. When you hear someone else shout “CLEAR” make sure that you double check yourself, in every direction! If you’re stopping or slowing down, shout out what you’re doing so others riding behind you are aware. 
• Never ride wearing headphones – always listen out for traffic. 
• Don’t make any sudden moves! Before braking – THINK! Is anybody immediately behind you? Before turning, always use a clear signal and look backwards in each direction. Avoid stopping immediately after you turn as a car come come around the corner at any moment. 
• Ride leaders determine the size of the group. Under 10 riders is the preferred choice, and bigger groups must leave gaps so overtaking traffic won’t find it difficult. 

During Your Ride – Risks And Other Riders 

• Avoid overlapping the front wheel of your bike with the back wheel of the bicycle in front of you. If you’re unable to see clearly ahead, maintain a gap as the rider who is in front of you could suddenly brake. Take care when riding uphill. When the rider before you gets out of their saddle, they’ll momentarily slow down and it’s possible to clip their rear wheel. 
• If you notice any potholes, point them out to riders behind you. Shout “HOLE”. If you notice bad surfaces, oil or grave, shout out too. A wet road may be slippery, so if you’re turning on any suspect surface, keep your bicycle upright as much as possible. Make sure you’re using compact hand signals. 
• Alert any horseriders by calling out “BIKE” during your approach. Horse riders and their mounts can easily be panicked by a bike that suddenly appears, so give them some warning. Look out too for any other animals. 
• Shout or use hand signals to let other riders know you’re moving to avoid an obstruction, a pedestrian or a runner. 
• If you need to stop, choose a place that is safe. Avoid stopping just around a corner, or as you just pass the top of a hill. Make sure you get completely off the road, leaving motorists clear sightlines. 

During Your Ride – Bike Handling

• When you go downhill, make sure to go at a reasonable speed. Going too fast and crashing will cause an injury. Never chase another rider or race downhill.  Always look ahead, especially at the surface of the road. You’ll have better control if you keep your hands on your handlebars “Down on drops, not on tops”. 
• Learn how to corner in a safe way. Never take a chance with cornering – slow down before getting to the corner and not during it. Also, look out for any oil, gravel, ice or leaves while cornering and warn the other riders if you spot any. If you’re too fast on entering a corner, shift your bodyweight and keep your bike as upright as possible. Keep it as smooth as you can. 

Dealing With An Accident 

Avoid making the situation worse! 

• If there’s an accident, you should first think about the oncoming traffic and appoint someone to make the traffic aware. 
• Never move the person who has fallen unless it’s absolutely necessary. Instead, reassure them and allow them some time to get over the shock of the fall. 
• Administer some first aid – the injury will always appear worse at first. 
• Use patches or bandages and try to keep the rider from looking at the injury as it will be less traumatic for them. 
• If you’re in any doubt as to whether professional medical help is needed, call for an ambulance. 
• If a vehicle is involved, take its registration number then call for the police. 
• When the police arrive, insist on the driver having both an eyesight and a breathalyser test. 
• Insist on checking the driver’s mobile phone straight away for any recent texts or calls. 
• Take photographs of the scene of the crash. 
• If you can safely move the person who has fallen and they don’t require an ambulance, it’s often faster to ask a motorist or call for a taxi to get them to the hospital. 

Time trialling, race training and racing are advanced cycling levels that require you to adhere to all the above rules, and at the same time have good skills in close riding at speed. You’ll need to have special training. Training in a “Chain Gang” is fast and close and some sessions will be after dark. Therefore, bright clothing and good lights are vital. You must also listen carefully to the instructions given to you by your Ride Leader.