IAM RoadSmart
Group Organised Rides - Manual of Guidance
General
IAMRSS Group organised rides will be advertised by the Group Ride Coordinator via email by MailChimp. If you receive a group ride invitation from any other source, it is not a Group organised ride.
Safety First
The paramount consideration when riding in a group is always safety. At no time should the safety of riders, or any third party be compromised. It always remains the personal responsibility of all riders within the group to exercise their own judgement about every course of action that they take. Each rider is responsible for their safety, actions, and any consequences that those actions may have.
The Law
Traffic laws must always be obeyed when riding on the road. Do not worry if you fall behind, there will be a marker rider waiting to show you the route. Ride your normal ride within your capabilities and don’t be tempted to change this.
Rider Ability
Every rider must ride within their capabilities and exercise judgement when determining the safety of their actions. If at any time you feel that you are not capable of continuing, as the ride exceeds your skill level, then you should pull over at a safe and legal position until you’re joined by the tail-end rider, who will consider appropriate options to take, which may include:
Having you stay in front of the tail rider for the rest of the ride.
Agreeing that you should leave the ride.
The Drop-Off Marker System
The ride leader (usually the ride organiser) stays at the front of the group leading the ride and the tail-end rider remains at the rear as the names suggest.
Whenever there is a deviation from the obvious straight-ahead route, the ride leader will indicate to the rider travelling immediately behind to pull over in a visible, safe and legal position to point all bikes in the correct direction. This bike is called the marker and when the tail-end rider comes along the marker re-joins the route in front of the tail-end rider. As the journey continues each rider will, in turn, become the rider behind the leader, and therefore become a marker before re-joining in front of the tail-end rider.
By following this basic system every rider regardless of ability within the group may ride their own ride, without the need to maintain a pace they are not comfortable with and without the risk of getting lost. There is never a need to ride in convoy with all bikes in sight of each other.
Prior to the Ride
Prior to the ride the ride leader will give a full briefing.
The leader and tail end rider are both experienced riders and fully conversant with ride protocols. They have the authority of the Group Committee to ensure that all riders demonstrate a good standard of advanced riding. They will exclude any riders who are deemed to be riding to a lower standard, riding in an unsafe manner, affecting ride safety or the reputation of the group and IAM RoadSmart. If any rider is excluded a report will be created detailing the incident and then submitted by the ride leader to the Group Committee.
Pre-Ride Briefing
The leader will conduct the pre ride briefing which will include planned ride times, stops, ride protocol, overtaking if permitted and how the ride will be managed.
Conduct on the Ride
Remember- Safety first!
Ride your own ride. You are responsible for your own safety, your actions and any consequences that those actions may have.
The ride leader is responsible for navigation only, you must use your judgement about every course of action that you take.
Traffic laws must be obeyed at all times.
Ride at a pace that is legal and at no time ride faster than you consider safe for the conditions, always ride smoothly and predictably, try to avoid harsh acceleration, sudden braking or sudden changes in direction.
At junctions take the obvious straight-ahead route unless a marker bike indicates otherwise.
At roundabouts, the marker bike should be on the exit route, if you cannot see the marker on the approach be prepared to circle the roundabout to confirm the correct exit (mainly large roundabouts).
Overtaking within the group may be facilitated where safe and legal. The ride leader will confirm whether or not overtaking within the group is allowed. Do not be pressured into going any faster than you feel safe and the following rider should not pressure you. The following rider can make their intentions known and where appropriate you can yield allowing for a safe and courteous overtake. The tail-end rider will not overtake others in the group.
If overtaking is permitted, and you choose to make a pass on another participant, you become responsible for the safety of the rider you are passing until you are clear of them and they can stop safely should the need arise.
If you intend to leave the group, allow all riders pass you and indicate to the tail-end rider your intentions. Preferably this will have been communicated at the briefing stage if possible, however circumstances may change during the ride.
When on the open road, ride in staggered formation when near other group riders.
Allow other road users to overtake the group if they wish. Where it is safe make space for them to do so.
When you are behind the Ride Leader
Be prepared to stop and act as the marker when indicated to do so by the ride leader, however, if you are the second bike behind the leader and you realise that the bike in front has not marked a change in direction when indicated to do so by the leader, then mark it yourself.
When you are the Marker
Never compromise your personal safety or the safety of others by stopping in a dangerous location. No one in the group wants to get lost, but that is preferable to putting yourself at risk. When the leader signals for you to stop, do so only where you are safe and visible to the following riders. It is your decision where to stop but remember that to be an effective marker you need to be visible to the following bikes and point out clearly with an outstretched arm the direction to follow. Do not move until the tail-end rider appears. If the tail-end rider fails to appear, do not move. If something has gone wrong, someone will return for you.
REMEMBER - you are all that’s going to help the following bikes find the correct route. If you see other riders from the group take the wrong direction do not attempt to chase after them.
Wait until the tail-end rider arrives and inform them. If the riders return in the meantime, then you don’t need to inform the tail-end rider if you are sure that all riders that took the wrong direction have returned to the junction you are marking. Make sure that what appears to be the last bike is really the tail-end rider who will slow down as they approach to enable you to pull out safely in front.
Always remain on your machine and be ready to move off.
If you get lost
The most common causes of getting lost are a failure to see a marker or someone leaving the group while on the road and the bike behind follows. These are avoidable if everyone follows this guide.
If you arrive at a junction and there is no marker it is likely that you have made an incorrect turn. Retrace your route to the last place you saw a marker where the tail-end rider may be waiting for you.
Note that the tail-end rider will wait 10 minutes and then proceed on the route, so as not to hold up the ride.
You should have been provided with the phone numbers of both the ride leader and tail rider prior to setting off. If necessary, you should try to make contact with the tail rider first and then the ride leader if you are unable to speak to the tail rider.
If all else fails, leave a message for the tail rider as to your intentions, such as making your own way to the next stop, or you have decided to return home.
Produced April 2025