Cycle South Carolina is dedicated to the safety of our riders. CSC wants all riders to have a fun, healthy, and safe riding experience. To ensure the safety of CSC riders, all participants must follow these guidelines.

-Wear a helmet at all times
-Obey all traffic signs
-Understand and follow the "Rules to Ride By," written by Dennis Johnson and Greg Kyzer



RULES TO RIDE BY!

By Dennis Johnson, Greg Kyzer - 2002

Make sure your bike is in proper working order. Ride at your own risk. Only ride on tires that have sufficient tread, in order to avoid flatting. Carry a spare tube, patch kit, pump and water bottle. Bottles should be filled prior to arrival. Wear an approved helmet. Ride leaders are not responsible for riders ahead of the group. Time of day, as well as day of week, will have significant impacts on safety of these routes.

TRAFFIC LAWS, SAFE RIDING PRACTICES

It is in our own interest to obey traffic laws and follow the rules of the road. It only takes a few inconsiderate cyclists to create a negative perception of cyclists among the general public. Never ride through red lights. There are not many traffic lights on tour routes. If you are at the back of a pack when the light changes to red, please stop. Keep out of right turn lanes when going straight or turning left.

BICYCLES & EQUIPMENT

Bicycles:

Road and hybrid bikes, typically with tires up to about 32mm (1.25”) wide, are best suited to club tours, although some members use mountain bikes. Mountain bikes, with wider and softer tires, offer more rolling resistance, and hence require more effort for the same distance. While a road bike is more suited to touring, more important is your selection of a group whose speed you can match without tiring.

Maintenance:

Bicycles should be in good condition- check tires and brakes. Remember, if a mechanical failure occurs, the rest of the pack is placed at risk. Carry a pump, a spare tube and a basic tool kit to remove and replace the wheel, tire and tube, and for minor adjustments.

Equipment:

Carry sufficient food and water. Ensure that you are adequately prepared for hot, cold, or wet weather.

Teamwork:

Give a helping hand, watch for problems (loose straps, loose equipment), and help each other to be safe and enjoy the ride.

Be Predictable:

Group riding requires even more attention to predictability than riding alone. Other riders expect you to ride straight, at a constant speed, unless you indicate differently.

Be smooth with turns at the front of the group:

Avoid surges as this tends to break the group up. The group will travel quicker when turns are completed smoothly.

Avoid following the person in front too closely when climbing hills:

When rising out of the seat a cyclist often loses momentum causing sudden deceleration. This can catch the following rider by surprise and result in a fall due to a wheel touch.

Communicate:

Use hand and verbal signals to communicate with members of the group and with other traffic.

Hand Signals:

Hand signals for turning and stopping are as follows: Left arm straight out to signal a left turn. Left arm out and down with your palm to the rear to signal slowing or stopping. And, for a right turn, put your right arm straight out (in areas where this is legal) or put your left arm out and bent up.

Don’t overlap wheels:

To avoid touching wheels when a rider in front veers unexpectedly, make sure no part of your front wheel overlaps the rear wheels when a rider in front of you. It is easy to touch wheels in the event slight direction change or a gust of wind.

Stay calm if contact is made with other riders:

If you stay relaxed in the upper body it is easier to absorb any bumps from riders next to you.

Verbal Warnings:

Along with hand signals, verbally warn cyclists behind you of your changes in direction or speed. The lead rider should call our “left turn,” “right turn,” “slowing,” “stopping,” etc. Announce a turn well in advance of the intersection, so that members of the group have time to position themselves properly.

Announce Hazards:

When riding in a tight group, most of the cyclists do not have a good view of the surface ahead, so it is important to announce holes, gravel, grates, and other hazards. Indicate road hazards by pointing down to the left or right, and by shouting “hole,” “bump,” etc., where required for safety. Everyone in a group should be made aware of hazards. However, not everyone needs to announce them.

Change Positions Correctly:

Generally, slow traffic stays right, so you should try to pass others on their left. Say “on your left” to warn the cyclist ahead that you are passing. If you need to pass someone on the right, say “on your right” clearly since this is an unusual maneuver.

Watch For Traffic Coming From The Rear:

Even when you are occupying the proper lane position, it often helps to know when a car is coming. Since those in front cannot see traffic approaching from the rear, it is the responsibility of the riders in back to inform the others by say “car back.” Around curves, on narrow roads, or when riding double, it is also helpful to warn of traffic approaching from the front with “car up.”

Watch Out At Intersections:

When approaching intersections requiring vehicles to yield or stop the lead rider will say, “slowing” or “stopping” to alert those behind to the change in speed. Each cyclist is responsible for verifying that the way is clear before entering the intersection.

Move Off the Road When You Stop:

Whether you are stopping because of mechanical problems or to regroup with your companions, move well off the road so you don’t interfere with traffic. It is usually best for the lead rider to pull forward in the stopping area and for other riders to pull in behind the rider in front of them. When you start up again, each cyclist should look for, and yield to, traffic.

Ride One Or Two Across:

Ride single file or double file as appropriate to the roadway and traffic conditions. Single up when cars are trying to pass you if the lane is wide enough for them to safely do so.

Turning:

When making a right or left turn, maintain your position within the group. Don’t swerve or pass during the turn. Especially avoid passing on the inside of a right turn. But stay tuned in to what’s going on around you.

Socializing:

Socializing with other riders is part of the fun of group riding. But stay tuned in to what’s going on around you.

If something unexpected happens (like if someone drops a water bottle), don’t slam on your brakes. That could create a pileup. Keep riding smoothly. The group will usually do a controlled stop a short distance up the road.

As you become more experienced, and if you are interested in faster-paced riding, the ability to ride in a pace line can be useful. This is an advanced skill and is best learned in a small group and at moderate speeds. Always make sure the person you’re drafting knows you’re there. In the beginning, stay two or three feet behind the bike in front and always keep your pace and movements very smooth. It is extremely important to communicate when riding in a pace line since the following riders don’t have a clear view of the road ahead. Experienced cyclists tend to be wary of sharing a pace line with someone they haven’t ridden with before. You will have to earn their confidence by demonstrating that you can ride responsibly.