How to ‘host’ your rides:
Funding from HSBC UK and British Cycling has led to the development of HSBC UK Ride Social, an online platform for people looking to ride socially with others, get back into riding or want to spend more time on their bike. Ride Social is all about putting in a few miles on your bike, meeting new people and discovering some of the best places in Wales to go for a cuppa and a slice of cake.
Once registered with www.letsride.co.uk/social you have the ability to search, join, create rides and buddy up with like-minded people within your local area. The platform offers a range of perks for ride creators, including a ride participant booking service, instant communication with riders, ride series creation, a limited liability clause and regular competitions.
The rejuvenated platform has been live since early 2017 with great success across the UK. Welsh Cycling is now supporting the program across Wales and is keen for riders of all backgrounds to join and create rides across the country.
Ride Leadership training:
There is no requirement for social cycling ride creators to attend Ride Leadership training, anyone can start using HSBC UK Ride Social by signing up online and creating a ride. Courses are accessible to those who wish to develop their ride leadership skills and experience so that they are confident to help their group progress.
Welsh Cycling is proud to be able to offer a range of Ride Leadership Training opportunities to organisations and individuals through our partners at British Cycling in order to support the continual development of Social Cycling in Wales.
There is a small charge for Ride Leadership Training, however, there may be a limited number of funded places and bursaries available during 2018 if you wish to attend or book a course please contact us.
Ride Leadership Level 1:
The course blends online learning with an assessed one-day course. This qualifies learners to deliver guided bike rides for groups of beginner and intermediate level adults and accompanied children on roads and cycle paths, up to a maximum distance of 50 miles.
What the course will cover
- Introduction torideleadership
- Preparing to lead a ride
- Delivering rides
- Reviewing rides
- Managing risks and emergencies
- Next Steps: HSBC UK Guided rides/HSBC UK Breeze
Whilst Ride Leadership is not essential for social cycling groups or creators, having a member of your group trained as a Ride Leader is often seen as a worthwhile addition. For more information on the course details please visit https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/rideleadership.
Top Tips:
Below we have collated a range of top tips that have been sent in or collected by our volunteers during their rides.
- Always greet your group with a smile
- The best rides have the best descriptions
- Network within the local community as much as possible
- Start your rides in the same place, at the same time each week or month
- Make sure you stop for coffee and cake
- Organise a bike maintenance event with your local bike shop
- Create positive feedback culture within your group
- Always try to speak to everyone in the group every ride
- Take a mobile phone out with you, make sure all riders have your details
- Remember, it’s not all about the cycling
- Thank your riders for coming
- Send them off with a smile
If you have any top tips that you think others may be interested in learning please let us know!
Please Contact our particiaption team if you would like to inquire about hosting or attending a Ride Leadership course in Wales.
