How we roll…

Welcome to the Troop! The following document outlines some of the important stuff about our club and how we operate. It is a club requirement that you read this document and follow what it asks you to do. Its purpose is to make sure that we are safe and all have a good time.

Gorilla Coffee Cycling Club is a great place to ride. We have a competitive group of cyclists who enjoy riding together. The club also has a fantastic social scene and we encourage riders and their significant others to get involved. The club has grown rapidly from just a handful of people in December 2016 to now approximately 100 active members.

Two things are the most important, firstly that we are safe, secondly that we have fun. We aim to be the friendliest cycle club in Birmingham.

The legal bit…

1. The club is insured via British Cycling and affiliated to them. To be insured under our insurance, you need to be a member of our club, on an official club ride with a designated Gorilla Ride Leader volunteer.

2. The club is a separate legal entity from Gorilla Coffee Cafe. Gorilla Coffee Café hosts the club rides and offers a club house style environment for people to meet likeminded others.

3. Riders who come on rides accept that they will obey the laws of the road.

4. The club kit is available at www.gorillacoffee.co.uk in the members only area.

5. Ride times , lengths and perceived efforts are posted on the website – www.gorillacoffee.co.uk . You have to be a member of the cycle club to join onto these rides. If you do sign onto a ride please ensure that you do your utmost to attend. We understand that occasionally there are unforeseen events that make it impossible to attend, but do try not just drop out, as places are limited.

How the rides work

We have rides on a Thursday evenings , on Sunday mornings and some Saturdays – exact timings are on the website. Rides always start and end at GCHQ - if this is not the case you will be advertised in the details of the ride.
Thursday nights are designed to be held at a quicker tempo. Saturdays and Sundays are more social and are for going a little bit further at a more relaxed pace. The approximate speeds and levels of exertion for each group are on the website. Please make sure that you sign onto a speed appropriate group, as you don’t want to be that person that the rest of the group is always waiting for!
For insurance purposes you need to sign onto the relevant ride on the website – www.gorillacoffee.co.uk. If you do swap into the ride at the last moment then please make sure you sign up. If you are not on the website, you are not insured. Drop in and ride groups (unofficial club rides where you ride with like minded individuals) are not insured under our British Cycling Insurance.
Official rides can and will be cancelled if it is deemed that there is an issue with rider safety. This is usually down to weather conditions (if the temperature drops below 3 degrees a “drop in and ride” - will be called). This will be decided by management or ride leaders. We will do our best to provide as much notice as possible, via Facebook and Whats App. If the weather adversely changes on the road then the Ride leaders can change length of route and speed to suit.
No helmet, no ride
In the darker months, no lights, no ride. Make sure that your lights are charged and will last the ride.
You need to be 18 or above. This is an insurance requirement.
People who come on the rides accept that cycling can be a dangerous sport and that they are responsible for their own wellbeing. You accept that you are fit/experienced enough to undertake the ride. Do not start the ride if you feel unwell. Bikes must be in workable condition to complete the selected ride. If you are worried, speak with your ride leader prior to the ride.
Riders can, if they wish, break off from a designated ride at any time. This is totally cool and sometimes works out for the best (e.g. if a couple of people are having a tough day and want to cut it short). Please make sure you let the ride leader know if you plan to do this.
The road is a shared space with laws and good conduct governing its use. To keep group riding as safe as it can be, there are a set of calls, rules and etiquette that needs to be observed. Fundamentally, we ride with level handlebars (maintain even pace, and do not speed up when another rider draws level - we don’t half wheel. Generally we ride two abreast (apart from on narrow roads, bridges, on busy roads or when called to “single out” by the Ride Leader) . We shout out and point out hazards to each other. We ride slightly to the side of the wheel in front and with a sufficient safe gap, if not confident to ride immediately behind the wheel in front. If you are unsure speak to your ride leader at the start of the ride and go at the back of the group and watch/listen to other members to pick up what you need to do.
Riding two abreast
Rule 66 of the Highway Code states that cyclists should never ride more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends.
The rules around cyclists and the highway are part of a review by the Government however, at the time of writing, this is the most up to date guidance.
The diagram below shows that riding two abreast can often be the safest, not just for the riders, but also for the motorist. If the car chooses to overtake, they only need go on to the opposite lane for half the time that they would if the cyclists were single file.
It is the riders’ responsibility to ensure they have enough hydration and nutrition for the duration of the ride. Ideally riders should also carry a mobile phone and money/card in case the need arises. Ensure any specific medication is taken on rides or any other first aid deemed necessary.
Mudguards are recommended during the Winter months. Your ride companions will appreciate this.

Role of volunteers

The rides are led by volunteers – ride leaders. Please respect them as it can be stressful and hard work. This club cannot function without the people who give up their time and their ride to keep us all safe. They might moan, shout, slow you down, speed you up and tell you what to do. They only do this to keep you safe and to enhance the group enjoyment.
Ride Leaders undertake active risk assessments as they lead. If they change anything about the ride e.g. route, pace etc, they do this because there is a perceived risk or concern. Please follow their instructions as they are only looking out for you. If you are unclear, speak to the ride leader or one of the other riders in the group to guide you.
Ride Leaders, and the people under their supervision, are the only people covered under ride insurance. If people do break off, it is no longer an official ride and you are on your own. As mentioned above, that's not a drama if you want to do your own thing, just make sure you let the leader know, and ideally let the leader know your contact details so they can check you returned safely.
The ride leader will work hard to ensure that nobody gets left behind. However please make sure you are riding in the right group, as managing a group with a variety of abilities across riders is very hard. This is especially important on the Thursday “effort” rides, where people are exerting themselves more.