A Conversation About Group Rides: A Follow-Up

The original conversation can be heard on the podcast.

The latest "Guitar Ted Podcast", entitled "A Conversation About Group Rides", motivated a comment that I followed up on. A gentleman by the name of John Knowlton let me know that the Kalamazoo Bicycle Club had implemented some solutions to help with getting riders to ride safely in a group situation. I spoke with Mr. Knowlton on Friday for about 45 minutes and he enlightened me regarding what measures were effective in their club to help cyclists be better group riders. 

Mr. Knowlton, the president of the Kalamazoo Bicycle Club out there in Michigan, said that they do have some gravel riding in Southeastern Michigan, being a short distance from where the Barry - Roubaix and Melting Mann courses are. While much of what the Kalamazoo Bicycle Club does is more pavement oriented, some of the tips and procedures they use would cross over to a gravel group ride situation. 

There were two main takeaways from our conversation that I thought I might share here today that could easily be implemented anywhere there is a gravel group ride. I'll also point out that some of what was mentioned on the podcast and more related content that is gravel specific can be found in a 2021 post I made HERE.

A pre-ride briefing (Here @ 2019 C.O.G 100) Image by J. Duke.

Pre-Ride Briefing:

I've done this at most of my events, but it is something that every group ride should have before pedals are turned. A meeting to set expectations, give out guidelines, and point out any important info is a critical piece to group ride success. 

Here you can identify the designated ride leader, (I strongly suggest there be one), and who is responsible for what. I would suggest that you have a ride "sweeper" - someone who sticks around the back of the ride to make sure everyone gets back safely, and maybe that could be someone not riding, but following up in a vehicle. But however you decide to do that, I would suggest that be done. 

Further details like, speed, is it a competitive ride or a chill, friendly one, where stops will be made, etc. All this should be communicated ahead of any riding and preferably right before you leave for the ride. 

Set expectations before the event and enforcing rules and etiquette will be a LOT easier. Ride leaders should be friendly, not aggressive or uncaring. Everyone just wants to have fun and come back unscathed.

A ride clinic might be a good idea (Trans Iowa Clinic 2013)

Ride Clinic/Bike Camp:

Sometimes a separate "class" setting might be a great idea. This is something that the gravel community has embraced to a degree. My only nit with the concept is that many events have monetized this "bike camp" idea which I find anti-inclusive and against what the whole gravel scene is about. 

Mr. Knowlton explained to me that the Kalamazoo Bicycle club does one of these "Bike Camps" for all incoming members of the club, or for members that want to brush up on skills, so that people can engage in their various weekly group rides safely and have an enjoyable time. Knowlton said that it is an effective way to disseminate important skills and that one could even then have a "skills ride" where people could safely employ the knowledge on the bike. 

I don't see any reason why a free gravel bike camp or clinic couldn't be a part of local gravel group rides and be an integral part of joining group rides for newer gravel riders. This could be done for a run-up to an event as well. But making people spend money to gain ride knowledge from some "well known" gravel personalities? 

I guess that has its place, but man..... If you want to grow a community take down as many barriers as possible to joining it. Charging money to learn safe gravel riding skills is bogus. That's my take. Your mileage may vary.... 

And if you are thinking I should put my money where my mouth is, well look at that image above here. That was over ten years ago, I put it on for Trans Iowa, and it was free.

Anyway, there are a couple of ideas I think could be very helpful to making group gravel or pavement rides a lot safer and more enjoyable. A special thank you goes out to John Knowlton, President of the Kalamazzo Bicycle Club for helping with this subject.