Want to lead a ride?  It's easy!

Leading a ride is super easy and is a great way to share some miles with new and old friends alike! Riders of all abilities and ages are encouraged to lead a ride and you do not need to have any prior experience leading a ride. If you have questions, please contact our Ride Coordinator. We have a lot of well-practiced ride leaders who can help you out. For insurance purposes, only current NRVBA members are permitted to lead rides.

Before the ride

Post to the email list (preferably a couple days before the ride, but we've been known to post spur-of-the-moment rides):

1. Ride name: summarize what you’re doing.

2. Ride date, start time, and start location.

3. Ride category (speed and difficulty). See the standard categories that we use.

4. Ride distance. and terrain (flat, rolling hills, etc.). Call out any big climbs.

5. Ride description: a short summary of the route. Any useful information that you think riders might want: Are there any stretches with gravel? Are there spots to refill water bottles if it's a long ride? Etc.

6. Map link (Strava, RideWithGps, etc.) if you have one.

7. Your name and how to contact you (email and/or phone number).

8. For road rides, remind folks to fill out the online ride waiver (only needed once per year) to save them time & remind them to ensure membership up to date.

9. Print out the Ride Waiver Sheet; bring it to the start of the ride with a pen. Fill out the top and sign your name as the first rider.

Day of Ride

1. Show up a few minutes early.

   1. For mountain bike rides: have your fellow riders fill out and sign the waiver form. Riders must be wearing a helmet and must sign every time. (The electronic waiver form does not cover MTB rides.)

   2. For non-mountain bike rides: once everyone is gathered, say, "raise your hand if you have signed the club's online liability waiver this year." "Okay, everyone who does NOT have their hand up has to come up and sign this ride printed waiver form." Have your fellow riders fill out and sign the waiver sheet.

2. Riders must be wearing a helmet and must have signed a waiver form.

3. Say hello and tell them the plan: make sure you're all expecting the same things.

4. Ride and have fun!

5. Repeat and take advantage of the Ride Leader Incentive program (see below).

Ride Leader Incentives

The NRVBA offers a number of incentives to members who lead rides. See below for details:

• Each member who leads a ride in 2025 will receive an NRVBA T-Shirt.

  • Please email the ride coordinator your T-shirt size after your ride.

• For each ride led, you will receive one entry into a prize drawing.

  • Drawings will be held twice per year and will be divided as follows: rides led from January through June and rides led July through December.

In order for a ride to count for the above incentives:

• Ride must be posted to the listserv 24 hours in advance.

• You must be a current NRVBA member in good standing.

• Email the ride sheet to the Ride Coordinator after the ride.

Contact our Ride Coordinator if you have any questions at all!

Ride Leader Guidelines

We refer you to the excellent Westchester Cycle Club’s Ride Leader Guidelines (used with their permission; for the original visit their club web site). Their guide isn’t a requirement, but it’s a good guide if you have any questions on how leading works, how to deal with common issues, etc.