Club rides

Club rides offer a great environment to improve cycling techniques, from group riding safety to tackling new terrains and distances.

Safety is paramount and every rider is required to wear a helmet when riding. Any rider taking part in a Sussex Nomads cycling activity does so at their own risk.

All Sussex Nomad Club members are required to have third party liability insurance cover which can be obtained through membership of British Cycling, Cycling UK, or similar organisation.

Sussex Nomads Cycling Club has third party liability insurance through affiliation with British Cycling. This covers the club and persons assisting the club in its activities, but it does not cover individual riders or their bikes.

Group riding rules

  1. All Club members should obey the Highway Code at all times.

  2. It is the rider’s responsibility to ensure that their bike is in a safe condition to ride.

  3. Riders must wear a helmet.

  4. The use of Tri-Bars during Group rides is not allowed.

  5. Groups should contain a maximum number of eight riders. When the total number of riders exceeds eight then two sub-groups must be formed. A decent distance, 50 – 100 yards, should be maintained between the groups to allow vehicles to safely overtake the rear group and come behind the front one.

  6. All riders must be vigilant to maintain the ride average speed parameters of the group they are riding in.

  7. There must be a designated ride leader. The ride leader must be vigilant to ensure that the ride average speed parameters of the group are not exceeded.

By participating in Club activities, riders are:

  1. Acknowledging the dangers of participating in cycling and fully assume the risks associated with it including, without limitation, the risk of collision with other riders, vehicles and fixed and moving objects, risks arising from surface hazards, equipment failure and weather conditions potentially leading to serious physical injury and/or loss of life.

  2. Consenting to take part in the activity, which may include being in a traffic free environment and/or on the public highway, and understand and agree that they are participating at their risk, taking full and entire responsibility for their own safety.

  3. Agreeing to be aware of their own limitations, to be responsible for the condition, adequacy and safety of their equipment, and to ride neither to endanger themselves or others.

  4. Agreeing to hold the Club and its officers and other members harmless from all claims (including those resulting from negligence or omission), including claims for physical injury or loss suffered in connection with Club activities.

  5. Agreeing to notify the ride leader of any medical condition or information they feel that the leader should know about before participating in the ride.

Note: If a rider has any concerns about participating in any form of physical activity, they should consult their GP before giving their consent to taking part in riding with Sussex Nomads Cycling Club.

General Group Riding Etiquette

Whilst the above ‘Group riding rules’ apply to ALL riders taking part in Sussex Nomads Cycling Club group rides, the following points of etiquette will help improve the safety, quality and enjoyment of Club rides for everyone concerned.


1. It is expected that members make every effort to wear official Club kit on Club rides.

2. When riding as a group, riders should:

  • Communicate effectively amongst the group at all times

  • Be mindful of all other riders in the group and inform the group leader if a rider has been dropped of the back

  • Rotate the front rider at regular intervals

  • Not ride off the front or back of the group. (The group may become stretched out on hills but should regroup as soon as possible)

  • Ride in single file on busy or narrow roads or when riding around bends

  • Ride in pairs only when safe to do so, lining up handlebars

  • When riding as an odd number in pairs, have the single rider positioned directly behind the pair in front and not at the back of the group

  • Never ride more than 2 abreast

  • When going from pairs to single file, the outside rider goes in front of the rider on the inside

  • When safe to revert to pairs, the rider formerly on the inside accelerates up to join the rider formerly on the outside

  • Not half wheel (overlap wheels from behind)

  • Use appropriate hand signals to indicate hazards to the riders behind

  • Stay up with the group and maintain a safe position in the group

  • Bring an energy snack and drink

  • Carry a mobile phone and money

  • Wear appropriate clothing - anticipate a change in weather conditions

  • Use front and back lights all the year round to maximise visibility

  • Carry a bike lock to secure your bike at cafe stops

3. In terms of bike maintenance and care:

  • Riders are expected to make sure their own bike is safe and roadworthy

  • Regular servicing will avoid unnecessary mechanicals; once a year or every 1000 miles is recommended

  • Riders should carry spare inner tubes and a method of inflation

  • Tyre levers and a multi-purpose tool (even if riding on tubeless tyres)

  • When a mechanical occurs, the whole group will stop and assist with the repair

  • The most common mechanical suffered is a puncture; each rider is responsible for changing their own inner tube

  • Other mechanicals (ie broken spoke or snapped chain) may be repairable on a ride, but a rider may need to arrange to be recovered. In these instances, the group will wait until a recovery plan is in place before continuing with the ride

4. Each ride will have a designated ride leader and their role is to:

  • Stick to the route, control the speed and keep the group together

  • Ensure that the ride leaves the designated start point on time

  • Where appropriate, give direction to the group to improve the group riding dynamics