Ride Leader Programme 2019

BellaVelo are famed for their friendliness and amazing community vibe. Hot Chillee are famed for their expert Ride Captains so we have asked them to teach group riding skills as well as how to pace rides to our prospective BV Ride Leaders (RL). A Saturday session led by them on 12th Jan will combine some theory with a short group ride followed by a Q&A. For this and for future sessions each BV Ride Leader will be paired with their own HC mentor. Alongside this same mentor, and with the aim of putting what you have learned into practise, you will also be needed to assist on two HC monthly rides.

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Back to BellaVelo and our own group riding etiquette, we need RLs to attend two (from a choice of three) BV led sessions. In these we will cover; ride briefings, managing risks and emergencies, route planning, road positioning, handling challenges with different rider abilities and practical ride leading.

Rides leave from Richmond Park, covering at least two of the routes we will be using for our group rides over the Spring.

Once sessions have been completed you will be able to obtain the British Cycling Level 1&2 Combined Ride Leader award later in the year.

There will be NO COST to you for any of this training.

Ride Leader Expectation

As BV will cover the costs of the entire ride leader programme including the BC qualification, we expect our Ride Leaders to lead at least 8 club sessions a year, with a minimum of 6 being rides at the weekend; 2 of the 6 must be on shorter rides with a beginner, newcomer (My First 50 miles) or a slower group. The remaining two sessions can be laps or intervals (or more weekend rides of course!). Please note that we need RLs of all speeds and you do not need to be a fast rider to come forward. An encouraging, positive and welcoming attitude, a device that allows you to follow a route and record average speed and a definite predisposition to punctuality will pretty much guarantee you get the job!

Ride Leader Training Dates - you must attend all 3 Hot Chillee sessions plus 2 BV sessions Monday 7th January 7pm BV run theory session in Norbiton pub

Saturday 12th January 8:30 am - 11:30 am.
Led by Hot Chillee RCs. 45 mins theory over coffee. 1:30 ride/practical - split into 4 pace groups with each RL assigned a HC RC mentor. Finish with 45 mins debrief/ Q&A/coffee

Sunday 20th January
HC Monthly Ride. Real-time training exercise #1. All BV RLs to attend and work alongside their HC RC mentor.

Saturday 26th January RLs must attend 2 out of these 3 BV run session. Meeting Saturday 2nd February 8.30am Richmond Park.

Saturday 9th February Sunday 24th February at the HC Monthly Ride.
Real-time training exercise #2. All BV RLs to attend and work alongside their HC RC mentor.

What Next? ....Interested? We are hoping that up to 30 of you may want to take this opportunity to train as a BellaVelo Ride Leader. This will really help ensure BV becomes the kind of club that can provide rides to suit all its members without too much onus on a small group of members.

Please email if you would like to be considered for the programme. Or PM specific questions to Maria Fitzpatrick on messenger as she is in charge of all Ride Leaders for 2019. We will be holding a meeting to Monday 7th January upstairs in a private room at The Norbiton pub, Norbiton at 7pm to start covering RL theory and BV etiquette.

Attendance at this session is recommended as the alternative is to cover the theory outside in the park on a Saturday morning!!