Ride Safety Reset
Team, as our squad continues to grow and evolve, I think it’s a good time for us to have a little refresh around our group riding.
Firstly, I’m incredibly relieved that Cindy is home after being assessed at Emergency, and I’m sure everyone will join me in wishing her a smooth recovery. It was lovely to see her smiling at Coomera parkrun yesterday. ❤️
Every now and then, it’s good for us to stop, take a breath and have a little look at how we ride together. Nobody heads out on a bike expecting to come off, but there are always things we can do as a group to make our rides safer, more enjoyable and more predictable for everyone.
Over the coming rides, I’d like us to put a little more emphasis on leaving space, communicating hazards, being sensible around corners and intersections, and most importantly, riding predictably and respecting the conditions around us.
If you need to back off, let a gap open, let the faster riders go, slow down for a corner or take a section at your own pace, that’s absolutely okay. There is never any pressure to take a risk just to stay with the group. I’d much rather have someone arrive at the regroup point 30 seconds later than make a decision that could put themselves or someone else at risk.
We’re all out there for the same reason — to enjoy our riding, get fitter, challenge ourselves and, most importantly, look after each other.
A reminder around membership and insurance: All riders participating in our Organised Multisport Gold group rides are STRONGLY encouraged to hold current AusTriathlon membership / Personal Insurance with appropriate insurance cover for training. Please make sure your membership/personal insurance is current and that you understand what your particular level of membership covers. AusTriathlon insurance provides different levels of Personal Accident and Public Liability cover depending on your membership, so it is important that your cover is appropriate for your training activities. Your own insurance arrangements remain your responsibility, and AusTriathlon recommends checking the policy details if you need additional personal accident or bike cover.
Athlete Contact & Emergency Information: I will be sending out updated Athlete Onboarding forms for everyone to complete. We originally collected this information a few years ago, however this week has been a really important reminder to me of just how valuable it is to have this information current and readily available. People change phone numbers, emergency contacts and medical information, we have new members I don’t have contact details for, so I need to make sure that if something does happen, I/we have the right information at our fingertips and can contact the right people quickly. Please take a few minutes to complete the form when it comes through, even if you completed one previously.
Speak up: If at any point you don't feel comfortable with the pace, road conditions, bunch riding or a particular section of the route, please speak up. There is absolutely no expectation to take a risk to stay with the group. We can slow down, regroup or change the plan. Looking after yourself and your fellow riders always comes first.
Group rides are training, not racing: Our group rides are designed to build fitness, skills and confidence together. There will be times when we ride hard, but that doesn't mean we need to chase every wheel, close every gap or push beyond what is safe for the conditions. We don't need to prove anything on a Sunday morning.
Footpaths & Off-Road Riding: A reminder that Organised Multisport Gold group rides are to remain on the planned and appropriate cycling routes. The group will not go onto footpaths or pedestrian areas unless the route specifically requires it and it is legal and appropriate to do so. Footpaths can be unpredictable, with pedestrians, driveways, dogs, uneven surfaces and other hazards, and riding as a group in these areas can create unnecessary risk for both our riders and members of the public.
If an individual rider chooses to leave the designated group route and ride on a footpath or other off-road section, they are no longer participating in the Organised group ride and are doing so independently and at their own risk.
Our priority is simple: safe, predictable and respectful riding for our athletes and the people sharing the road and pathways with us.
On our Facebook page you will see our New Ride Groups with the implementation of Group Ride Leaders & Group Tail Riders
Also noted on the Facebook page is a great personal ID band called Road ID which has immediate personal emergency contact information.
We want to train hard, challenge ourselves and have a good time doing it — but we also want everyone going home to their families at the end of the ride. No session, no kilometre and no Strava segment is worth compromising that. We look after ourselves, we look after each other, and we ride home together.
Live Boldly. 💛💙💚
Coach Alli |
