hints and tips anyone?
Abroad or UK ?
Let someone else do it 😉
Top tip. Set a deadline for committing and tell them to pay half up front by that deadline and that it's not refundable - saves a LOT of hassle IME.
yeah def get money up front as deposits as if you pay from your pocket no doubt someone will end up pulling out and you'll have to foot their bill! not that i don't trust my mates or anything!
all already paid for by me, and subsequently them.
UK based.
I was thinking about tool carrying etc
No different to usual - everyone brings their own kit/tools/tubes.
Find a campsite where you won't need to book in advance. Choose a date that isn't in the school holidays if you can.
Tell people the date and the campsite.
Make sure you get there by early Friday evening.
Simple.
If you've got a really big group, make sure the campsite is going to be okay. Find a campsite where you phone them up, say I'm thinking of turning up with 20 people on this weekend, and they just say that it'll be fine, without needing a booking.
I've been involved in things at Coed y Brenin and Snowdon (a campsite near Dollgellau), Dark Peak (campign in Edale), Lake District, Yorkshire Dales (Horton in Ribblesdale campsite, also somewhere near Sedburgh).
It is a great way to organise things, no need to book anything, or organise anything/anyone other than getting yourself there, and you don't have any money arguments / hassle in the way you do when booking cottages.
I've done it for groups of up to about 40 (that one was in October, when campsites are pretty darned empty) with no problems.
Joe
Even on bivvy trips when we wanted to travel as light as possible we always end up duplicating stuff - if you've only got one pump, for instance, and that rider's way ahead it can be a pain.
Make sure everyone brings suitable clothing (including extra items and waterproofs), basic first aid, spare tubes, food, drink. It's amazing how many newbies don't carry the real basics.
Join the CTC to get yourself covered in case someone decides to sue you for making them ride off a cliff. Carry extra first aid. Carry a map (don't rely on GPS in case you have to direct the emergency services).
Extra things I always carry:
Part-worn brake pads (and spare spring)
A Shimano cleat
A bit of chain and a quick-link
I know someone who always carries a spare tyre (not the belly kind) and someone else who carries spare pedals (lightweight plastic emergency things!).
Normal tools for rides, make sure at least someone is bringing workshop toolkit type stuff (chain whip, freewheel remover, lots of allen keys, crank tool, spoke keys etc.) sort of thing that you might bodge on a ride, but you'd really want to fix between two days.
If anyone who isn't massive has room for a spare bike that they don't mind lending out, that can be dead handy in the event of a frame breaking accident or rubbish like that.
Joe
Simon, are you a CTC member?
No but I am covered by their insurance scheme when I lead club rides for NATS.
okeydoke
I've thought about signing up.
I'll do it if it helps for Snowdon 😉
I might invoke Darwin's law. ie: for those riders going to Snowdon, if you do something stupid the world's a better place 😉
Looking at who's going it might be the best thing!
anyone who says 'maybe' means 'no, but i'll waste your time for the next few weeks, eventually saying no, but not before you're about £70 out of pocket on my behalf'
I just had a chat with my club's chairwoman who holds the insurance docs. That policy can't be expanded outside our official club events.
If one was to join the CTC as an individual, this would provide the individual with personal indemnity insurance to cover that individual's actions, but it wouldn't cover the the group he/she's leading.
Within a group of friends I think we just need to be sure that everyone knows that it's exactly that - a bunch of like-minded people going for a bike ride, rather than something organised and official. And no-one's actually paying for guiding, are they? 🙂
Info:
http://www.ctc.org.uk/desktopdefault.aspx?tabid=4089
no they aren't
Best policy is to give everyone a minimum kit list for the rides i.e:
-Multi tool
-2x spare tubes
-Patches
-Pump
-Emergency waterproof
-Camelbak/Water bottles (1.5Ltr Capacity Minimum)
-Snack foods of your choice
-Fully charged Mobile (In case there is a signal)
-Wallet (with a £10 note and £1 worth of Change in 10 & 20p coins)
-Both the Phone, Wallet and any maps to be kept in a Zip lock Baggie or Wrapped in clingfilm.
-Small torch (Again with new/fully charged batteries)
As organiser It’s probably easiest if you bring a Main tool kit and some basic spares to leave at wherever you are basing yourself for major repairs, others might have the presence of mind to do the same but don’t rely on them to do so, Also do a Quick google for any LBS’ Just in case you get a Mechanical that is simply beyond repair by anyone in the group…
It’s worth abusing works photocopier/printer and churning out a route marked map for everyone (Plus a couple of spares) and insisting they all read it beforehand and take it along for the ride. Put useful contact Numbers on the back (again assuming there’s a signal)
As for B&B/hotel/campsite bookings it’s up to you if you feel OK bankrolling a block booking then get everyone to confirm attendance 2 weeks before and don’t be afraid to be a bit mean with the time wasters.
Otherwise find a place or Two email out the details to the group and let everyone book their own, most of the time those that are going to come will book quickly, those that won’t will waffle for a bit and then not bother, but it won’t cost you at least…
If it’s a big group it’s worth having a 2nd in command to bring up the rear and if there’s a big range of abilities and the group could get a bit spread out then maybe take some cheap Radios Just in case there is an issue and keeping each other informed could help…
Food is the other thing, if you’re staying near civilisation then find out what Pubs & Restaurants there are locally, If you are roughing it then again I would say it comes down to the organiser to plan and Cook/prepare group meals, even if it’s just something basic like a big pot of pasta or a load of bread rolls and some Ham/Cheese, being Ready to feed ‘X’ No of bodies after a day out riding means they’ll all sing your praises for thinking ahead…
If it’s a full weekend and you have a big group maybe do them an itinerary but build some buffer time into it to allow for late returns/mechanicals and general faffing….
dont forget a mech hanger 😳
when we all go away-2-3 times a year, my LBS Swinnertons in Stoke box up a load of spares, chains,tyres, tubes, cassettes, f+r derailleurs, pads, brakes, shifters etc loads of jackets 'gloves etc-usually to the tune of about a grand.... 😯 all priced up to sell, I return what doesnt get used or purchased. easy.