Dolmen General Group Cycling Guidelines

1: Always have your bike in 100% good working order.

2: When chatting always keep your focus on the road and especially on the bike in front of you.

3: Always cycle behind the person in front of you and not up beside their back wheel, this is a primary cause of crashes.

4: When in a group have your fingers either placed on or "tethering" the brakes. You should be ready at a seconds notice to slow up or avoid a collision ahead.

5: Always pass on the road obstruction calls. When possible compliment them with hand signals. They are more effective at pin pointing the location of the obstructions and avoid a general panic reaction and risk of crash.

6: Always always concentrate on the bikes in front. If you loose concentration you and possibly others behind you crash.

7: Always be prepared for a rider in front getting off the saddle (standing on the pedals). This causes a momentary loss of momentum and often results in wheels touching and a crash. Be especially alert for this at the base of inclines and climbs. Likewise when getting out of the saddle yourself, be careful not to "throw" the bike back.

Dolmen Group Rotation Guidelines

1: Always cycle in parallel pairs. Don't "half wheel" e.g. cycle 1-2 feet in front of the person beside you.

2: Always rotate around in an anticlockwise direction. Never ever jump across to a gap beside or diagonal to you as this upsets the whole formation of the group cycle.

3: Ideally the group rotates every 1-2 minutes. However this can be changed depending on the nature of the cycling. For example, if it is cold out rotations can be quicker. It is the group members responsibility to call out if the change does not happen in the expected time frame.

4: When riding at the front and it's your turn to "move up and over to the left" do so very steadily. Very often people sprint up and fly on several meters ahead.

5: The group never slows down, it's the outside line that moves up.

6: If you are finding the "going" too hard just stay at the back, nobody will ever complain about you doing this.

7: When at the front be very conscious that you are cycling with a group. No sudden movements.

8: When it's your turn in front, get in position and maintain the same speed you had when in the bunch. This will require more effort but is only for a short period of time. Do not go slower or faster unless road or overall circumstances dictate.

9: Also if you see others are not concentrating or not moving up shout. It's everyone right to do this. The group safety is at risk.