New Ride Leader Guide
Some Tips and Tricks for Leading a Group
BEFORE PRACTICE
- Download Trailforks and have a way to navigate while you ride!
- Be familiar with the trails you’re riding before practice!
- Have a rough plan but be willing to adapt. You may need to fill in with a group that has
different needs. Ask a coach for trail suggestions before practice if you’re unsure.*
- Have snacks, extra water, bike repair and first aid ready to go.**
- Charge your walkie before practice.
- Bring your best energy and attitude. Kids know when you want to be there!
BEGINNING OF PRACTICE
- Find your ride leader coordinator and check in, get assigned a group, listen to the
practice plan and any other info.
- Pick up a radio or turn on your radio and check it.
- Find your group asap.
- Count kids at the start of your ride, double check names if you don’t know them.
- Make sure everyone has a water bottle.
- If you’re L2 leading the ride- make sure you can communicate with the sweep in the
back with a radio.
- If you’re a sweep- make sure you can communicate with the front ride leaders with a
radio and be ready to help with mechanicals.
RIDE
- The parking lot can be chaotic. If your group needs to leave quickly, start with an easy 10
minute warmup then find a spot to pull over and go over your practice plan for the day. If
you have time to talk to your group in the parking lot, go over your plan first, then ease
into your ride.
- Set a goal for the day. This can be mileage, a skill, a particular workout, working on
drinking while riding, etc.
- Check in with your group frequently. This doesn’t necessarily mean stopping, but make
sure you’re not too spread out and that you’re maintaining something everyone can
handle.
- Manage complainers with distraction, games and positive mindset.
- Sweeps have the awesome job of being our eyes and ears. Pay attention to things
coaches should be made aware of after practice. Let us know who’s struggling, who
deserves a shoutout, whose bike needs attention, etc.
END OF PRACTICE
- Revisit the goals you made, tell the kids what they did well and ask them what they
noticed or feel good about.
- Stay for shoutouts and the team cheer. Make sure to shout out from your group.
- Report anything to coaches and/or parents that we need to be made aware of.
*Every practice will be different. Getting the timing of your rides right is just a matter of
experience. Some groups will handle mileage quickly and others won't. With beginner groups
it’s usually smarter to find a couple smaller loops that are close to the trailhead to avoid the risk
of getting too far out and having them not be able to make it back in time for practice to finish.
SUGGESTED SUPPLIES
** Ride leaders should carry their own flat repair kit like the one the kids have, including:
- Multitool
- Tire levers
- Tubeless plug kit (bacon strips)
- Co2 cartridges and adaptor or small pump
** Ride leaders should also carry some basic first aid. We’re working on getting kits together for
each group. Until we have the kits ready here are some ideas:
- Alcohol Wipes
- Gauze pads
- Bandaids
- Benadryl
- Antibiotic ointment
- Ibuprofen
- Some sugar or electrolytes for when kids bonk (gummy bears, fruit leather, liquid iv)
Radio Settings