Charles River Wheelers

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  • 2025-03-30 5:28 PM | Barbara Jacobs (Administrator)

    To view the 2025 Ride Leader Training Video go here.

    To view the 2025 Ride Leader Training PowerPoint go here.

  • 2024-05-30 11:27 AM | Amy Juodawlkis (Administrator)

    by Norma Loehr

    In 2024 we want to do even more to show our Ride Leaders just how much we appreciate their time and efforts!

    While we currently have incentives in place for Ride Leaders who are occasional leaders in the form of kick-off and year-end parties and a yearly gift, this new rewards program is designed to recognize our super-leaders: those who go above-and-beyond for CRW and our members.

    There are six awards categories for our super Ride Leaders.

    For the following categories, the top three Ride Leaders will receive a $50 gift card plus a free one-year membership to CRW. 

    • Most Recurring rides led

    • Most Non-recurring rides led

    For the following categories, the top three ride Co-leaders will receive a $25 gift card.

    • Most Recurring rides co-led

    • Most Non-recurring rides co-led

    For the following categories, the top Ride Leader will receive a $50 gift card plus a free one-year membership to CRW:

    • Most rides by a new Ride Leader (class of 2024)

    • Most feedback from members

    We will publish and regularly update a leaderboard for the general Ride Leader and Co-leader categories so you can track your progress throughout the season. The new Ride Leader and feedback categories are more complicated to track so there will not be a regularly published leaderboard. All awards will be presented at the annual Ride Leader party in November (you do not need to be present to win). 

    For more information on this rewards program, see the following FAQ.

    FAQ

    Who is eligible for these awards?

    All active Ride Leaders are eligible except our board members. You will still see board members on the leaderboard, though!

    What rides count towards these awards?

    Rides posted publicly on the CRW Ride Calendar and that took place are eligible. Special riding workshops and rides designed for a subset of rider types (e.g. devo, gravel, Women’s/NB) are eligible.

    The following are not eligible:

    • Rides canceled for any reason

    • Rides added to the calendar after the ride has occurred

    • Virtual rides

    • Non-ride events (e.g., lecture, tutorial, party)

    What do I need to do to be sure my ride counts towards these rewards?

    1. Create a detailed ride listing. A great ride listing will have the following information, as applicable:

    • Route description

    • Ride start time and location (or town)

    • Affiliated ride program and/or intended audience (e.g., devo, intro to gravel, mellow/recovery)

    • Ride type, size, and pace(s) supported

    • Ride Leader name and contact information; Co-leader name(s)

    • Any additional logistical information (e.g., parking, rest rooms, planned stops)

    • If the route is not included in the posting, how and when the route will be communicated to registered riders (the link to Ride with GPS route may be emailed directly to registered members)

    • Any ride group email list must be easily joined, with instructions to do so included in the event posting

    Remember: You want to reach your intended rider audience AND members need enough information to determine if a ride is “for them”.

    2. Post your ride on the CRW Ride Calendar. Remember to set registration number limit, if needed.

    3. Register yourself using the Ride Leader ticket type.

    4. Have any Co-leaders register using the Co-leader ticket type.

    Can someone win in multiple categories?

    No. An individual may only win in one category. If someone is in the top three in multiple categories, the one where they have the highest rank is the one where they will win. The category (ies) where they ranked lower, the next leader after them will be awarded the prize.

    What if there are other rider leaders on the ride I am leading? Do they get a Ride Leader credit?

    No. There is only one Ride Leader per ride. The Ride Leader must be listed in the ride listing and registered for the ride using the Ride Leader ticket type.

    How do I get credited as a Co-leader?

    Co-leader(s) will be confirmed with the Ride Leader ahead of time and registered for the ride using the Co-leader ticket type before the ride takes place. 

    I am leading a pace group for someone else’s ride, do I get Ride Leader credit?

    No. However, if you are listed as a Co-leader and registered for the ride using the Co-leader ticket type, you will receive a Co-leader credit. For our Century rides, all participating Ride Leaders leading a pace group are Co-leaders, as the Ride Leader responsibilities were fulfilled by the club.

    How is this data being tracked?

    Data will be drawn from the CRW calendar/registration system so that everything can be tracked automatically. Data cannot be submitted in any other form.

    When do rides need to occur to be considered for 2024?

    Winners will be selected based on CRW Ride Calendar data from Jan 1, 2024 through the day before the annual Ride Leader party in November 2024.

    When are the winners announced?

    Winners will be announced and rewarded with their prize at the Ride Leader party in November. Winners do not need to be present to win. Winners will receive an email with information on how to collect their prize and they will be recognized in WheelPeople.


  • 2024-02-02 1:26 PM | Barbara Jacobs (Administrator)

    Greetings Ride Leaders:

    So you want to set up a single ride event for an upcoming ride or event - below is a Guide to help you do it.  The guide takes you through each tab and walks you through what is needed to set up a ride correctly.

    Setting up a Ride Event.pdf

    If you want to make your ride recurring us this guide to do so.  You will first follow the single ride event, but before you save the final ride, you will need to follow these directions.  

    Setting up a Recurring Ride Event.pdf


  • 2023-05-16 10:59 AM | Barbara Jacobs (Administrator)

    The following is a guide to help you add a link such as the "RwGPS" route to your ride listing. 

    https://scribehow.com/shared/How_to_Add_a_Route_Link_to_an_Event__xjkRqiSFQZm9rk0mSveiIA

  • 2023-03-15 5:00 AM | Randolph Williams (Administrator)


  • 2023-03-14 11:05 PM | Randolph Williams (Administrator)

    All rides posted to the club calendar must have an associated RideWithGPS route. While many people have a personal RwGPS account, CRW also has a club account that you can use for free. Any ride posted to the website calendar must be copied into the club account in order for it to be accessible by riders.

    How do you do this? If you created your route in the club account, then it’ll be accessible to all riders.

    If you created it in your own account, follow a few simple steps to copy it to the club account:

    1. Open the route in your account and click Edit.

    2. At the bottom of the Edit panel, select Save.

    3. On the Save panel, check the following fields:

    a. Title – edit the title, if needed

    b. Description – this is optional but helpful

    c. Visibility – set to Public

    d. Account – use the pulldown menu and select Charles River Wheelers

    You must be a member of the club account for this to work. Not on the club account?

    Click here to be added: ridewithgps.com/clubs/5/?join_code=sNPKgjmV62qibX9H or contact the VP of Rides.


  • 2023-03-12 11:07 PM | Randolph Williams (Administrator)

    CRW has lots of channels to publicize your rides, post photos afterwards, and engage with other club members. Pick and choose as you wish and you’re sure to be pleased by the results.

    Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/676488229753395

    Strava - https://www.strava.com/clubs/crwheelers

    Slack – Use your existing Slack account to join CRW or create your own free account and join the CRW Slack channel at https://crwheelers.slack.com

    Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/crwheelers/

    Google Groups - charlesriverwheelers@groups.google.com - go to https://groups.google.com for info on how to join.


  • 2023-03-11 10:53 PM | Randolph Williams (Administrator)

    Our insurance provider requires that we give a safety talk at the start of each ride. Why? For the same reason that flight attendants still tell you, on every flight, how to buckle your seat belt.

    For some ride leaders, the safety talk is really difficult because they don’t like talking in public or in front of large groups. For this reason alone, you should recruit a co-leader and assign this to them. Alternatively, write it down on a piece of paper (or use the sample below) and just read from the page. Some people will pay attention and some won’t, so don’t stress over it.

    Most importantly, keep this relatively short. Pick the points you feel are most salient and emphasize them. Below is a list you can pick from.

    1. BE LEGAL - On bikes we are subject to the same laws as motorists, including observing red lights, stop signs and one-way streets. Obey all traffic laws: stop signs, traffic lights, pedestrian crosswalks, blocking "right turn on red" traffic lanes, etc.

    2. PAY ATTENTION to all road conditions, traffic, other riders.

    3. SIGNAL YOUR INTENTIONS - Use hand and voice signals for all your moves. Yell out "stopping," "slowing," "passing," "left turn", etc. Let other riders in your group know what is happening. Demonstrate hand signals to new riders.

    4. CALL OUT DANGERS - Sand, runner up, hole, etc. Use hand signals as well whenever it is safe to do so. Point out road hazards to riders behind you.

    5. OVERTAKING AND APPROACHING CARS - Riders near the rear of a group should call out, "Car back!" when a vehicle is approaching from behind. Riders near the front should call out “Car up” on narrow roads when a vehicle is approaching from the opposite direction. Riders near the front of a group should call out or give a hand signal when there is a vehicle, pedestrian, or other obstruction that requires the riders to move left into the middle of the road so that it can be avoided. Be courteous to motorists and relinquish the right of way. On a narrow road, when you can see it is clear ahead, slow down and move to the far right side of the road to let the vehicle pass.

    6. OVERTAKING AND APPROACHING PEDESTRIANS: Always anticipate pedestrian movements and announce your presence early with "Behind you!" or a bell. Pass on the left with ample clearance, slow down near children or in crowded areas, and yield at crosswalks. Alert other riders with "Walker up!" and maintain a predictable line while riding. Stay courteous and ensure pedestrians acknowledge your presence before passing, especially on shared paths or when pedestrians are wearing headphones.

    7. DO NOT YELL “CLEAR” WHEN IN AN INTERSECTION – Cars can approach very quickly and the conditions might be very different for a rider a few seconds behind you.

    8. RIDE SINGLE FILE - Stay in single file when there is automobile traffic, not two and three abreast. Communicate with other riders in your group to also do so. Long pace lines are very difficult for motorists to pass. Break up the line, if necessary, let the car pass, then rejoin.

    9. DISPLAY SAFETY AND COURTESY - Pass other riders on the left only. Ride on the right side of the road, not in the middle. Call out, "On your left!" to let riders ahead of you know you are behind them and about to pass.

    10. MOVE COMPLETELY OFF THE ROADWAY whenever stopping, even if only briefly. Stop only where traffic approaching from either direction can see you clearly. Be sure all riders in the group move completely off the roadway.

    11. DO NOT REGROUP AT STOP SIGNS – Regrouping at a stop sign only confuses drivers, who think you’re trying to cross the road. Go safely through the Stop sign, then find a place to move off the road and regroup on the other side.

    12. GROUP RIDING - Encourage riders to limit groups to 6-8 riders. When more than 6-8 riders are involved in tight groups, there is no improvement in drafting, there is increased risk of accidents among riders, and it is significantly harder for cars to pass the group.

    13. CARS ARE BIGGER THAN YOU - REMEMBER, in any accident with an automobile, YOU LOSE!!

    14. CLOSING - "We can be an overwhelming presence on the road and in the small communities we pass through. Please help CRW with our community relations. Make an extra effort to be courteous to one another and to local citizens. Thank you and have a great and safe ride."

    15. ANECDOTES - If you have a particular incident or accident to talk about, make it short and make your point.

    16. PAY ATTENTION - Most accidents happen because someone is not paying attention to his or her surroundings. Be constantly aware of cyclists and motorists behind, in front and beside you. If there are riders behind you and you do something without warning, you may cause an accident.

    Simple Safety Talk

    Do you want a really easy safety talk you can just read to the group? Copy this to your phone:

    1. SMART

    Stay Alert - Momentary inattention is the number one cause of incidents. Watch for vehicles, bicyclists, pedestrians, and hazards.

    Maintain Space - Leave enough room in front of you to avoid other riders, vehicles and hazards. Ride outside the door zone and move off the road when stopping.

    Act Safely and Predictably - Make sure you can see and be seen. Ride a straight line and only pass on the left. Maintain a safe speed for the conditions/roadway/path. Be courteous.

    Respect the Rules of the Road - Obey all traffic laws; stop for all red lights and stop signs. Signal turns whenever safe, ride no more than two abreast (single file is safer) and yield right-of-way when appropriate.

    Think ahead and talk - Scan ahead and anticipate what others will do. Communicate actions and hazards, tell others when passing and cross railroad tracks at a right angle when possible.

    2. Be Safe, Courteous, Lawful

    3. Your actions impact the rider behind you


  • 2023-03-10 11:07 PM | Randolph Williams (Administrator)

    If an accident has occurred during your ride, please immediately contact the VP of Rides: ridesvp@crw.org. All accidents must be reported to our insurance provider. We will gather information from you (and others, as appropriate), and do the reporting on your behalf.

    It is not unusual for an accident to happen on a ride you are leading, and for you to not know that it happened. This can be because it’s somewhere behind you or on a different route. If you learn of it later, please contact the VP of Rides: ridesvp@crw.org.


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