— STANDARD FORMATION —
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THE LEAD RIDER — rides to the left (usually) of the lane, with the second rider to the right and a few bike-lengths back. The third rider is a similar distance behind and left of the second rider, and so on. 
When the road gets more technically demanding (curves, etc.), open up into a single-file formation.
When we come to a stop at an intersection, tighten up into a two-abreast (or more if convenient) configuration at the stop. This will help us get through stops without spreading the group out much.
THE SWEEP RIDER — At the start of each section of riding, the lead rider will usually assign a volunteer sweep rider. That rider will be asked to stay at the back of the group for that entire section of the ride. Every rider should be able to recognize the sweep rider. If you drop out of the ride for any reason, please alert the sweep rider – or the ride leader, if you can easily reach the front, or someone, at least – otherwise the group may end up spending a lot of time looking for you needlessly. You are not obligated to do this, however it takes little effort, and is a great help to every other rider.
THE POSTED RIDER — Imagine you are riding just behind the lead rider. The leader suddenly points at YOU, and then points at the ground. That means, “Wait here and direct other riders until you and the sweep rider make eye contact. Then proceed, in front of the sweeper.”
If you do as requested, the results should be that 1) everybody leaves that spot (likely an intersection) in the right direction; and 2) you, the posted rider, will end up in second to last position – right in front of the sweeper. you are welcome – once you have shown the sweeper the correct direction – to move back up through the ranks if you desire.
If you opt not to comply, the results may be that every rider behind you makes a wrong turn, the ride comes to a halt, and hours are spent gathering up lost riders, instead of riding the ride.
If the sweeper fails to show up, KEEP WAITING! Your continued absence will eventually serve to let the front riders know that we are missing people. If you leave your post to catch up with the group, everyone behind you will likely get lost, and we will spend time looking for them instead of riding the ride. Waiting. Saves. Time.
When the road gets more technically demanding (curves, etc.), open up into a single-file formation.When we come to a stop at an intersection, tighten up into a two-abreast (or more if convenient) configuration at the stop. This will help us get through stops without spreading the group out much.
THE SWEEP RIDER — At the start of each section of riding, the lead rider will usually assign a volunteer sweep rider. That rider will be asked to stay at the back of the group for that entire section of the ride. Every rider should be able to recognize the sweep rider. If you drop out of the ride for any reason, please alert the sweep rider – or the ride leader, if you can easily reach the front, or someone, at least – otherwise the group may end up spending a lot of time looking for you needlessly. You are not obligated to do this, however it takes little effort, and is a great help to every other rider.
THE POSTED RIDER — Imagine you are riding just behind the lead rider. The leader suddenly points at YOU, and then points at the ground. That means, “Wait here and direct other riders until you and the sweep rider make eye contact. Then proceed, in front of the sweeper.”
If you do as requested, the results should be that 1) everybody leaves that spot (likely an intersection) in the right direction; and 2) you, the posted rider, will end up in second to last position – right in front of the sweeper. you are welcome – once you have shown the sweeper the correct direction – to move back up through the ranks if you desire.
If you opt not to comply, the results may be that every rider behind you makes a wrong turn, the ride comes to a halt, and hours are spent gathering up lost riders, instead of riding the ride.
If the sweeper fails to show up, KEEP WAITING! Your continued absence will eventually serve to let the front riders know that we are missing people. If you leave your post to catch up with the group, everyone behind you will likely get lost, and we will spend time looking for them instead of riding the ride. Waiting. Saves. Time.
— PASSING —
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—
OTHER RIDERS IN THE GROUP — As suggested above, ride your own pace, and let others do the same. If you are behind a rider who is taking the turns a little slower than you would like, you should feel comfortable tapping your horn / flashing your lights to request to pass. Likewise, if a rider is maintaining position right behind you in the turns, keep an eye out for his high beam: If you see it, or hear a horn, slow and let the rider past.
OTHER VEHICLES — When the group is passing a slower vehicle, assume that the rider in front of you has no plans to leave room for you between himself and the vehicle he is passing, once he has passed it. It’s nice when the rider in front of you can leave you a space to follow behind, but it is not a requirement, nor is it always even possible. Look out for yourself.
THE LEADER — Honk or flash, I’ll letcha by. If you get to an intersection and aren’t sure which way to go, just stop and wait. Keep in mind that if you are in front of the ride leader (or behind the sweeper), you have effectively abandoned the ride. You are welcome to rejoin at any time, of course. Meantime though, if you miss a turn while out in front of the ride leader – well, see ya back at camp.
OTHER VEHICLES — When the group is passing a slower vehicle, assume that the rider in front of you has no plans to leave room for you between himself and the vehicle he is passing, once he has passed it. It’s nice when the rider in front of you can leave you a space to follow behind, but it is not a requirement, nor is it always even possible. Look out for yourself.
THE LEADER — Honk or flash, I’ll letcha by. If you get to an intersection and aren’t sure which way to go, just stop and wait. Keep in mind that if you are in front of the ride leader (or behind the sweeper), you have effectively abandoned the ride. You are welcome to rejoin at any time, of course. Meantime though, if you miss a turn while out in front of the ride leader – well, see ya back at camp.
— COMMUNICATION —
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There are links on the website (in the sidebar) concerning hand signals for riders. We seem to make use of them rarely, but it is nice to know it when the rider in front of you is waving for you to pass him, and not swatting at bugs. The ability to recognize a quick obstacle warning from the rider in front of you is also quite useful. The MSF-USA link is particularly valuable in this regard.
A PARTICIPANT WISHING TO REMAIN A PARTICIPANT OF THE RIDE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING SO BY CONTINUALLY MEETING THE CRITERIA LISTED ABOVE. A RIDER WHO FAILS TO DO SO IS NO LONGER A PARTICIPANT, AND MAY REJOIN THE RIDE AT ANY TIME BY MEETING THE CRITERIA LISTED ABOVE. PARTICIPANTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY, AND FOR THE SECURITY OF THEIR PROPERTY. THE ONLY RESPONSIBILITY OF THE RIDE LEADER IS TO LEAD RIDE PARTICIPANTS ON A GIVEN RIDE FOR AS LONG AS THEY ARE ABLE AND DESIROUS TO FOLLOW. ALL OTHER POSITIONS OF SEEMING IMPORTANCE WITHIN THE RIDE (SWEEPER, POSTED RIDER, ETC.) ARE VOLUNTARY POSITIONS AND HAVE NO ENFORCED RESPONSIBILITIES WHATSOEVER.
A few things follow from the material above:
A) The only person responsible for your safety is you.
B) The only person responsible for your bike / other property is you.
C) The only person responsible for keeping you a part of the ride is you.
D) Sweepers and riders posted at corners may be helpful, but are not obligated to be.
E) Having joined a ride, you are not obligated to complete all or indeed any of it.
F) If you are on a go-around route, or even just a parallel track, you are no longer a participant of the ride.
H) Assuming you have not been kicked off of the ride, there is no limit to the number of times you can leave and then rejoin the ride.
I) Since the Ride Leader is obligated only to lead participants on a given ride, the Ride Leader is effectively obligated to not stop and help you if you have a flat, get lost, crash, need a bathroom break, or otherwise leave the ride, whether intentionally or not.
In practice, however, the whole group generally stops to help riders in need, whether or not they are currently "ride participants". This is not a guarantee; it is just an observation of past behaviour. Actual responsibilities on these rides – other than the personal responsibilities of each rider for his / her own decisions – are almost nil, yet we are blessed in this riding community with people who care about each other’s well being and enjoy looking out for each other. In practice, often (though not always) the Ride Leader shirks his one responsibility – leading the ride – when helping another rider would conflict with that responsibility. However, IF YOU DESIRE A GUARANTEE THAT WHEN YOU AS A PARTICIPANT HAVE ANY SORT OF DIFFICULTY, PROBLEM, OR DISSATISFACTION, SOMEONE ELSE WILL DO THEIR BEST TO REMEDY THE SITUATION FOR YOU, THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT RIDE SERIES FOR YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN. THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES.
— PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY —
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—
What follows is a (hopefully gentle but firm) reminder that as adults, we are responsible for our own decisions. The ride leader is responsible only to lead the way, and your fellow riders are only responsible for themselves:
You are considered to be a participant of a ride if all the following criteria are met:
1) You desire to be a ride participant.4) [If the ride is moving] You are on the road / route / track the Ride Leader is following, and either between the Ride Leader and the Sweeper, or (if there is no sweeper) within sight of and less than half a mile behind the Ride Leader.
2) You have paid the registration fee & signed the release form for the ride in question.
3) You have not been kicked off of the ride by the ride leader (“I banish thee from the ride!…”).
5) [If the ride is not moving (breaks, meals, etc.)] You are within sight of and less than a quarter mile away from the Ride Leader.
A PARTICIPANT WISHING TO REMAIN A PARTICIPANT OF THE RIDE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING SO BY CONTINUALLY MEETING THE CRITERIA LISTED ABOVE. A RIDER WHO FAILS TO DO SO IS NO LONGER A PARTICIPANT, AND MAY REJOIN THE RIDE AT ANY TIME BY MEETING THE CRITERIA LISTED ABOVE. PARTICIPANTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY, AND FOR THE SECURITY OF THEIR PROPERTY. THE ONLY RESPONSIBILITY OF THE RIDE LEADER IS TO LEAD RIDE PARTICIPANTS ON A GIVEN RIDE FOR AS LONG AS THEY ARE ABLE AND DESIROUS TO FOLLOW. ALL OTHER POSITIONS OF SEEMING IMPORTANCE WITHIN THE RIDE (SWEEPER, POSTED RIDER, ETC.) ARE VOLUNTARY POSITIONS AND HAVE NO ENFORCED RESPONSIBILITIES WHATSOEVER.
A few things follow from the material above:
A) The only person responsible for your safety is you.
B) The only person responsible for your bike / other property is you.
C) The only person responsible for keeping you a part of the ride is you.
D) Sweepers and riders posted at corners may be helpful, but are not obligated to be.
E) Having joined a ride, you are not obligated to complete all or indeed any of it.
F) If you are on a go-around route, or even just a parallel track, you are no longer a participant of the ride.
H) Assuming you have not been kicked off of the ride, there is no limit to the number of times you can leave and then rejoin the ride.
I) Since the Ride Leader is obligated only to lead participants on a given ride, the Ride Leader is effectively obligated to not stop and help you if you have a flat, get lost, crash, need a bathroom break, or otherwise leave the ride, whether intentionally or not.
In practice, however, the whole group generally stops to help riders in need, whether or not they are currently "ride participants". This is not a guarantee; it is just an observation of past behaviour. Actual responsibilities on these rides – other than the personal responsibilities of each rider for his / her own decisions – are almost nil, yet we are blessed in this riding community with people who care about each other’s well being and enjoy looking out for each other. In practice, often (though not always) the Ride Leader shirks his one responsibility – leading the ride – when helping another rider would conflict with that responsibility. However, IF YOU DESIRE A GUARANTEE THAT WHEN YOU AS A PARTICIPANT HAVE ANY SORT OF DIFFICULTY, PROBLEM, OR DISSATISFACTION, SOMEONE ELSE WILL DO THEIR BEST TO REMEDY THE SITUATION FOR YOU, THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT RIDE SERIES FOR YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN. THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES.
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