Choose a ride

PPTC rides are categorized according to speed, distance, terrain, and other factors; however, members typically choose rides based on speed and location. Each year, hundreds of new members join PPTC ranks ... some are experienced riders, some are novices, and many fall in-between.

If you’re an experienced cyclist– and know your current riding level– you’ll have a great time choosing rides from the Pedal Patter’s Ride Schedule, currently one of the largest in the US! Cyclists who ride with other clubs should note that our seven D through AA ride categories may be similar to other bike clubs, but our 8.0–22.0 mph speed range is probably different.

If you’re a new member and don’t know your current riding level, you might want to begin by choosing a ride that is slower or shorter than you think you can do. You can move up to higher ride classifications on subsequent rides.

For more information on ride speed see the Ride Class listings

For more information on specific rides contact either the ride leader or the Ride Coordinator in your Ride Class

Prepare for a ride

Before you join us for a group ride, make sure that:

• You have a properly sized and adjusted helmet, are carrying identification, and have emergency money.
• Your bike fits properly, is well adjusted, and is mechanically sound. Also, carry a water bottle or hydration pack, a small saddle pack with a tube, patch kit, essential tools, an air pump, and a cue sheet holder.

If this is your first PPTC ride, we have a few additional suggestions to get you on your way. Know how to get to the ride start locations (directions are listed in the Reference Manual) and allow sufficient time to arrive early (at least 15 minutes to prepare yourself and your bike). Most ride start locations do not have rest rooms, so allow extra time to stop at a fast food place or service station before you arrive. Once there, you will need to sign in, get a cue sheet, introduce yourself to the ride leader (let them know it’s your first PPTC ride), then prepare yourself and your bike to be ready when pre-ride announcements are made.

Read the ride schedule

PPTC rides are described according to a standardized, easy-to-read format that always lists:

a

ride classification

c

distance

d

locality

e

start time

f

start location

You may also see:

b

a (F) “Flat” or (H) “Hilly” terrain classification

g

a start location code

h

temperature, humidity, or rain restrictions

The ride listing below is read as a “B” (14-16 MPH) ride, 45 miles long, starting in Maryland at 9:30 AM from Poolesville High School. The (H) ride modifier means that average riding speeds over the route will be about 2 mph slower than usual. In addition, a temperature restriction means the ride will be cancelled if the predicted high temperature is less than 40 degrees.

Sample Ride Schedule Listing

a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
B	(H)	45	MD	9:30am	Poolesville HS	(POO)	40°/50%

Weather Notes:

Many rides will state minimum 'GO' conditions at the end of the first line of the ride description. For example, 40°/50% means the ride will go if the predicted high temperature is at least 40° and the probability of precipitation is lower than 50%. If the the predicted high temperature is lower than 40° OR the probability of precipitation is 50% or higher, the ride will be cancelled. As a general rule, if it is raining or snowing at the time any ride is to start, or if the roads are icy or snow covered, the ride will be cancelled. The National Weather Service Baltimore / Washington forecast (703/260-0305, 0307 or www.NOAA.gov) two hours before the ride is to start will be the determinant.

Call the ride leader if in doubt.

Read a Cue Sheet - Nomenclature

A good cue sheet has a map of the route, and provides clear and concise instructions that list:

1. point to point or "leg" mileage, the distance between navigation points on the route
2. cumulative mileage
3. directional changes or notes
4. the road or route name

---

Here is the table of all cue sheets PPTC maintains.

PPTC's cue sheets are created and submitted by its members. We encourage everyone to follow a standard format, providing:

• Cumulative distance and, optionally, distance between turns.
• Rest stop locations.
• Warnings of road hazards: busy intersections, heavily trafficked roads, sharp turns, steep descents, etc.

The following table lists some acronyms you are likely to see in cue sheets. The diversity of area roads and intersection configurations, and the ingenuity of PPTC's members, ensure the table is by no means complete.

Symbol	Meaning
L	Left
R	Right
X	Cross
BL	Bear Left
BR	Bear Right
TL	Traffic Light
RS	Rest Stop
TRO	To Remain On
C or S	Continue or Straight
SS	Stop Sign
TI or BEC	Turns Into or Becomes (road changes name)

Cycle Safely

Ride Courteously

• Give verbal and hand signals to alert other riders to road hazards, e.g., pot holes, glass, gravel/sand, wet leaves, railroad tracks.
• Ride single file. When a vehicle is approaching, call out "car back" or "car up" to alert others of sighted vehicles.
• Call out "on your wheel" when drafting another cyclist.
• Use hand signals and audible verbal warning when passing, slowing, stopping, or making a turn. Only pass other cyclists on their left.
• When being passed, maintain a straight course; do not swerve away from or toward an approaching cyclist.
• Do not wear head phones

Ride Predictably

• Your bicycle is a vehicle - observe all traffic laws.
• Ride with the flow of traffic, in a straight line, and as far to the right as is safe and practical.
• Stop at all stop signs and obey all traffic lights - pause at yield signs and unmarked intersections.
• Look both ways before proceeding.
• Check traffic; be responsible for yourself; don't just follow the crowd.
• Follow rules of right-of-way, but never forget common sense - ride defensively and anticipate the actions of motorists - a confrontation between a 3,000 lb. vehicle and a 20 lb. bicycle is no contest.
• Be aware of motor vehicle blind spots.
• Walk your bike if conditions are beyond your cycling ability.
• Move to the right and stop to allow emergency vehicles to pass.
• Cross railroad tracks at 90-degree angle; give verbal warning to indicate intention.

Event Planning Guidelines

The Club has established a set of event planning guidelines to assist would-be volunteer Event Coordinators. The steps are outlined below, with reference to relevant Forms at the end of this manual. Coordinators should work with the Special Events Liaison, a member of the ExCom who is responsible for overseeing the planning, budget, publicity, and insurance matters of each Special Event. This person maintains the PPTC Calendar (published in Pedal Patter and on the Club web site) and reports the status of Special Events to the ExCom. He/she serves as an adviser and intermediary between the Event Coordinator and the ExCom, should questions or unusual circumstances arise.

Planning and Budget

Event Coordinators are responsible for submitting to the ExCom a PPTC Event Planning Statement (see Forms) four to six months in advance of the event. An event should be budgeted to cover all anticipated costs plus an administrative fee of $20.00 or 20% (whichever is less) per participant. Coordinators may create their budget in a spreadsheet, so long as it includes the relevant information from the form.

Publicity

Once an event's plan and budget are approved by the ExCom, it can be advertised in the Pedal Patter and on the web site. Publicity typically includes an Event Registration Form, accompanying article and the Club's standard Release and Waiver Form (see Forms).
It is recommended that publicity be done for at least two full months preceding the event. If the event is filled early, the Event Coordinator should notify the Special Events Liaison and also the Managing Editor of Pedal Patter, so that the event article and form are discontinued in subsequent issues.

Handling Of Funds

All funds collected in advance or onsite must be sent promptly to the PPTC Business Office for posting to the appropriate revenue account. Credit card payments via online registration are processed directly by the Business Office. Coordinators should set a fair cancellation policy at the outset. Checks should be made payable to PPTC or to a vendor, not to the PPTC Event Coordinator or another individual. Exceptions to this rule must be pre-approved by the ExCom.

Advance Payment

An Event Coordinator must send a Payment Request Form (see Forms) to the PPTC Business Office to obtain a check for advance payment of event expenses. This check can then be sent to either a vendor or to the Event Coordinator as requested. With ExCom approval, funds may be advanced to cover initial expenses. Checks are prepared by the Business Office, forwarded to the Treasurer for signing, then mailed to the recipient. Allow 10-15 days to receive a check.

Reimbursable Expenses

Expenses that may be charged against an event include postage, copying, telephone calls, maps, and souvenirs for participants. A Payment Request Form, with receipts attached, should accompany all requests for reimbursement. Free meals or lodging made available by a vendor are used at the discretion of an Event Coordinator.

Final Financial Statement

The Event Coordinator should submit an Event Final Financial Statement (see Forms) to the ExCom thirty (30) days after the event. They may create their own spreadsheet format, so long as it contains the relevant information.

Lead a ride (Ride Leader Guidelines)

Lead A Ride (Ride Leader Guidelines)

Want to lead a ride? It's easy.

1. PPTC requires that all ride leaders be members.
2. Ride coordinators can provide you the information you need to get started:
   • Suggestions for a ride;
   • A cue sheet or who you might contact to obtain one.
3. Please submit ride descriptions to your ride coordinator at least two days before the due date listed in Pedal Patter.
4. If you find or develop a route that is not in a cue sheet library, please send it to the cue sheet librarian (you can find this link on the PPTC website).

... now for the details...

Ride leading is exciting, rewarding and available to members only. It is the heart and soul of the PPTC rides program. Ride leaders should be welcoming and attentive to those who are new to rides, whether members or not, as first impressions are important and lasting. The ride leader is the face of the club for all new and prospective members. Up to 7 weeks of advance planning is necessary to meet Pedal Patter deadlines.

Date/Route

Decide your ride classification and contact the appropriate ride coordinator (all are listed on the website) with a suggested date and route for the ride you wish to lead. If you don't have a route in mind and would like suggestions for one, the coordinator and/or the cue sheet librarian will be happy to provide you with a route from a particular start location and of a specific length.

An important purpose of the ride classification system is to allow riders to re-group at rest stops so new or prospective members do not ride alone, except by choice.

A separate leader is required for each class “B” and lower on a multi-class ride, so a co-leader should be found. If you cannot do this yourself, contact the coordinator of the other classification to request a co-leader. This should be easy since you are doing all the pre-ride work and your co-leader just needs to take responsibility on the day of the ride.

Ride Description

Once the date, classification, and route are decided, you then need to submit a ride description to the coordinator by the 5th day of the month before your ride. A standardized format for the first line lists the class, distance, locality, start time, location and weather notes. Example:
B * 45 * MD * 10AM * Poolesville HS (POO) * 50/35%
Terrain indicators, e.g. (F) Flat, (MF) Mostly Flat (MH) or (H) (Mod Hilly, Hilly) may also be used following the ride classification.

Next is the title and body for your ride description. Titles can be time tested, or you can create one for the ride. Then the basics are noting scenery and landmarks, rest stop(s), restrooms if any, other facilities, terrain, special occasions, etc. Specify where the ride pace will fall within the published range. You can invite other ride levels to participate, as long as readers understand how they will conform to the expectations of that classification. Include any other information, including weather restrictions like wet roads, if you are planning a lunch or other gathering after the ride, helmets required, etc. Finally, include contact information – name, [email] phone xxx/xxx-xxxx (follow this format) so that riders may reach you if they have any questions.

Pre-Ride

Because conditions change, it is best to preview your ride via bike or car before leading it, so you can make last minute changes to the cue sheet, or are able to alert riders to detours, road work, etc.

Prepare sufficient copies of your cue sheet. The number needed will depend upon weather conditions and what other rides are offered the same day. Your sign up sheet will be automatically mailed to you by PPTC. If it does not arrive in time, print a copy from web site, and write in the date, ride name and leader at the top.

The Day of the Ride

• Arrive early;
• Have your cue-sheets, sign-in form with waiver and a pen available, and ask each rider sign the form;
• Before the ride begins, ask if everyone signed in and took a cue sheet;
• If possible, have club brochures on hand for prospective members;
• Contact the club office at 202/363-8687 or via email to have some sent to you;
• Introduce yourself to ride participants. Ask if any new or non-members are present, and have them introduce themselves. Ask if anyone is alone, unsure of the ride pace, etc., and if possible find a riding buddy for those who need one.
• Give a pre-ride briefing: Mention information about unusual terrain, rest stops, hazards, cue sheet tips, etc. State you will be riding at the advertised pace where you will be riding in relation to the group. Remind that everyone should have water, food, and basic repair tools and parts. Emphasize that each rider should carry identification and emergency contact information. Review safe cycling practices: Experience will tell you how much of this is necessary for the group you are leading, but here is a comprehensive list:
  • Observe all traffic laws. Stop at stop signs and red lights;
  • Stay out of right turn lanes when going straight;
  • Do not hinder traffic;
  • As most accidents occur at intersections, ensure safe crossings;
  • Make space for cars to pass in large groups;
  • Let cars know what you are doing, use hand signals on turns;
  • Warn if stopping or slowing with hand signals as well as calling out (particularly important in group rides);
  • Warn if passing on left or right;
  • Call “car back” and “car up” as cars approach and move to single lines when traffic is present;
  • Point or call out potholes, gravel, etc. to those behind;
  • Stay right, and do not pass on hills with limited sightlines or curves – just as if you were driving a car.

Although helmets are not required by the club, you can set your own policy for your rides and deal with any rider without a helmet as you see fit. Set a good example ALWAYS. Wear a helmet.

You can never be sure who will come on any ride. Every ride draws some riders who are faster than the advertised class because they like the location and/or distance. Tell them lead off and otherwise do not worry about them. You are not responsible for keeping close tabs on everyone, but you should have some sense of how people are doing. This is usually done by natural regrouping at rest stops. If you are going to the front of the group, you may ask someone to sweep from behind. Some leaders circle back and forth, but it is not expected. If someone is seriously lagging and alone, some guidance may be needed.

Encourage others to lead rides or to join the club. Give names of those who you feel might be interested to the ride coordinator so they may be contacted.

In Case of Emergency

If you come upon an accident on a ride you are leading or another ride knowing how to administer first aid and how to seek proper follow up care can help prevent a trivial injury from becoming a catastrophic one. The first thing to do is assess the situation. Based upon the degree of seriousness of the injury, and how many others stop to help, here are some pointers:

• Make sure that no one is in danger of being further injured;
• One member of the team should assess the injuries. If a doctor or someone certified in CPR/first aid is present, they should perform these duties. For anything more than a minor abrasion, call 911. Sometimes, head injuries are not evident immediately. While waiting, administer first aid:
• Secure the victim's head and neck. Someone may just need to hold the head. Never remove the helmet. Moving the neck if it is injured could lacerate the spine and cause paralysis;
• Don't move the victim until their condition has been assessed;
• Don't give any food or water until the condition is known;
• Ask questions to determine if the victim's mental status is impared;
• If the victim can communicate, ask where pain is and whether the neck or head hurts. Even a mild concussion should include a hospital visit;
• Check for broken bones or obvious bruises;
• To treat road rash, first gently remove dirt, glass, and other debris from the wound and wash it with clean water, if possible. Add antibiotic ointment, if available. Apply a bandage if you have one, otherwise leave the wound alone;
• If a wound is gushing blood, apply direct pressure with a jersey or glove. Note that it takes 15 to 20 minutes for a blood clot to form.
• Another team member can direct traffic around the accident if necessary.
• Yet another team member can get important information:
  • If the accident involves a motor vehicle get the driver's name, address, telephone number, driver's license number, license plate number, make of car, insurance company name and policy number. Get names and contact information for witnesses. If police come to the scene, get the police report number.
• Write down as many details of the accident as possible.

Heat injuries are also serious. If you come upon a rider who appears to be having heat related trauma, call 911. Move the victim to a shaded area, remove outer layers of clothing and begin spraying the victim with water to reduce the victim's body temperature.

If an accident or emergency occurs on your ride, contact a member of the club's Executive Committee no later then the next morning to report it. Provide the victim's name, the police report number if there was one, and the status of the victim to the best of your knowledge.

Post-Ride

Though not mandatory, it is a good idea to stay at the ride start/stop until all riders have returned.

Mail in the sign in sheet with your comments and summarize what happened. You only need to send in your cue sheet if it's new or revised, with a note indicating which.

Comments and/or corrections email Deb Reynolds

Schedule a club ride

There are a number of people who contribute to the development of the ride schedule published in each month's Pedal Patter.

Road Captain

The Road Captain reports to the ExCom and coordinates the efforts of the Ride Coordinators. This person monitors the overall development of the ride schedule and ensures that everything is running smoothly. The Road Captain recruits new ride coordinators to replace retiring coordinators. He/she also writes a monthly column in the Pedal Patter to inform members of ride-related issues. The Road Captain has historically been responsible for ride leader awards, the annual list of 5.000+ mile riders, and a variety of other miscellaneous functions.

Ride Coordinators

These volunteers represent one of the most important groups in the club. They recruit ride leaders for weekends and holidays, and then develop the resulting ride schedules. There are two Ride Coordinators for each ride classification level- one for DC/Maryland and another for Virginia. The Midweek Coordinator coordinates the Club's midweek/evening rides.

Ride Schedule Editor

This is one of the most challenging jobs in the Club. The Ride Schedule Editor collects the rides schedule developed by each coordinator and assembles the rides into the final form for publication in the Pedal Patter. The Editor works closely with our publisher throughout the publication process.

Pride Coordinator

The Post Ride Information, Distribution, and Evaluation (PRIDE) Coordinator maintains the PPTC's completed sign-up sheets for at least two years for insurance and historical purposes. He/She forwards copies of noteworthy sign-up sheets to the "On The Road" editor for their monthly Pedal Patter column, provides names of potential new ride leaders to ride coordinators, and forwards new or updated cue sheets to the Cue Sheet Librarian.

Sign-Up Sheet Coordinator

This volunteer must be especially well-organized and attentive to detail. This person obtains the monthly ride information from the Ride Schedule Editor, and provides ride leaders with sign-up sheets for each ride they are leading during that month. In some months, this can mean as many as 160 sign-up sheets to be labeled and mailed. The sign-up sheets are then returned to the PRIDE Coordinator after the ride.

The Cue Sheet Librarian

The Cue Sheet Librarian maintains a repository of Club cue sheets and maps that are supplied directly by ride leaders by the PRIDE Coordinator, or special event organizers. The Librarian helps ride leaders identify potential rides (by ride start and distance) and offers a list of existing cue sheets.

Submit a Cue Sheet

PPTC's cue sheet library is formed by member contributions. We encourage members to submit new cue sheets or to update existing cue sheets. This page explains how.

You must be logged in to submit a cue sheet. If you aren't logged in yet, do so using the form on the left.

Once you are logged in, click the create content menu item. Your browser will display a page containing the types of things you can add to the site. One of them should be a link labeled "Cue Sheet", or words to that effect.

Click it. You will be taken to a page containing the form for creating a cue sheet. The form contains several fields, some required, some optional. The following is an explanation of the fields and how you should use them.

• The Title field is, as the name suggests, the title for your ride. This is what will appear in the left column of the cue sheet table. Use a name suggesting something about the ride: its starting point, the terrain or geographical area it passes through, how riders are likely to feel when they finish... feel free to be creative. Take a look at the existing titles for ideas.
• The categories aren't required, but they help people find your cue sheet during searches. Select a term from each category that best describes your ride. For the location, choose the county in which the ride starts. For the hilliness, do remember that hilliness is subjective. Just give an indication of how you personally view your ride.
• In the Miles field, enter the distance – in miles, or course. Many cue sheets have alternate routes. Usually you will just enter the distance of the main route. However, you may enter more than one distance. Enter them separated by commas; for instance, enter 38, 30 for a ride that can be either 38 or 30 miles. Space characters don't matter. You can enter distances in tenths of a mile, though this is not common. Enter multiple distances with the largest first – this is important to make sorting by distance work.
• The Ride Start Point field tells where the ride begins and, usually, ends. PPTC maintains a list of official starting points, all of which are available in a drop-down menu. If your cue sheet starts somewhere else, you can enter that location in the Location and State fields below the menu. You must enter one or the other (but not both).
  It's best to use one of the standard locations because PPTC has scouted them, maintains directions on how to find them, and often has obtained permission for their use.
• The most important component of submitting a cue sheet is, of course, providing the cues. You have two options. First, you can type them in the Directions field. More about that in a moment. Second, and probably most likely, your cue already exists on your computer as a spreadsheet or document, or perhaps as an image you scanned. In that case, don't use the Directions field. Instead , click the File attachments link. The form will open to reveal a box and an Upload button. Click the button, and select the file on your computer that contains your cues. When you click the Submit button, your file will be transferred to the computer that hosts PPTC's web site.

You can attach as many files as you like. If, for example, you also have an elevation profile, by all means upload that too. To attach another file, click the Attach button. A new form for entering the next file will appear.

Some riders prefer not to upload their cue sheets. In fact, with the increasing popularity of web sites like routeslip.com, it's quite reasonable for riders to submit links to their cues rather than the cues themselves.

Our web site supports this style. Note the URL of your cue sheet. Then enter a link to it in the directions field. For instance, if your cue is located at URL http://www.routeslip.com/routes/18130, then in the Directions field enter:

<a href="http://www.routeslip.com/routes/18130">Link to routeslip</a>

You are free to use whatever text you want instead of "Link to routeslip".

If you have a cue sheet sitting around in a plain text file, you can easily submit that too in just two steps. First, copy the text and paste it into the Directions field. Second, click the Input format link just below the Directions field. You will see a set of options, one of which is Plain text. Select that option. (If you forget the second step, your cues won't format properly.)

If you know HTML, you can put that knowledge to use. The default format for the Directions field is Filtered HTML. This means you can use a limited set of tags: <a>, <em>, <strong>, <ul>, and <ol>, among others. Format your cues using HTML and enter them in this field.

Once you have finished, click the Submit button. Your cue sheet will be automatically posted. That's all it takes! You may wish to click the Preview button first. That will show you how your cue sheet looks without actually placing it in the library.

If you want to change an existing cue sheet, you have two options. First, you can delete the existing cue sheet and submit the updated cue sheet using one of the methods described above. Second, you can note the change as a comment to the existing ride description.

Each ride has its own Comments section. Adding a comment is a great way to note special features of the ride, such as dog warnings, rest stop/rest room options, interesting side-trips or temporary disruptions such as road work, etc.

Submitting your cues is one of the important things you can do to help everyone in the club enjoy riding more. Thanks for your support!

Please contact the if you have any questions, comments or suggestions.