FFBC

Fremont Freewheelers Bike Club

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Ride Information and Policies

Join our rides, members and guests alike.  Riding with a group is fun, educational, supportive, and safer.

  • Use the ride calendar, to find the ride that fits your schedule and your ride-pace.
    Note:  it may take a couple of rides to figure-out which ride-pace is right for you.  That is okay.
  • Our ride routes cover several locations around Fremont (7 different cities and beyond)
  • Guests – after experiencing a ride or two or three, join us and become a member – we welcome you!
  • What is a “show-and-go” ride?
    A ride on the calendar without a ride leader because …

    • The ride leader opted out (via email) because of poor weather or air-quality (or less common, something else)
    • This particular ride did not have a member volunteer to become a ride leader

 

FFBC Policies

Rev. March, 2022

FFBC’s rides are meant to be fun and safe.   They also must conform to insurance requirements.  Accordingly, these policies clarify expectations for riders, ride leaders, equipment and rides.

Riders

Members

    • Are those who are current on their dues or have had their dues waived (e.g., by being lifetime members)

Guests

    • Include anyone who is not a current member
    • Must sign in as guests
    • Are only covered by FFBC’s supplemental medical insurance for their first ride in a calendar year
    • May NOT join mountain bike rides due to insurance restrictions

Minors

Are allowed on all FFBC road rides if accompanied on the ride by their parent or legal guardian, or an adult designated in writing and signed by their parent or legal guardian

Are NOT allowed on mountain bike rides

For a minor under 18 of age to join a club ride, the minor must:

      • Bring the signed parent or legal guardian consent form and give it to the ride leader at the start of the ride.
      • Optionally, bring a medical consent form

Equipment

    • Bikes must be in good working condition: tires inflated, brakes and derailleurs working
    • Cycling helmets that are in good condition and certified to meet CPSC standards must be worn with snug chin straps at all times while on the bike

e-Bikes

Class 1 and Class 3 e-bikes are allowed on all FFBC rides, except where the ride passes through areas where the e-bike is prohibited by local regulations and an alternate route is not made available by the ride leader. Class 1 and Class 3 e-bikes require pedaling and have pedal assist up to a max of 28 mph.

Class 2 e-bikes and mopeds are NOT allowed, even if operated in pedal assist mode.  These bikes have a throttle that is capable of propulsion without pedaling, and they are not covered by FFBC’s liability insurance.

Rides

Club Rides

    • Must be listed on the FFBC calendar or announced on the FFBC message board
    • Require a ride leader who must be an adult (18+) club member (Show & Go riders must “elect” a ride leader at the start)
    • Require at least one rider besides the ride leader (i.e., club rides require a minimum of 2 riders)
    • Require all participants to sign in via a sign-in sheet
    • Leave the starting point 15 minutes after the posted time
    • Convert to “show & go” if canceled by ride leader
    • If “co-listed” with another club, must adhere to all FFBC rules

Gravel Rides

Mountain Bike Rides

    • Are allowed for members only, not guests, not minors, due to insurance restrictions
    • Use mountain bike specific sign-in sheets [provide link]

Ride Classifications

For riders to choose rides suitable to their interests and abilities, the club has ride classifications.

For Road Rides, a pace appended with a “+” or “-” means the pace will be 1 mph faster or slower, respectively.  For example, an “M+” means a pace of 14-17 mph, and a “B-” means a pace of 15-18 mph.

Ride Posting

Club Rides must be posted to the FFBC calendar at least three calendar days ahead of the ride or, if within three calendar days, to the ‘Info’ email list at least one calendar day prior to the ride. Rides requiring changes within three days of the ride should be updated on the ‘Info” email list as soon as possible.  The ride posting should include start location, meet and roll times, pace, terrain, route if available, ride leader contact information, and a brief description of the ride.

Ride Leaders

Must be a FFBC member who is an adult (18+)

May, via their ride postings, exclude

    • Unvaccinated individuals
    • E-bikes when not allowed on routes by local authorities (e.g., East Bay Regional Park trails), but not otherwise

Must receive prior approval from the Board for any other rider exclusion posting (e.g., men only, women only, no ebikes, etc.)

May post reasonable limits on the number of riders to be allowed on a club ride

May reroute, delay, reschedule or cancel rides their for any reason, including actual or significant chance of rain, extreme temperatures, poor air quality and road closures

May, at the start or during the ride, exclude riders for:

    • Not having a bike in good working condition
    • Not having a bike suitable to the ride (e.g., road bike on a mountain bike ride)
    • Not wearing appropriate equipment (e.g., helmet)
    • Failing to ride safely or otherwise disrupting the ride (as determined by the ride leader)
    • Substantially deviating from the ride’s posted route or pace

Must submit the sign-in sheet to either the Pedal Pounders Coordinator for entry into the Pedal Pounders database or the Race Team for the Race Team’s document archive.

Must submit an Accident Report online [link] in the event of an accident during the ride.

Pedal Pounders

“Pedal Pounders” is FFBC’s ride database. It allows members to compare their statistics from the current year to prior years and other club members.  FFBC uses these statistics to honor members for their outstanding accomplishments.

Eligibility

Only FFBC club members may receive Pedal Pounder credits.

To receive Pedal Pounder credit, a sign-in sheet must be submitted either by email or mail by the ride leader no later than sixty (60) days after the ride or seven (7) calendar days after the end of the calendar year, whichever comes first

A ride leader will receive ride leader credit if listed as the first rider on the sign-in sheet.  Co-ride leaders will receive credit if the sign-in sheet has “RL” in the margin next to their names.  Individual riders will receive ride credit if their names on the submitted sign-in sheet are legible.

Pedal Pounder credit will also be given if the Ride Coordinator accidentally omitted a ride from the calendar.

Metrics & Honors

Pedal Pounder metrics include rides led, rides ridden, miles traveled and feet climbed.

Ride leaders must submit sign-in sheets that reflect actual club miles and feet climbed during the ride.  If the ride leader modifies a ride due to weather, road conditions, rider issues, etc., the rider leader must use the actual club miles and feet from the ride.

Based on statistics compiled from eligible sign-in sheets, the Ride Coordinator will award the club’s major Pedal Pounder honors:

      • Most Rides Led
      • King of the Wheel:  Most miles traveled by a male rider
      • Queen of the Wheel:  Most miles traveled by a female rider

The Ride Coordinator may also issue discretionary, special awards based on statistics compiled from the Pedal Pounders data.

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