Practice Run

The recce is a practice run – checking out the route, the roads, the cafes before you lead the ride itself. Making sure that the route you intend to lead will work out OK.

When ?

It is probably best done on the Sunday before the actual ride when road conditions, traffic and stopping places are most likey to be in a similar state to what they will be like the following week. You can note any junctions that would be difficult to mark and check whether or not cafes can cater for the number of riders that you expect.

Take a Friend

Don’t go it alone – unless you want to. There is usually someone who will be willing to go out with you. For the leader, the recce is very different from the ride itself – where you have so much more to think about.

Problems

Recces can reveal all sorts of issues – road closures, potholes, traffic flow, flooding, unsuitable pit stops. It can also reveal awkward junctions, unsuitable road surfaces and tricky sections like steep, tight hairpins – which are never a good idea when leading a group.

Mileage, Times, Stops

After the recce you will have a much better idea of timing and mileage. That will enable you to decide if the route needs to be shortened or if you need to start earlier. You can use your satnav log to find out distances and times.

Advertise (again)

As soon as you have the final details – let everyone know – via the club’s broadcaster. They know that there will be a ride, they know roughly where. Now you can give more accurate distances and times and exactly where you are stopping. You may also provide a GPX file of the route for people to load.

Back Marker

Back marking is a skill in itself, but it really helps if the back marker knows the route. Any problems within the groups, the back marker is more likely to come across them. If you have an intercom that is connected to your phone, make sure that the back marker has your number, or find out if you can pair your intercoms

GPX file

You have your route in your satnav. Share it. Ask the broadcaster to post it for people to download if they wish. The more people that have the route, the less likely it is that the group will get lost if someone forgot or is unable to mark a junction safely.