California Cog : California Concours Owners Group Ride Planners

California COG Ride Planners' Checklist

In order to make the life of the Ride Planner more enjoyable and the ride more successful for all participants, we put together some thoughts. The below checklist is only a guide and it is by no means meant to stand on it's own or serve as a set of concrete rules for putting on your ride. Each planner's ride is different, so adjust accordingly, and most importantly, have fun!

As you plan, organize, and schedule, if you have any questions please feel free to drop a note to your AAD's, Steve Long (Sacramento Valley) and/or Chad Olson (SF). We'll do our best to answer your questions and get you moving towards a safe, enjoyable and successful ride!

Setting up the Ride:
1. _____ Find a CO HOST. Share the workload.
Planning and hosting a ride is not as easy as it sounds. Things can get difficult and having someone there on the same page as you can help!

2. _____ PRE-RIDE the Route with your co host
Though it is easy to pick roads on a map, make sure to check them out personally. This will help you get a perspective of the route and help with sharing that route and briefing your attendees. Take notes as needed and consider time constraints.

Share the ride information:
3. _____ Develop a RIDE DESCRIPTION
Include LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY and RIDERS ETIQUETTE REMINDERS and submit for the website, newsletter etc a couple of months in advance. The lead time for the website isn't as long, so feel free to submit updates, ride maps, notes, etc. a few weeks before your ride. Make sure riders know what they are in for. Explaining things like weather, road quality, experience level and route time will help to ensure that everyone knows what they are getting into (or not)!!

Indicate gas stations and snack areas in close proximity to the meeting area so riders may show up READY TO RIDE. It is also good to remind attendees to bring snacks and water if such items are not easily found.

If you would like to, add a note that RSVP's are MANDATORY. This will give you have your best chance to know how many folks are coming and that people are not missing in action before the ride starts. Even if a rider is not 100% sure they are attending, add them to the RSVP list. Over planning is better than under planning.

4. _____ Have a MEETING AND DEPARTURE TIME.
It is always good to include the 'oh fudge' factor for those who are tardy. Plan a time for everyone to meet, and have a time to expect to start the first riders out on the road. Usually 15 minutes is enough.

5. _____ Create a MAP and detailed ROUTE SHEET
Include reference points, landmarks and re-grouping points. Include break off points for those who must depart early and a food break area. If possible, feel free to email this information to those that have RSVP'd ahead of time as well as provide it to the NorCal webmaster to be put on the website.

Do the ride:
6. _____ Conduct a PRE RIDE BRIEFING
Go over the ride. Talk about areas of traffic, road changes and challenging areas. Mention the break off, re group and finish points. It may also be helpful to hook up riders from the same area so they may ride home together.
7. _____ Break the masses into SMALLER GROUPS
Assign those with communication systems as Leaders and Sweepers. Have riders of the same skill level run together and stress again and again.. that riders MUST RIDE THEIR OWN RIDE!!!

After the fun:
8. _____ Create a questionnaire or solicit feedback to share and make future rides better.
9. _____ Take a deep breath and pat yourself on the back! Thanks for the efforts!!!
10. _____ Don't forget to send a write-up with a few pics from your event to our faithful SW newsletter editors, Joe (jchase1950@aol.com) and Squido (drsquidocalamari@motosquid.com). Let's tell everyone what a great time we're having!