As you plan, organize, and schedule, if you have any questions please feel free to drop a note a note to the AAD, Phil Tarman. He will answer your questions and get you moving towards a safe, enjoyable and successful ride!

Setting up the Ride

1. _____ Select a route from the list of possibilities on the Schedule page, or pick something similar. It should be a ride that you would enjoy even if you were out riding by yourself.

2. _____ Pre-ride the route. 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, whether the ride is to be a 1/2 day, full day, or weekend ride.

Share the Ride Information

3. _____ Set a time and place to meet. Pick a Saturday, Sunday, or weekend that fits your schedule. Gas station / convenience stores make good meeting places. If choosing another meeting place, list a nearby gas station so that riders can get fuel and snacks and be ready to ride.

4. _____ Create a map and detailed route sheet. Include reference points, landmarks, stops to regroup, and lunch stop. Include break-off points for those who must depart early.

5. _____ Develop a ride description, including level of difficulty, and approximate length of the ride. Explaining things like road quality, experience level, route length and time, and planned lunch stop (if applicable) will help to ensure that everyone knows what to expect, or whether they'd rather pass on this ride. If a lunch stop isn't planned, it is also good to remind attendees to bring snacks and water if such items are not easily found along the route.

6. _____ Submit your ride plans to the AAD two or three months in advance, enough lead time so the ride can be publicized in the COG SW Newsletter and on the COG Colorado web site.

The Ride

7. _____ Conduct a pre-ride briefing. Go over the ride. Talk about areas of traffic, road conditions and challenging areas. Mention the stops to re-group, the lunch stop, and break-off points.

8. _____ 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!!! (The planner / leader does not have to ride at the front of the group. Riding his or her own ride may well mean that he or she is in the middle or toward the end of the group.)

9. _____ Get the group going again after a stop. A friendly "we're burning daylight" often is all that is needed. Remind everyone of the next re-group stop.

After the Ride

10. _____ Pat yourself on the back! Thanks for the efforts!

11. _____ Return the signed release form to the AAD.

12. _____ If you like to write, send a write-up with a few pics from your event to the AAD who will get them to the SW newsletter editors and will get them out to the COG Colorado web pages. Let's tell everyone what a great time we're having!