What We Ask of Our Riders

Signing Up for Events:

Sign Up Early: The early you sign up, the easier it is on our ride leaders, especially on the multi-day and camping trips. We've had a lot of camping and biking trips canceled (and even more not posted) due to not enough people signing up. Many people were interested, but were waiting for others to sign up first.

Update RSVP: If for some reason you can't make it, update your RSVP as soon as you can. If there's a waitlist, those on it need some warning that they can go. If there's only a few people going, trip leaders may want to make other plans if no one else or not enough people are actually going to be there.

Show Up: We do keep track of no shows and late drop-outs. We may move people with a history of not showing up to the waitlist or not count them when deciding if enough people are signed up for the ride to happen.

Be On-Time: We do our best to accommodate a few late stragglers from time to time, but please make every effort to arrive on-time. Being late is uncourteous to the ride organizer and the other riders.

Rules of the Trail:

Leave No Trace: Be sensitive to the dirt beneath you. Wet and muddy trails are more vulnerable to damage than dry ones. When the trail is soft, consider other riding options. This also means staying on existing trails and not creating new ones. Don't cut switchbacks. Be sure to pack out at least as much as you pack in.

Yield Appropriately: Do your utmost to let your fellow trail users know you're coming — a friendly greeting or bell ring are good methods. Try to anticipate other trail users as you ride around corners. Bicyclists traveling downhill should yield to ones headed uphill. In general, strive to make each pass a safe and courteous one.

Never Scare Animals: Animals are easily startled by an unannounced approach, a sudden movement or a loud noise. Give animals enough room and time to adjust to you. When passing horses, use special care and follow directions from the horseback riders (ask if uncertain).

Plan Ahead: Know your equipment, your ability and the area in which you are riding and prepare accordingly. Strive to be self-sufficient: keep your equipment in good repair and carry necessary supplies for changes in weather or other conditions. Always wear a helmet and appropriate safety gear.

Ride With the Group: You came to the group in order to mountain bike with others, so ride with us. Don't go racing off the front never to be seen again or start going off on another trail to do your own thing. If you absolutely need to split for some unforeseen reason, please be courteous and inform the ride leader directly or via another rider so we know what happened to you and don't call search-and-rescue. At the very least, leave a note on someone's windshield or at the trailhead.