RUNS LIST 1st QUARTER 2026

The list is now available for ride leaders to add rides.

You will all notice that we are experimenting with Informal Self-led rides as discussed at our AGM. These are various routes  between 23 and 35 miles from designated starting points and include the café stop for that day. These can be downloaded for your ride.

If club members intend to ride the route it would be useful if you text or WhatsApp Mike on 07906896503 so that we can assess how the experiment is going. You should also download the ICE (In Case of Emergency) list from our documents page (password protected so contact Mike if problematic!). This gives you all members’ emergency contacts. It is also very important that all riders follow our Code of Conduct and Group Etiquette advice which can also be found on our website 'Useful Documents' page.

I will post on the blog any further information two days before each of the Self-led rides.

I am very aware that we have some ride leaders who for some time have been offering a very similar idea. We are very grateful for these excellent and popular additions and so please continue! And Ride leaders are very welcome to adopt any of the self-led rides if they wish. A Self-led ride posted on the Runs List does not preclude Ride Leaders from offering their own full ride on the same day.

We have approached Cycling UK for comment on this idea and their response is included below:

Regarding your proposal to include suggested routes on your runs list for informal, self-led rides: While this could be a helpful way to keep members engaged, it’s important to clarify how this fits within Cycling UK’s insurance framework.

 Insurance and Self-Led Rides

 Cycling UK’s organiser liability insurance only applies to rides that are officially organised by a member or affiliated group, with a designated leader or organiser. These rides must follow our guidance, including:

• Keeping a record of participants (names and membership numbers or entry forms),

• Conducting a risk assessment of the route,

• And ensuring the ride is managed in line with Cycling UK’s best practice.

 Self-led rides, where members follow a published route independently and without a designated leader, do not fall under this organiser liability cover. This is because:

• There is no individual responsible for managing the ride or ensuring safety,

• There is no control over who participates or how the ride is conducted,

• And no formal record of participants is maintained.

 However, individual Cycling UK members would still be covered by their personal third-party liability insurance while cycling, including on informal rides, provided they are acting independently and not under the direction of an organiser.

Publishing Routes

You are welcome to publish suggested routes on your runs list, but we recommend clearly labelling these as “informal, self-led rides” and noting that they are not official group rides. This helps avoid any confusion about insurance coverage and responsibilities.

Risk Assessments

For official rides, a risk assessment is recommended and should be reviewed periodically—especially if there are changes to the route or known hazards. For informal rides, a formal risk assessment is not required, though it’s always good practice to ensure routes are safe and suitable for your members.