Portland Velo’s Club Members Road Rules

Portland Velo is a great place to be for cyclists and to make sure your experience is a good one please take a moment and read the following guidelines, suggestions and rules.

We think you’ll agree, if everyone can follow the Road Rules, Portland Velo will continue to be “the” club for cyclists in and around the Portland area.

Thanks for being a part of our club. Please take a moment and familiarize yourself with the following:

• Headphone use during rides is prohibited
• Cell phone communications while riding is a huge no no. If need be, pull over and have your conversation but do not expect your group to wait
• Only "SWB"/short wheelbase recumbents permitted on clubs rides.
• We strongly advise against mountain bikes on our group rides. The added weight combined with the wider, slower rolling tires can make it difficult to keep pace with riders on lighter weight bikes rolling on higher pressure, narrower tires
• Bike using aero-bar/tri bars as the only form of handlebar are prohibited. Aero/tri clip-ons are OK to use
• There is never a reason to cross the centerline. This action is 100% unacceptable on club rides by any and all members
• Please communicate verbally or through hand signals any road debris, approaching vehicles or other hazards
• In the absence of a designated bike lane it’s always safer for you and the group to ride single file

Have the following necessary items with you on all Portland Velo rides:

1. Water bottle(s), filled of course
2. Spare tubes- 2, pump/inflation device and the ability/knowledge to repair your flat
3. Edibles/nutrition
4. Small multi-tool
5. Route map- when available
6. Bike in excellent working/mechanical condition- Neither Portland Velo nor your ride leader is responsible for nor should be expected to handle repairs on your bike during a ride, it is your responsibility. Now, because we’re nice guys we may lend a hand now and again but it’s not our responsibility to do so.
7. Personal identification of some sort including emergency contact info
8. HELMET!- No helmet/No ride, no exceptions!

Our featured ride of the week, the Saturday Signature Ride, uses a group ride format designed around ride pace measured in average MPH on flat to slightly rolling terrain (Please see and read the info piece titled “Saturday Signature Ride Format for detailed information on ride groups). It is up to each individual to decide which group best suits one’s cycling abilities. Your cycling abilities are based on the following factors:

1. Fitness level
2. Cycling experience
3. Group riding skills- Are you comfortable in a pace line? Are you familiar with how a pace line works? Are you comfortable riding side by side in close proximity of another rider? Are you familiar with how to communicate with others riders while in a group on the road?
4. Stated route for that particular ride. An example of this would be the following: You’re currently riding with the 18-20mph group but you’re still struggling a bit and riding “off the back” of the group at times on flatter rides. If that’s the case then you should drop down a group when the planned route is a more challenging/hillier ride.

We ask all club members to ride in a responsible, safe and law-abiding fashion. While on any Portland Velo ride, you along with everyone on that ride represent Portland Velo Cycling Club. We ask that you respect our club and what we stand for and conduct yourselves in a manner consistent with our reputation which is one of riding safe, of welcoming new comers, of having fun and sharing our passion for cycling.

Thanks!

Portland Velo Operations Team