Pre-Riding

Pre-riding is one of the most valuable steps in organizing a successful brevet. Even the most carefully planned route can change between the time it is designed and the day of the event. A pre-ride helps identify navigation issues, road hazards, construction, closed businesses, and other problems while there is still time to make corrections.

Whenever possible, a pre-ride should take place within two weeks of the event. The window to conduct an official pre-ride is the 15 days leading up to the event. This increases the likelihood that road conditions, construction, and business hours will accurately reflect what riders will encounter on event day.

Participants of pre-rides must be registered (including a signed waiver) before conducting the pre-ride. Unregistered riders may not join for any part of the pre-ride.

Participants of pre-rides are expected to volunteer for the event, on event day. If one is unable to volunteer the day of the event, contact the RBA to see if it is possible to make an arrangement to volunteer at another upcoming event.

Always communicate your pre-ride plans with the RBA. Before your ride, send a text or email that includes the planned date, start time, and the names of any riders joining you (if applicable).

Goals of a Pre-Ride

A successful pre-ride should accomplish the following:

• Verify that the route is safe and rideable.
• Confirm that every control is open and functioning as expected.
  • Check info control questions if applicable. These should be easy for riders to find and should not function as a scavenger hunt. (e.g. “According to the sign, when was the bridge built?”)
  • When selecting a business as a control, verify its hours of operation to ensure it will be open when riders are expected to arrive.
• Review the cue sheet for accuracy and clarity. Identify navigation problems or confusing intersections.
• Check that the RWGPS route follows the intended roads and trails.
• Note any road hazards, construction, closures, or rough pavement.
• Identify long stretches without food or water.
• Collect information that will help riders prepare for the event. This may be noting locations of porta-potties, extra food/water services along route, bike shops, etc.
• Whenever possible, conduct the pre-ride on the same day of the week and at the same start time as the event. This provides the most accurate assessment of traffic patterns, trail use, business hours, and other conditions riders will encounter on event day.
  • For example, if the brevet begins at 7:00 a.m. on a Saturday, schedule the pre-ride for one of the two preceding Saturdays with the same 7:00 a.m. start.

Recruiting Pre-Riders

Whenever possible, recruit experienced riders who are comfortable providing detailed feedback. Different riders often notice different things, so multiple pre-rides can be especially valuable.

Pre-riders should make an effort to:

• Ride with the cue sheet instead of relying exclusively on GPS.
• Record cue sheet corrections.
• Take photos of confusing intersections or hazards.
• Note businesses that have closed or changed hours.
• Keep track of service availability: food, water, and restrooms.
• Report anything that surprised them.

After the Pre-Ride

Review all feedback and determine what changes should be made before event day.

Possible updates include:

• Correcting cue sheet mileage or wording.
• Revising the RWGPS route.
• Moving or replacing controls.
• Updating rider communications.
• Adding notes to the course report or website.
• Identifying temporary hazards that riders should expect.

Pre-Ride Report

Publish a pre-ride report on the club website. A good report should help riders prepare for the event without describing every mile of the route. See the Communication & Promotion section for more details on the pre-ride report.