Guide
Your first ride with someone you do not know
The first ride together decides whether there will be more. It is not about performance - it is about two people getting used to each other's pace.
Agree the pace up front, not in the first corner
Say out loud what “normal pace” means to each of you. Whoever rides in front rides to the slower one - never the other way round. Whoever rides at the back never has to catch up.
Pick a route one of you knows. An unknown road plus an unknown partner is one unknown too many.
A stop every 45 to 60 minutes
A new pair tires sooner than they expect - concentration costs energy. A short stop is the best place to say what worked and what did not.
Signals and the order in a group
Settle the basic gestures: hand down means slow, pointing at the tank means fuel, a tap on the helmet means we are stopping. In a group ride staggered, the newer rider right behind the leader, the most experienced one last.
The rule that keeps a group together: everyone waits at the junction where they turned until they see the one behind them.
Public place, daylight, a clear finish time
Meet at a petrol station or a café, not at somebody's home. Agree when you are back - a clear end to the ride takes the pressure off both sides.
Send someone close to you the route and the name of the person you are riding with. Thirty seconds of work.
Frequently asked questions
- How long should a first ride with a new partner be?
- Two to three hours including a stop, ideally 60 to 100 kilometres. A short route shows enough and leaves an appetite for the next one.
- Who rides first in a group?
- The most experienced rider who knows the route leads and keeps the pace of the slowest. The second most experienced rides last as the sweeper.
- Is it safe to ride out with someone I only know from an app?
- Yes, if you keep to the basics: a public meeting point, daylight, a short route, a verified profile and someone close to you knowing where you are.
Find your crew on the map
Turn on the map and see who is riding near you this weekend.