The Shore Sirens Group Ride Guide

We’re so excited that you’re joining us for some rides and social times! Maybe you’re new to group rides and don’t really know where to start or you’re a seasoned solo pedaler looking for a refresher. However you found you way to us, we’ve built this handy guide for you to use and review as we head into group rides season.

How do I know what level I ride at?

Great question. We want to make sure everyone's riding within their comfort level so that you all have the best time on the trails and everyone stays safe. If you aren’t sure what level you’re riding at, here’s a quick breakdown of some of the skills and trails that fit into our different riding levels. 

Beginner

Our beginner rides are for those that haven’t done a lot of riding or are just coming back to it after some time away. They’re casual and comfortable and no-drop, no-stress rides.

Skills: Body positioning, braking, cornering.

Trails: Bobsled, Lower Expresso, Pennzoil, the Griffens, Half Nelson in Squamish

Intermediate

Our intermediate rides up the ante a bit and are for riders that are comfortable on more technical features, a longer ride, and maybe even some steep and deep terrain. 

Skills: Adding speed, advanced cornering, climbing, obstacles, reading trail features

Trails: Dreamweaver, Expresso, John Deer

Advanced

Advanced rides are for those who feel really comfortable on their bikes on a variety of terrain and features, such as elevated skinnies, steed and deep slab riding, and more.

Skills: Adding and mastering features at higher speeds, technical features, and flow on challenging terrain.

Trails: Cypress (yes, pretty much the whole thing), 7th, Cambodia, Dale's

At the end of the day, only you can know your level so use your best judgement to set yourself up for a great ride.

Group ride etiquette

You’re representing yourself and the Shore Sirens while you’re out there so keep that in mind! We want to make sure we’re always respecting the trails, other riders, and ourselves. 

Some things to remember:

Don’t sprawl or spread

While one of our values is to unapologetically take up space, we shouldn’t be physically take up all the space on the trails we’re riding because we’re not the only people out there! If you’ve pulled over to regroup or session a feature, make sure your bikes and your bodies aren’t in the middle of the trail. This can be sketchy for other riders coming through. 

Leave space for mistakes

This is especially important when riding with people you don’t know, and really important with riders that have never been on the trails you’re headed up or down. Leave enough room so that you can bail out or make moves if someone pulls up short or falls in front of you. Plus, it's always nice for beginners to not have people breathing down their necks.

Check yourself before you wreck yourself

While we want you to feel confident to comfortably push yourselves to hit that feature you’ve been eyeing up for awhile, we also want to make sure everyone comes home safe. Ride within your comfort zone and your limits. Future You will thank Current You for not having to take time off to recover from injury.

Communication is key

Make a plan of what trails you’re riding before you head out on and make sure that everyone knows where you’re going. Tell someone who isn’t out riding with your group where you’ll be in case something goes wrong or you miss a check-in time. While out on the trails, make sure you’re talking to each other to avoid any confusion or crashes. Call out features for newer riders or those that haven’t ridden the trail before. 

Regroup and rendezvous

It’s good practice to regroup throughout a trail, especially if people aren’t as familiar with the terrain, features, or trails. A good rule is to regroup at trail crossings so that no one gets lost or left behind. You should also have a rendezvous point in case of separation or someone gets lost. The easiest spot would be to meet where you started your ride - the parking lot or by your vehicles - but you can decide for yourselves what makes the most sense.

What should I bring?

To set yourself up for success at one of our group rides (or any ride you're doing, really!), we recommend using this checklist. The night before a ride, build yourself a go-bag so you’re ready to grab it and head out the door in the morning without stress.

• Helmet (half shell or full face - your preference depending on comfort level and what you're riding)

• Ride appropriate clothing

  • MTB shorts or pants

  • Short or long sleeve top

• Body protection (also based on your comfort level and the trails you’re riding) 

  This could include:

  • Knee pads

  • Elbow pads

  • Shin guards

  • Spine protector

• Jacket or extra layers in case of weather changes

• Water

• Snacks

• Change of clothes for after, especially during the rainy season

• Bike toolkit

  • Allen keys that fit all the bolts on your bike

  • Tube

  • Quick link + chain breaker (optional) 

  • Tire levers

  • Patch kit

  • Cable ties

  • Tape

Before the ride bike maintenance

To set yourself up for the best experience on a group ride, make sure you’re doing a quick bike maintenance check before you head out to the trails. 

• Check tire pressure - you can always start a little higher if you’re riding over to the trails but don’t forget to let some out before you get on the dirt.

• Bolt check - go over every bolt on your bike to make sure everything is tight and nothing has shook loose since you last sat on the bike.

• Suspension pressure check - make sure you have enough air in your fork. You can always add or remove some depending on where and what you’re riding. 

• Check your gears - do a quick pedal on your block and shift through all your gears to make sure everything is running smooth.

• Regular tune ups - depending on how often you’re riding, you might need to do a full service more often but we recommend having one done at least once a year.

Want to learn more about bike maintenance? We partner up with Steed Cycles to run maintenance workshops throughout the year so keep an eye on our events page to sign up for the next one! 

See you on the trails! 🚲