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Ride Info

 
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT OUR RIDES:

NFBC offers many opportunities for both on and off-road cycling. We organize about 25+ rides a week with a variety of distances and paces which are listed on our Events Calendar. All rides count for club mileage (towards Annual Awards)  unless otherwise noted.

Except for our yearly signature ride, Endless Summer Watermelon Ride, our rides are free for members. We welcome non-members to join our rides to try us out for up to three rides. We hope they enjoy the experience and become members.

Our club rules for riders are pretty straightforward. Arrive early enough to set up your bike, listen to the mandatory safety briefing given 5 minutes before the ride. Our rides leave on time and don’t wait for last minute arrivals.

As a participant on one our rides you will be expected to adhere to the following:

· IN CASE OF SIGNIFICANT INJURY, ATTEND TO DOWNED RIDER AND CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY.

· HELMETS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL RIDERS.
· BICYCLES MUST HAVE BRAKES IN GOOD WORKING CONDITION.
· RIDE PREDICTABLY AND COMMUNICATE YOUR INTENTIONS.
· CALL OUT HAZARDS AND DANGERS TO OTHER CYCLISTS.
· PASS OTHER CYCLISTS ON THE LEFT AND CALL OUT “ON YOUR LEFT.”
· OBEY ALL TRAFFIC SIGNALS INCLUDING STOPS SIGNS AND RED LIGHTS.
· SIGNAL TURNS AND STOPS WITH FLORIDA-APPROVED HAND SIGNALS.
· DO NOT OVERLAP WHEELS (KEEP FEET BETWEEN BIKES, NOT INCHES).
· NO EARBUDS, HEADPHONES OR USING PHONES WHILE CYCLING..
· DO NOT USE AEROBARS WHILE RIDING IN A PACELINE.


If participating in a pace line, riders are expected to follow our Paceline Etiquette practices.

E-bikes are welcome on our rides. See our E-Bike Policy.

Anyone riding on a NFBC sponsored ride must register on-line including agreeing to the Waiver of
Liability 
 
Waiver of Liability – NO EXCEPTIONS! 

A minor must have parental or legal guardian permission to participate in an NFBC sponsored ride. The parent or guardian must accompany minors age 17 or below on the ride. A separate Minor Waiver of Liabilityis provided for this purpose, and must be signed and presented to the ride leader before the start of the ride – NO EXCEPTIONS! 

Any rider refusing to sign the wavier may not participate in an NFBC ride.

FYI: Our Photograph and Video Disclaimer

RIDE DESIGNATIONS:

C, B, B+, A, A+, A++, and S designate the intensity of the ride and suggest a typical pace the group will maintain on level roads with no wind. Rides often split off into several subgroups depending upon the pace.

C = up to 14 mph, B = 14-17 mph, B+ =  17-19 mph, A = 18-21 mph, A+ = 21-23 mph, A++ = 23 minimum with no maximum mph

S = Social Ride. The emphasis is on the social aspect of the club, they are no-drop rides and the pace will be determined by the group at the start of the ride.

If you are new to NFBC rides, we suggest that you start with a pace and distance less than you think you can maintain. You can always move up to a faster pace and/or longer distance on your next ride.

RIDE NOTICES:

Blast emails to members are generally sent out for the Sunday Club-wide rides and special event rides. To make sure you receive emails about the rides, log in to your NFBC account, go Profile> Personal Info>Contact info and check that your email address is listed correctly and that the box is checked, allowing you to receive Club emails.

Last minute changes to rides such as cancellation or delay for weather will be posted by the ride leaders on the Last Minute Ride Updates Forum

To join the Last Minute Ride Change Notification Forum:

• Log on to the web site and click Profile.

• Under Personal Info, Click on Contact Info. At the bottom, under Other Contacts, ensure that your email address is correct.
Click save if changes were made, or cancel if none were made.

• Under Forums, click on Forum General Preferences.
Under Message Delivery, ensure that there is a check mark beside Send Email.
Click save if changes were made, or cancel, if none were made.

• Under Forums, click on Forum Memberships.
Click on Join on the Last Minute Ride Schedule Changes line.
Message Delivery should switch to Send Immediate Emails and it will list your email address.

GENERAL RIDE POLICIES

NFBC rides are group rides and drop rides are strongly discouraged. It is the policy of NFBC that no one rides alone. No route/distance will be considered an official Club ride if it is begun by a solo rider. Should a rider drop back from the group, the Ride Leader should consider safety a major criterion and make an effort to prevent a rider from completing the ride alone.

Rides will have a

  • Fixed start time
  • Fixed start location unless announced via Club social media (Club email or Facebook). Any last minute change in start location or time due to weather, etc. will be announced via Last Minute Ride Schedule Changes Forum by Ride Leader.
  • Fixed distance(s) and route(s). No open-ended distance rides allowed. Ride leader may specify an alternate route/distance on the day of the ride if alternate previously approved by Ride Director and/or posted on website in Ride maps. Ride Leader should obtain general consensus of riders before altering a previously announced route/distance.
  • Specified pace groups. In so far as possible, it is the responsibility of the Ride Leader to insure that all advertised pace groups are available on the day of the ride.
  • Ride Leaders may appoint Assistant Ride Leaders for various pace groups. If so appointed, the Assistant Ride Leaders should be credited as an additional Ride Leader.


Saturday 9:00 AM A/B 35-48 miles & A/B/C/S 17-29 miles on 3rd Saturday of month

St. Augustine. Meet at Publix parking lot in Vilano Beach. Cyclists of all abilities are welcome with a guaranteed 35 mile B pace ride as well as a 48 mile option. On 3rd Saturday of month ride starts at St. Augustine-Palatka Trail on Vermont Blvd. 1/2 mile NW of FL207. Ride the Trail for 17 miles or do a 29 mile loop. No one who joins the ride will be dropped. Ride Leaders: Mark Atkins 904-217-4399 cell 973-219-1092 and Penni Crews 501-5037.THIS RIDE COUNTS FOR CLUB POINTS AND MILEAGE.

Saturday 9:00 AM A/B 35-48 miles & A/B/C/S 17-29 miles on 3rd Saturday of month

St. Augustine. Meet at Publix parking lot in Vilano Beach. Cyclists of all abilities are welcome with a guaranteed 35 mile B pace ride as well as a 48 mile option. On 3rd Saturday of month ride starts at St. Augustine-Palatka Trail on Vermont Blvd. 1/2 mile NW of FL207. Ride the Trail for 17 miles or do a 29 mile loop. No one who joins the ride will be dropped. Ride Leaders: Mark Atkins 904-217-4399 cell 973-219-1092 and Penni Crews 501-5037.THIS RIDE COUNTS FOR CLUB POINTS AND MILEAGE.

Monday 6:00PM Bicycle Etc. NO DROP RIDE  Starts March 10, 2014
Their famous "no drop" ride, capped at 18mph. Starts at Bicycle Etc. Phillips Hwy. location at 8036 Phillips Highway #8, Jacksonville, FL 32256. Good ride for the new rider, or those wanting a recovery ride. Contact Bicycle Etc. for more information 904-733-9030