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Riding in convoy and stopping on the road to allow riders to regroup are two practices that

should be avoided when riding in a group and a well-established method exists that makes

both unnecessary. This is the leader and tail-end rider system.

The basis of the system is that the leader (usually the ride organiser) stays at the front of the

group and the tail-end rider remains at the rear as the names suggest. 

Whenever there is a deviation from the obvious straight-ahead route, the rider travelling

behind the leader pulls over in a visible, safe and legal position to point all bikes in the correct

direction. This bike is called the marker and when the tail-end rider comes along the marker

re-joins the route in front of the tail-end rider. As the journey continues each rider will, in

turn, become the rider behind the leader, and therefore become a marker before re-joining in

front of the tail-end rider.

By following this basic system every rider, regardless of ability, within the group may ride their

own ride, without the need to maintain a pace they are not comfortable with and without the

risk of getting lost.

There is never a need to ride in convoy with all bikes in sight of each other.

The Group Organised Rides manual attached below contains useful additional information.