OUTREACH RIDES

  OVERNIGHT TRIPS (LOCAL- MN, WI, ND, SD and IA)

 OVERNIGHT TRIPS (OUT OF AREA)

OUTREACH RIDES

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One of the continuing TCBC Board Focus Items is Outreach. Outreach can take many forms, one of which is supporting rides of other bicycling clubs and organizations in Minnesota and the surrounding states through TCBC members’ attendance. As the largest recreational bicycling club in Minnesota, TCBC can make a difference in the success of some of the smaller events if we encourage our members to attend. In addition, TCBC becomes more visible in the greater bicycling community by attending other events (especially if we wear our TCBC jerseys), thus creating positive awareness of our club and goodwill in the biking community while, at the same time, introducing club members to potentially new riding opportunities.

Outreach rides are “event” rides such as TOL, Tour of Saints, Superior Vista, TOMRV, Horribly Hilly Hundred, Jesse James, etc. in which TCBC members receive mileage credit for attending. This concept is not without precedent, as TCBC already gives mileage credit for the Ironman and St. Paul Classic rides.

In order for the ride to qualify as an Outreach ride, the following criteria must be met:

1. A TCBC Ride Leader must act as the Ride Leader and perform all the normal Ride Leader duties associated with the ride (i.e. submit the ride to the schedule, answer questions, hold a ride briefing, sign members in, etc. (basically the same tasks as for a “normal” TCBC ride, minus making the map.)

2. Ride must be an “event” ride of 1 or 2 days (no weeklong tours, or portions thereof, will qualify).

3. Ride must be in MN or a bordering state (WI, ND, SD, & IA).

4. Ride must be available to all members. Rides that have a restricted registration, such as, but not limited to, open to a particular group (women only, for example), require participation in a registration lottery, or have a very short registration period (i.e. less than 24 hours) do not meet criteria and will not be considered for outreach rides.

5. Ride must not be a ‘pledge’ type of fundraiser ride.

6. Riders must be registered for the official ride; please note that TCBC insurance does not cover Outreach rides.

7. All Outreach Rides need to be posted in the electronic schedule on the TCBC website 30 days prior to the earlier of the event date or the closing of registration for the ride.

8. Ride needs to follow all other guidelines as for regular (non-outreach) rides (i.e. leader must hold a ride briefing at a set published time, riders must sign in and attend leader briefing in order to get credit for the ride, etc.)

9. Ride must not conflict with TCBC’s Watermelon or WOW rides or other dates that may be blacked out by the club.

10. Ride must be approved by the Outreach Ride Committee prior to being posted in the electronic schedule.

So now that we have explained what an Outreach Ride is, and what the criteria would be to schedule this type of ride, here’s how to schedule this ride:

Only current active TCBC Ride Leaders can schedule Outreach Rides.

First, make sure that the ride meets the all of the criteria previously mentioned. Then write up the ride description as you would normally write up any other TCBC Ride, but do include on the tag line, “OUTREACH RIDE”. (Example: 4 SAT OUTREACH RIDE: TOUR OF LAKES 41 OR 70 MILES continue on with ride description).

Outreach rides will be non-category (i.e. they will not be listed as A, A/B, B, etc.) rides as they are supported by the Event organizer.

The Ride Leader can ride wherever they choose and can indicate in the ride description if they plan to ride at a certain pace.

Submit your Outreach Ride(s) proposal(s) via email to the Outreach Ride Committee - Outreach@bikeTCBC.org. The members are Karen May (karenmay5291@earthlink.net) , Richard Franco ( phoenixfyre1313@comcast.net ), and Pete Hawkins (pmh706@gmail.com ). When 2 of the 3 committee members reply to you and the Ride Scheduler with approval:

1. Post to the electronic ride schedule on the TCBC web site via the regular ride submission process on the 'Leader Resources' page at least 30 days before the earlier of the ride date or the registration deadline for the ride. If possible, post the ride before the deadline for the prior month’s newsletter (deadlines are published in the “Leader Resources & Documents” section of the TCBC web site).

2. Submission of an article for the newsletter is strongly encouraged. To submit an article, email it to news@biketcbc.org.

3. Post to the “Outreach Rides" pages of the website by emailing your description to webmaster@biketcbc.org.

 

Ride approval is subject to reasonable interpretation of these polices. TCBC has the right to reject rides for mileage credit that meet the letter but not the spirit of our policies.

 

OVERNIGHT TRIPS (LOCAL- MN, WI, ND, SD and IA)

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1. An “overnight trip” is one having at least two consecutive days of rides and one or more overnights. All of the guidelines and risk management policies that apply to day rides apply to overnight trips.

2. All overnight trips starting in MN, WI, ND, SD and IA must be posted on the electronic ride schedule via the regular ride submission process on the “Leader Resources” page at least 30 days prior to the trip so that all club members will have equal access to participating. If possible, post the trip before the deadline for the prior month’s newsletter (deadlines are published in the “Overnight Trips” section of the TCBC web site).

3. Submission of an article for the newsletter is strongly encouraged. To submit an article, email it to news@biketcbc.org.

4. Post to the “Overnight Trips” page of the website by emailing your description to webmaster@biketcbc.org.

Other considerations that apply to overnight trips are as follows:

• An overnight trip leader, at his/her discretion, may request and use trip fees from each rider to pay for his/her trip expenses (including but not limited to: travel costs, lodging, mileage to map rides, and printing). A deposit/refund policy shall be included in any trip promotion material and in any registration forms utilized. An overnight trip leader may take advantage of free perks offered by service providers.

• The financial risk of an overnight trip is assumed by the leader unless prior arrangements have been made with the TCBC Board of Directors.

• An overnight trip leader should obtain a deposit from participants sufficient to cover non-refundable expenses.

• When estimating overnight trip costs, consider adding an additional 10% or so to cover unforeseen expenditures. It is much better to give participants a refund after the trip than to ask for additional moneys.

• An overnight trip leader has the option of requiring participants of overnight trips to be TCBC members. This would ensure that all participants would be covered in the U.S. by the Club’s medical and liability insurance. If TCBC membership is not required, then non-members must sign a Non-member Waiver and complete the Ride Report at every ride and will only have medical and liability insurance on their very first ride with TCBC.

• An overnight trip leader should require all participants to submit a TCBC Emergency Contact Form (available under Leader Documents on the TCBC website) per instructions on the form before the trip.

• Good promotion will ensure good participation. An overnight trip leader will need to put more effort into promotion than a day ride leader. Leaders are encouraged to submit articles to the “TCBC News,” post a notice on our website, distribute flyers at other events and in bike shops, and make announcements on rides and at other events.

• Networking with established TCBC overnight trip leaders is an excellent way to learn the do’s and don’ts of leading an overnight trip.

Ride approval is subject to reasonable interpretation of these polices. TCBC has the right to reject rides for mileage credit that meet the letter but not the spirit of our policies.

 

OVERNIGHT TRIPS (OUT OF AREA)

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1. An “Out of Area Ride” is a TCBC ride that starts outside of MN and bordering states (WI, ND, SD and IA).

2. For an out of area ride to qualify as a TCBC ride, it must meet all of the requirements for an overnight trip outlined above, including the requirement that the leader must offer a minimum of two consecutive days of rides.

3. In addition, the rides must be posted in the electronic schedule on the TCBC website at least 45 days prior to the date the rides are offered.

Ride approval is subject to reasonable interpretation of these polices. TCBC has the right to reject rides for mileage credit that meet the letter but not the spirit of our policies.