As part of our ongoing commitment to delivering high quality training opportunities in a safe and effective way we are sharing our updated policy regarding group rides and rules of the road.    Please take a moment to read this thoroughly.  If you have any questions please direct them to our Training Director at Training@Torontotriathlonclub.org  

• All club members who wish to go on a group ride organized by the club must register on the website before the event is to take place.
• Along with registering for the event before attending, all members will be required to check in with the group leader/coach who is leading the ride prior to the ride starting. 
• If you decide to shorten or lengthen the ride from what is planned by the Coach/Group Leader then you must check in with the leader when you leave the group.
• The Coach/Group Leader is there for you safety and support. They are responsible for ensuring the ride is safe and successful. As such if there are any encounters with other groups, motorists, or enforcement officers let the leader speak on behalf of the club. If the leader misses the incident please email to training@torontotriathlonclub.org – include the type of car, license plate (if available), intersection, approximate time, and a brief description of what happened. Remember – no matter what happens NO yelling at anyone, it will only make the situation worse and then you are also in the wrong too.
• Accidents happen – if you are involved in one, or witness one please get the attention of the ride leader. Try to stay calm and remember that help is on the way and all of our coaches and group leaders are first aiders.
• Remember to listen to the ride leaders at the departure location for important information relating to the ride and any special instructions for that day.
• Carry your Ontario Health Card, ID or ROAD ID on you at all times.  It is highly recommended to bring a cell phone in case of emergency as well as cash or a credit card.
• All riders must carry their own bike repair kit consisting of: spare tube, tire leavers, hand pump or C02 + valve adapter.
• Dress for the weather and ride according to the road conditions.  Don't forget your hydration and nutrition.

All riders must adhere to the following rules of the road when riding with the TTC:

As cyclists, we are subject to the very same provincial and local laws that govern motorized vehicles. That, of course, includes all traffic signal and stop signs. We have received complaints from both our own members and those outside the club of cyclists wearing TTC gear ignoring red lights and stop signs. This practice is dangerous – not only for the offending rider but also for other users of the road – and reflects poorly on the Toronto Triathlon Club and cyclists in general. It should not be tolerated. We call on you, our members, to call out cyclists disobeying traffic laws especially those wearing our kit. It is our collective responsibility to end this practice.

1.    Drafting in aero bars

The TTC does not allow the practice of drafting while in aero bars at any time. This practice is not safe for roads open to vehicular traffic and sometimes unpredictable surface conditions.  Remember that when you’re in aero bars, you cannot immediately reach your breaks or take precise evasive action should it be necessary. If the rider in front of you performs an unexpected maneuver, you can easily end up crashing, injuring not only yourself, but anyone drafting behind you. It’s not safe, so don’t do it. If you wish to ride in aero, do so at the front of a pace line, or keep at least 5m of space between you and the next rider up.  

A- Typically we do not draft in triathlon.  However, there will be age group sprint draft legal races this year.  Note this drafting DOES NOT occur in aero position.  If you do wish to practice your draft skills this should be done on road bikes only, without clip on aero bars and practiced in safe controlled conditions in small groups. 

2.     Pointing out road hazards

We encourage members to learn and memorize the common hand signals used to point out obstructions and hazards on the road: potholes, dead animals, parked cars, surprise curbs, sewer grates, etc. We will go over these signals at the start of each ride, but it is your responsibility as participants in group cycling to know them, use them, and act on them.

3.    Riding two-up or side-by-side

While the law in Ontario does not prohibit cyclists from riding side by side when safe to do so, we must all be considerate of other vehicles and fellow cyclists. Just like we expect motorists to share the road with us, so too must we share it with them. It is therefore very important to be vigilant of vehicles approaching from behind and to shout ‘car back’ as soon as one is seen or heard. Upon hearing that warning, any riders not in the paceline should take action to fall in line.   If you are riding two-up or side-by-side, no half-wheeling or overlapping wheels.  It presents an extreme risk as you will be positioned within the front rider’s blind spot and any sideways movement or braking by that rider could result in wheels clipping and a fall involving any number of riders.