A good group ride feels effortless. Nobody gets lost, nobody rides beyond their ability, and the café stop happens with everyone in the car park at the same time. That doesn't happen by accident — it's the lead and sweep doing their jobs well.
Before you set off: the briefing
Keep it to five minutes, but never skip it. Everyone should know:
- Who is leading and who is sweeping.
- The route, the planned stops and roughly how long between them.
- The fuel plan — who needs fuel first sets the pace for everyone.
- What to do if you get separated: stay on the planned route and head for the next stop.
- Hand signals your group uses for hazards and stopping.
The lead's job
The lead sets a pace the least experienced rider is comfortable with — not the fastest. Their job is to make good decisions early: clear signals, smooth lines and no last-second junction calls.
- Check mirrors often and ease off when the group stretches.
- Pull over somewhere safe if the group is badly split.
- Don't overtake in a way the rest of the group can't follow safely.
The sweep's job
Sweep is usually the most experienced rider. They ride at the back, never overtake the group, and stop to help anyone who has pulled over. Historically sweep only knew someone was missing when they caught up with nobody. With shared live positions in Tarmac, sweep can see exactly who is behind and where.
Spacing and formation
Staggered formation works on straight, wide roads, but on twisty B-roads single file with a two-second gap gives everyone the whole lane to pick a line. Never ride side by side through bends.
Junctions and the drop-off system
Many UK clubs use the second-man drop-off: at each turn, the rider behind the lead stops to mark the junction until sweep appears. It works, but it relies on people stopping safely. A shared route on every rider's screen means drop-offs become a back-up rather than the only thing keeping the group together.
Regroup stops
Plan stops every 45–75 minutes. Add them as proper stop points so navigation brings everyone to the same place, not just the same village.