ROAD CAPTAIN – In each group ride there will be many road captains, and they will typically be wearing brightly colored vests so as to be easily identified as such. Road Captains help to get the group to where they need to go and get there in the safest manner possible.
The bigger the group ride, the more sub-groups there will be so that each sub-group will have a higher chance of staying together with those who know (the road captains) where the group is going and the route being taken to get there. Each sub-group is likely to have a Road Captain in the following positions:
LEADER – The Road Captain at the front of the group/sub-group carries the main responsibility of getting the group/sub-group to the destination. They will initiate hand signals indicating turns, pace changes, or formation changes. As you see these signals and it is safe for you to do so, please follow the instructions indicated by the signal and then pass the signal along to those behind you.
MID-PACK – The Road Captain in the middle of the group/sub-group helps to provide continuity from the front to the back. This Road Captain can also move to a lead or sweep position should the original group/sub-group become split, or should the sweep rider need to stop to assist a rider who needs help.
SWEEP – The Road Captain in the back of the group/sub-group is typically the last rider in the group and watches the formation. He or she serves as the “eyes in the back of the Road Captain’s head” and informs the Road Captain of any potential problems within the group or of hazardous conditions approaching from the rear, such as vehicles trying to cut into the formation.
Also known as: Tail Gunner
Sweep riders will stop to assist a rider who needs help. NOTE: In these cases the group/sub-group riders should continue on, and another road captain will take-up the sweep position when it is safe to do so.
The sweep rider will also sometimes “capture a lane” for the group by moving into another lane before the leader has done so. This allows for the rest of the group to be able to move other without other vehicles getting in the way.
When a sweep rider captures a lane, WAIT UNTIL THE LEADER signals the move to the captured lane to move over to that lane yourself. If riders start moving over when the sweep rider does, the leader will not know if the movement is because the lane has truly been captured and is thus safe or if the riders belong to another group and thus should be allowed to pass.
