1. Someone always carries an adequately stocked Med-Kit.  This is critical.


Dog bite!

2. Trail election methods. 
    a. A simple vote will be posed, i.e., this trail or that trail or clockwise/counterclockwise.
    b. Arguments will be presented (very brief, very logical).
    c. A vote of those present will be taken.
    d. Majority rules.
    e. In case of tie, a simple game of rock/paper/scissors will handle the election.
    f. There is no appealing the vote.
    g. There will be no whining or grumbling after the voting process is complete as such will be viewed as a direct attack against the American way that we hold so dear.
    h. We ride off in the winning direction with smiles and happiness.
    i. This whole process can happen at the beginning of the ride as to abdicate the need for any deliberation when all of the blood is in our legs, not our heads.


Which way do we go?

3. Make sure you carry adequate water for the ride and that you drink it.


Water filters can save your life!

4. Make sure you carry adequate food/sustenance with you and you consume it.


Enjoying a good meal on the trail.

5. If you feel horrible, i.e. like you are going to bonk, let the group know.  Heat exhaustion is easier to prevent than to cure.  And the group will take you seriously.
    a. We will stop.
    b. We will listen and help assess the situation
    c. We will not do anything to make the situation worse.
    d. We will not "peer-pressure" the hurt party into continuing despite their affliction. 


The dreaded cramp!

6. Do not cry wolf.  I’m sure that if we keep our attitudes up, then not only will we take each other seriously when we are actually in pain but the ride will go much smoother because we’ll be able to capitalize on the endorphins our bodies are making.
7. If someone needs to take a pit stop…we stop and wait.

8. We will not separate from each others view unless the trail is well known and the path has been pre-elected (i.e. Mt.Falcon) or we separate into groups that ride at different speeds.  When separating into groups, we will still wait for each other at major junctions-even though the path has been pre-determined.  Ideally, everyone should carry a talkabout to help reduce risk of separation.


Sometimes the trail junctions are a real mess…

9. Take an honest inventory of your health and skill.  Assess whether you are mentally and physically fit for certain rides.  We were all rookies at one point.  Master many small rides before you tackle an epic.  Let your peers be the judge on whether you are ready.  Train hard, eat healthy, rest, repeat…


Know your limits!

10. Common sense always applies!
 
Hopefully, these rules will help us maintain a healthy training schedule and atmosphere as we begin to increase our biking distances.