Rides usually start at Bike Lab by Neutral Cycle (624 S 5th St., Champaign, IL 61820) and generally follow a route from our route repository. Feel free to coordinate rides with other members in our Discord!

Group Ride Rules & Guidelines

1. You MUST have a helmet and brakes.
2. Plan ahead. Pack lights, food, water/sports drink, and a flat tire kit. As the days get shorter, it might get closer to dusk when we get back. On faster rides, you should know how to get home if you get dropped.
3. By default, we ride in a double paceline. This typically involves pulling (being in the front) for around one mile, then peeling off to the side and rejoining the group at the back. If you are not feeling strong enough to pull, then hang in the back and let riders coming off the front rejoin in front of you.
4. Call and point out obstacles such as potholes, gravel, trash, pedestrians (especially those at the front—the riders behind you can’t necessarily see what you can see).
5. If you’re at the casual or fitness development ride and it is too slow for you, don’t try to show off or speed the group up. Just treat it as a recovery and hammer on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, or solo.
6. The group should avoid splitting up through stop signs, traffic lights, and corners, instead staying together as a single unit. If you take a good line through a turn, slow down for a few seconds to let the group catch up. If not everybody will be able to make it through a traffic light, don’t cross until everyone can continue as a group (i.e., don’t split up the group). This rule does NOT apply after the turnaround point on drop rides (but please be safe, especially through intersections, and be wary of dust and chipseal on the county roads when cornering).
7. ​Be kind to others. We are a diverse group of riders with different fitness levels and goals. Encouraging each other is good, but please avoid negative comments, backhanded compliments, unsolicited advice, trash talk, etc. Everyone should feel welcome at our group rides.

Ride Types:

• Non-drop

No rider will be left behind in a non-drop ride. The group will adjust the pace to the slowest rider as necessary. Come prepared to fix your bike in the event of a mechanical or flat tire, but group ride members will assist if needed. This is a great place to start for beginners and those new to cycling!

• Soft-drop

A soft-drop ride often features two pace groups: one faster and one slower. Those that are dropped from the faster pace group can be swept by the slower group. There will not be attacks or sprints. The group aims to remain a unit, but you may be dropped.

• Drop

A drop ride is often a faster, more competitive-focused, ride. Riders are expected to be fully independent and may be dropped if they cannot hold the pace or experience a mechanical issue. There may be attacks or sprints.