Rogue is a cycling group for veterans and current service members only. Most of us have fallen under various banners or clubs over the years which is encouraged and welcomed. Why not make a group for everyone? That is our mindset for Rogue. Have you served or are serving and like mountain biking? So do we, let’s go ride bikes! This group is a part of the Veteran Mountain Bike Alliance which is exactly what it says a veteran group of cyclists from all over the U.S. We are a mixed group of riders with various abilities so keep that in mind when attending rides. Some rides will be hard and have higher possibilities for wrecks while others will be tiered to help you develop your ability to ride. Attendance isn’t mandatory but we would like to see you at least a few times a year. We are using the idea of peer development. We are all in this together so we will help each other along the way. Whether that is advice on how to approach an obstacle, helping a fellow member fix their bike, and so on.  If you want to host a ride just reach out to one of our admins and we will post it on the page.

 

Rules: These are the rules while riding with Rogue.

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1. We are firm believers that Wheaton's Law applies to life and this organization. Treat others with respect and do not have an elitist attitude.

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2. All riders are required to wear a helmet while riding. It is highly advised to also have safety glasses, gloves, elbow, and knee pads.

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3. You must be riding on a trail-rated bike. This rule is for your own safety. Department store bikes are not trail-rated and will break apart riding single-track.  (If you're not sure if your bike is trail-rated, just ask!)

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4. All riders are responsible for arriving with their own recovery equipment: spare tube, pump, multi-tool, and master link.

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5. Ride within your ability. This group has many different levels of riders. Do not injure yourself trying to keep up with the best rider. Practice improving your skill then try the harder obstacles. We reserve the right to not allow a rider on certain rides due to the lack of rider ability as it is a safety concern.

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6. Bring a water source with you on every ride. Bring appropriate clothing for the weather we are riding in.

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7. If you bring a person to ride with the group, they are your responsibility.

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8. Do not be offended if you are called out for doing something wrong. We are here to grow as a group.

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9. No special treatment, this is not the group to cater to you because of any physical, mental, or ideological differences.  We embrace equality and encourage our riders to have the same mindset.  

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10. If you need any type of special equipment or guiding/coaching it is upon you to provide those services or items. We do not have the resources nor training to provide any of those things.

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11. Rogue's rules and laws follow the UCMJ as we are a military-based organization. If you can't do it in uniform you can't do it here.

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12. Rogue reserves the right to remove a member from the group for any given reason at any time.

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Ride Lead Rules

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1. When leading a ride, know the trail, this includes the effort that will be needed and the high-risk areas of the trail. Share this information with fellow riders so they can assess if they are ready for the ride.

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2. Be prepared for the worst-case scenario. Bring a first-aid kit and keep an eye on your riders. Make sure you have the tools and supplies to fix your bike in case of a trail breakdown. Know places on the ride where you can evacuate someone if needed, or places they can break off from the ride if they can't handle it.

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3. Appoint a Caboose (sweep/rear rider) to help keep track of everyone. Take a headcount and frequently check to see if you have all your riders. While leading the ride, you should be looking back every 10 seconds to make sure your group is not too far back.

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4. If someone shows up to a ride that can't handle it, be willing to explain to them why its not a good idea and why they shouldn’t make the ride. Safety is of utmost importance. This also includes a lack of safety equipment or a bike that is not trail-worthy.

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5. Put a ride plan on our site of the ride route so people can see it. This will help people understand the ride and if they want to attend. With our group having different tiers of riders, make it clear if this is an (A, B, or C) group ride and if the ride is a drop ride or no-drop. These details are extremely important as they will let people know what to expect and not create unneeded frustrations.

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6. When leading a ride, groups can get pretty spread out. If you're not seeing anyone for a few minutes after stopping you need to decrease your pace. You should never be over a half a click (.5 km) in front of your group unless it's an A group ride.

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7. When leading a ride make sure you stop at every intersection unless the entire group is fully aware of the route. This will help in not losing any riders. It will also give you the chance to check on everyone and make sure everyone is doing okay.

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8. When leading a route blind or (unknown to us) such as a new trail or different region. Make sure you research the trails you plan to use. Trail Forks and MTB Project have decent route descriptions and movies most of the time. If these are not available make sure you use a program like Google Maps and do a map reconnaissance of the route to give you an idea of what to expect. Make sure you let people know that you are unfamiliar with this area or route.

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9. To lead a ride you do not have to be the fastest, especially when climbing. But if you have people going ahead of you on the ride, have them stop at predetermined areas. A good example of this would be the top of the hill or the next intersection. These will be easy for the riders to understand and find.

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Legal Stuff: Remember mountain biking is an inherently dangerous sport. By participating you acknowledge and accept the risk and will not hold Rogue accountable for any injury or damage that might happen while on the ride. Rogue will claim no responsibility for damages to yourself, others, or equipment. We are a group of people who enjoy mountain bikes that ride at our own risk. By being a part of this group or participating in rides, you agree to these terms.