New riders often start out with the Slow Roll & Neighborhood Rides, as those are shorter in distance and at a more relaxed pace. You’ll want to pick a ride that has a distance that is within your range.

If you’ve already been riding and building up your fitness and endurance, you can look for a suitable ride in the Fitness and Touring Rides. Look at the ride description for a ride distance and pace that you are comfortable with. Let the Ride Leader know that you’re new to group riding when you arrive.

Both the Bike to the 500 and the NITE Ride are great for new bike riders. There’s even a 15 mile short route for the Hilly Hundred, although it is still quite hilly.

How to ride in a group – If you’re going to join a group ride that has a paceline or peloton, common for weekly rides, you will want to learn some basics first before just jumping in. Here’s another good video on Paceline Riding Etiquette.

Central Indiana Cycling members sign a waiver with their membership and they have access to excess medical insurance on official Central IN Cycling rides. We prefer that all riders attending a Central IN Cycling ride have a current membership, but allow for folks to attend a few times to make sure they enjoy the experience before joining.

Please do become a Member! Most folks join at the $35 / year level, and many others join at higher annual membership donation levels to support the organization’s mission, bike safety, and advocacy work. If you need it, there is low-income ‘Pay What You Can’ membership that is just $5/year.

If you are not a member, you will be asked to sign a waiver form for Central IN Cycling rides and the organization’s excess medical insurance will not apply to you.

If you’re going to join a group ride that has a paceline or peloton, common for weekly rides, you will want to learn some basics first. If it will be your first time riding in a group that has a paceline (AKA peloton), let the Ride Leader know that before the ride starts.

How to Ride in a Paceline

Paceline Riding Etiquette

Keep an eye out for Group Riding / Paceline Training Rides in 2026. We announce special training rides in the members-only emails.

On all Fitness & Training Rides bike helmets are required. These are fast rides, often with a paceline or close riding group. Just like any organized ride or race, these rides REQUIRE that you wear a bike helmet to participate.

On Slow Roll and Neighborhood Rides, bike helmets are strongly encouraged and over 95% of the riders will be wearing a bike helmet.

The NITE Ride, Ride Across Indiana, and the Hilly Hundred REQUIRE bike helmets for all riders.

Old or damaged bike helmets will not protect you in the case of a crash. Bike helmets should be replaced every five years, if you notice any cracks, or if the helmet has struck the ground or another object during a crash.

The best way to protect your head is to avoid a crash, but in many cases – especially when group riding or when you are vehicular cycling in traffic – many variables are not within your control.

Central Indiana Cycling believes that quality, pedal-assist e-bikes (Class 1, 2, & 3) are important for accessibility and including riders with different physical abilities. E-bikes function best on group rides when they are ridden pedal assist only, and the throttle (if available) is not used.

Low quality e-bikes (internet e-bikes, very low cost e-bikes) will have a lag or surge in their electric assist torque. Please do not bring a low quality e-bike to a group ride as they are dangerous for other riders.

Important Note – We do not allow e-mopeds, e-scooters, or e-motos to participate on Central IN Cycling rides. If your electric two-wheeled or three-wheeled vehicle has a throttle that can propel it faster than 20 mph without pedaling, it is not an e-bike.

Hilly Hundred e-Bike Guidelines – These are good guidelines for e-bikes on all Central IN Cycling rides.

Great question! Volunteers, ride marshals, and ride leaders are what keep the wheels turning.

Ride Leaders – The Ride Leaders make sure that all riders have signed a waiver and that they understand the route. The Ride Leader often sets the pace for the group, and assigns other riders to roles. If there are different pace groups for the ride, the Ride Leader defines those before the ride starts. If there are difficult intersections or special safety considerations for the ride, the Ride Leader communicates that to the group. The Ride Leader decides if the ride should be canceled or rescheduled due to severe or impending weather.

Ride Marshals / Sag Riders – Ride marshals take up a position at the tail end of the group to help keep the group together and handle minor mechanical issues. If the group gets split up, the ride marshal or sag rider will let the ride leader know. Sometimes a ride marshal may function as an assistant ride leader and lead a secondary group that is at a different pace than the Ride Leader group.

Other Ride Volunteers – Volunteers may help out at a refreshment stop or sign up to pick up riders that have had a mechanical issue. These volunteer roles show up in the signup form for Flagship Rides, or you may have a Ride Leader reach out directly to see if you can help with a volunteer role on a weekend supported ride.

Send an email to the Ride Committee Chair, if you want to learn more about becoming a Ride Leader or Assistant Ride Leader.

Ask the Ride Leader before a ride starts if they need a sag rider or ride marshal. If yes, they’ll probably share their cell phone number with you for any mid-ride updates from the back, or if someone is stopped due to a mechanical or other issue.