Sometimes. It depends on the ride and the ride leader.

Bike helmets are strongly encouraged, even on rides where they are not required. You’ll find that 90% to 95% of riders will be wearing a helmet even on a slow roll that sticks to multiuse trails.

You may be an expert rider, but the person next to you might not be. Multiuse trail and rail trail rides cross intersections and roads. You can’t control whether a motor vehicle driver is distracted or otherwise impaired.

Bike helmets should be no older than 5 years old (the foam and plastic degrade) and shouldn’t have cracks or impact damage. If your bike helmet has been involved in a crash where it hit the ground, that helmet should be replaced. Many bike shops carry helmet brands with a crash replacement discount.

Why are bike helmets important? – “According to research by the National Institutes of Health, helmet use reduces the chances of a head injury by 48%, serious head injury by 60%, traumatic brain injury by 53%, face injury by 23%, and the total number of killed or seriously injured cyclists by 34%.”

Do you need a helmet, but can’t afford one? – We can get you a free bike helmet. Just let us know and we’ll work with the ride leader to get you a free bike helmet.

Existing or new rides can be submitted for consideration using the Ride Submission Form.

A ride can be submitted as a ‘Partner Ride’ if it organized by another group or ride club in Indy or the Central Indiana region.

If at least one of the ride leaders is a Member (with ride leader training or experience), the ride can be submitted to be considered as a Central Indiana Cycling ride.

There are a couple of paths to becoming a Ride Leader. The group riding experience, bike handling skills, interpersonal skills, and leadership of a ride leader keeps those riding with them safe and builds the collective skills of the group in keeping each other safe while having fun.

1. Apprentice Path – Sign up to volunteer as a ride marshal or sag rider on existing rides and flagship rides, and graduate with experience to co-leading rides. Ride leaders sometimes need a substitute ride leader if they are traveling or out of town, and that is an opportunity to practice being a ride leader with a ride and group that you are familiar with. Once you have gained experience, you can ask a Ride Leader to recommend you as a new ride leader for your own slow roll or neighborhood ride. Learn more about volunteer opportunities here.
2. Cycling Skill Classes and the Ride Leader Training – This is the accelerated path to becoming a ride leader. You’ll need to complete at least one bicycle training basic course and participate in a ride leader training session. There will be one successful ride-along or co-led ride required after training, and then you’ll be ready to be a Central Indiana Cycling ride leader. Check out the Education Page.
3. Combine Apprenticeship and Training Paths – You can mix and match. Perhaps you already have ride marshal experience, but you still want to take the ride leader training. That works!

2026 Ride Leader Training – Saturday, March 14th. Stay tuned for details. Ride Leader Training is free for Central Indiana Cycling members.

Non-members can join Central Indiana Cycling neighborhood rides and slow rolls, but they are not covered by the organization’s excess medical insurance for Members. Non-Members must Sign This Waiver

Non-members are encouraged to join Central Indiana Cycling, to support the planning, communications, ride leader training, website and Ride With GPS costs, and ride leader expense reimbursements. These costs are all covered by membership donations.

Members also have access to the Ride With GPS routes and turn-by-turn navigation linked to many of the organization’s rides. Knowing where you are going is important, and we don’t want you to miss a turn because you didn’t renew your membership.

Note – The Flagship Rides have separate insurance for all registered riders and volunteers. That said, some of the Flagship Rides have members-only discounts.

You can submit your ride for consideration to be added to the calendar. Here’s the process:

• The ride needs to be in Central Indiana.
• There needs to be a designated ride leader, and there can be a co-leader, assistant, or bike marshal as a second contact.
• Check to make sure the ride doesn’t conflict with an existing nearby neighborhood ride.
• You provide a link or contact that interested riders can use to stay up to date with ride announcements and weather cancelations.
• Submit the Ride Application Form

A ride will be considered a Partner Ride, unless it qualifies to be one of the organization’s Central Indiana Cycling rides. The following requirements need to be met to be one of our rides:

• At least one of the Ride Leaders must be a current Central Indiana Cycling member
• The Ride Leader must be approved by Central Indiana Cycling as having adequate experience, or having successfully completed ride leader training.
• The Ride Leader commits to getting participating riders to sign the Ride Liability Waiver. Riders need to sign this at least once during that calendar year.
• The ride doesn’t conflict with an existing ride in a nearby ride in that community on that day.

Partner Rides are not organized or planned by Central Indiana Cycling. We list these rides for informational purposes. If you have questions about a Partner Ride, you will need to reach out to the ride organizer or organization.

The information about ride leader qualifications, insurance, weather policy, etc. would need to be answered by the ride’s organizer.