Rider Safety Information
Bicycling can be a dangerous activity. The Crest Crank bicycle event, hosted by the Alliance Against Domestic Abuse (dab The Alliance) has developed the following Risk Management Plan to document how we manage the event to reduce risks associated with bicycling activities. These policies apply to participants, volunteers and others involved in the Crest Crank. All participants share the responsibility for making the Crest Crank bicycling event as safe as possible.
All Crest Crank participants must sign - physically or electronically via online registration – a participation waiver. Participation will not be allowed if a cyclist has not signed a waiver.
Insurance
Participants should have personal medical insurance and carry their insurance information with them at all times during the Crest Crank event. Crest Crank/AADA organization carries general liability insurance to indemnify event organizers, but this is not personal injury or medical insurance for participants.
Standards of Care and Communications
Crest Crank participants and all associated volunteers shall follow the directions of city officials, county officials, police officers, sheriff's deputies, state patrol, US Forest Service, or other emergency personnel (e.g. fire, ambulance).
In the case of a medical emergency, participants should call 911. Although trained medical personnel will be monitoring the course and providing assistance as needed, participants should not solely rely on these resources for medical assistance.
General
All participants must wear a certified bicycling helmet whenever they are on a bicycle as part of Crest Crank. Failure to wear a helmet is grounds for being removed from the course.
For 2023: all participants may need a mask or other face covering that may need to be used when they are within enclosed spaces (shuttles), and when they are within 6 feet of other riders, other trail users and/or medical personnel/volunteers. Specific guidance will be provided the week before the ride based on Chaffee COunty Public Health guidance. Any individual who has registered for the event but is feeling sick or has a fever will NOT participate in the event.
All participants are responsible for having adequate equipment to complete their chosen course safely. All participants are responsible for ensuring that their bicycle is in good working order before beginning the ride. Aid Stations and Safety Riders will be available throughout the ride to provide assistance.
Any participant should immediately advise a volunteer Safety Rider if he or she feels a group or individual are riding in an unsafe manner. The participant should withdraw from the event if he or she feels unsafe.
Each participant shall conduct himself or herself in a responsible and safe manner, and retains liability for his or her own actions.
All volunteers driving a vehicle shall maintain insurance in accordance with State of Colorado law and wear seat belts at all times.
Volunteers shall not use cell phones for conversations or texts while driving. If cell phone use is necessary, the driver must pull off the road and stop the vehicle for the duration of the conversation.
Participants shall not use cell phones for conversations or texts while riding. If cell phone use is necessary, the participant must pull off the trail/course and stop riding for the duration of the conversation.
Cyclist Responsibility
Crest Crank provides information to all participants about cycling safety via the Crest Crank website and the registration confirmation email.
Crest Crank participants will be provided with a rider bib with a number, and are required to wear the bib during the ride. Crest Crank strongly encourages participants to write emergency contact information on their bib. Crest Crank ride coordinator and Aid Station medical volunteer will have a list of participants with bib numbers and emergency contact information.
Crest Crank recommends that participants carry cell phones, while recognizing that cell phone service may not be available at all areas along the ride routes. In the event of an emergency, participants should immediately call 911. Riders should also contact a Safety Rider on the course.
Route maps will be made available to all participants. Crest Crank strongly encourages participants to bring the route map with them on the course.
The course uses US Forest Service land, and includes some portions on private property. Participants should respect public and private lands by staying on the trail and must obey Colorado traffic laws. Participants should yield to other trail users, including hikers and horseback riders on the trail. Participants should also be mindful of motorcycle riders and other mountain bikers on the trail.
All routes are marked and explanation of these markings will be provided prior to ride start.
Volunteers may be present at some intersections. Participants should proactively look for route markings at all intersections.
Crest Crank reserves the right to stop the ride in the case of hazardous weather or other environmental conditions and require participants to leave the course. Participants will be notified via a Safety Rider if this situation arises.
Crest Crank reserves the right to pull a participant from the course who a volunteer determines to be at risk for injury.
