“Guided rides” are set up by the qualified leaders( they used be known as Ride Locals under Sky), “Ride Socials” are for anyone to set up. The definition has become blurred somewhat, and confused. The difference is in the insurance liability for HSBC. A ‘level one’ guided ride ride leader is insured to take up to 8 riders, up to 40 miles, and the riders don’t have to have any liability insurance of their own. A ‘level 2’ guided ride leader can lead a group of 8 riders up to 100 miles ( a “challenge 40+“ ride ). Now here’s where it gets completely stupid. A ‘level 1’ leader can take as many riders as they like, as far as they like, if they set it up as a ‘ride social’. If the riders are B.C. ( or CTC etc. ) members, there is no difference in the ride, ( bar the fact that the creator doesn’t have to be first aid qualified) from a ‘Guided Ride’, other than you don’t have to be a ‘Ride Leader’ to set one up, if the ‘Ride Social creator’ is first aid qualified, there is absolutely no difference at all. The whole “I’M A LEVEL 2 RIDE LEADER DAMN IT, LEVEL 2 I TELL YOU” ( and there are plenty of shouty types who are like this, on the programme) thing, is completely irrelevant ( as long as the riders are members of one of the bodies that provides cover). HSBC really have made a massive pigs ear of the whole thing, in my opinion.
