Cycling Off Road - Free Risk Assessment Template PDF
This free Cycling Off Road risk assessment template is designed for youth group settings. It outlines typical hazards and suggests control measures, helping you tailor the document to your organization. Use it as a starting point, customise in our online wizard and download a professional PDF in moments.
Activity Summary
Participants will cycle along designated off-road trails under supervision. The session will include instruction on bike handling, safety checks, and group riding skills, with routes chosen to match the group’s ability and experience.
Purpose of Activity
To give participants the opportunity to develop cycling skills in an off-road environment, building confidence, fitness, and resilience while learning to manage risk in natural terrain.
Benefits of Activity
- Develops goal-setting through distance and speed achievements.
- Enhances balance and coordination through riding skills.
- Improves cardiovascular health and leg strength.
- Promotes environmental awareness and sustainable transportation.
- Increases awareness of personal health needs and how to manage them during outdoor activities.
- Builds self-reliance and problem-solving skills, giving participants confidence to manage common mechanical issues while developing responsibility for equipment care.
- Enhances focus and hazard identification, improving general safety and awareness.
- Improves technique and awareness of handling bikes in challenging conditions.
- Teaches navigation skills and fosters independence within a controlled environment.
- Teaches the importance of protective gear and prepares participants for safe riding habits.
- Supports the development of stamina, self-awareness, and healthy habits by helping riders learn how to manage their energy, hydration, and endurance in real outdoor conditions.
- Teaches the importance of proper gear for different outdoor activities.
- Encourages proper equipment use and enhances riding comfort and control.
- Increases awareness of managing natural hazards and reinforces preparedness.
- Guarantees that participants are being guided by knowledgeable and experienced leaders, promoting safety and confidence.
- Promotes personal safety and proper preparation in outdoor activities.
- Enhances riders' technical abilities to manage different terrains safely.
- Teaches riders how to navigate safely in constrained spaces, improving control.
- Fosters respect and cooperation with others in shared outdoor spaces, promoting community engagement.
- Enhances safety during group rides.
- Encourages inclusivity and ensures all participants can safely enjoy outdoor activities, regardless of ability.
- Builds concentration and mindfulness, enhancing safety and performance.
- Allows riders to test their limits, make mistakes in a managed environment, and grow in confidence while building real-world cycling skills.
- Reinforces spatial awareness and consideration for others in group activities.
- Promotes road safety and situational awareness, skills transferable beyond the activity.
- Promotes a safe and supportive environment for all participants, fostering trust and well-being.
- Increases awareness of changing terrain conditions, fostering better control and adaptability.
- Improves strength, endurance, and control during varied elevation changes.
- Promotes teamwork, discipline, and shared responsibility while ensuring riders learn how to operate safely as part of a group in dynamic outdoor conditions.
- Improves control and safety while encouraging responsible riding behavior.
- Riders gain experience in diverse cycling environments, improving adaptability and bike-handling skills.
- Gives riders the chance to adapt to reduced visibility and develop caution, focus, and safe riding habits in more challenging conditions.
- Riders gain resilience and adaptability by experiencing varied outdoor conditions, while developing awareness of how weather impacts performance, safety, and preparation.
- Enhances appreciation of nature and promotes safe coexistence with wildlife.
Hazards and Control Measures
| Hazard | Control Measures |
|---|---|
| Allergic reactions | Request allergy information from participants beforehand. Instruct participants to carry necessary medication (e.g., antihistamines or EpiPens). Avoid routes with high pollen counts or known allergen triggers, and provide access to first aid. |
| Bike maintenance and mechanical hazards | Conduct pre-ride safety checks on brakes, tires, chains, and gears. Teach riders how to spot wear and damage, and provide training in basic bike maintenance, including puncture repair and chain adjustment. Carry spare parts and repair kits on all rides, and ensure leaders can perform roadside fixes or replacements. |
| Collisions with objects | Clear the route of obstacles where possible and warn participants of any unavoidable hazards (e.g., low branches, street furniture). Emphasize the importance of spatial awareness and maintaining focus to avoid collisions. |
| Dismounting accidents | Teach participants the correct way to dismount their bikes, especially on uneven ground. Encourage slow dismounts and caution riders about potential hazards such as loose rocks or uneven surfaces near stopping points. |
| Getting lost | Use well-marked trails and provide participants with maps or GPS devices. Brief riders on the route before departure and establish checkpoints along the way. Assign group leaders who are familiar with the area to prevent straying off course. |
| Head injuries | Ensure all participants wear properly fitted helmets that meet safety standards. Conduct pre-ride helmet checks, and provide replacements for any damaged or ill-fitting gear. Encourage slower speeds in high-risk areas to prevent severe falls. |
| Health and fitness | Schedule regular rest and hydration breaks. Encourage participants to pace themselves and choose routes suited to their fitness level. Provide guidance on pre-ride meals and snacks, ensuring balanced nutrition and energy management. Monitor participants for signs of fatigue or dehydration and adapt the pace or terrain if needed. |
| Inadequate clothing | Provide participants with clothing guidelines appropriate to the weather, including helmets, gloves, and weather-appropriate layers. Encourage checking the forecast and preparing for potential changes in conditions during the ride. |
| Incorrect bike size | Conduct pre-ride checks to ensure each rider’s bike is adjusted for their height and body size, including seat height and handlebar position. Provide guidance on proper bike fitting and have adjustable tools available to make necessary modifications. |
| Insect bites/stings | Advise participants to wear insect repellent and long sleeves or pants if appropriate. Carry first aid supplies for treating bites and stings. Identify any participants with known allergies to insects and ensure they have necessary medication, such as antihistamines or an EpiPen. |
| Instructors' qualifications/experience | Ensure all instructors have relevant certifications for leading cycling activities, such as first aid training and experience with youth groups. Conduct regular skills assessments and ongoing professional development to keep instructors updated on safety protocols. |
| Loose clothing | Instruct participants to wear fitted, weather-appropriate cycling gear and ensure no loose items (scarves, untied shoelaces) that could get caught in bike chains or wheels. Emphasize the importance of securing clothing during a pre-ride briefing. |
| Loose gravel | Plan the route to avoid heavily gravel-covered areas. If unavoidable, slow the pace of the ride and ensure clear communication about upcoming gravel sections. Equip riders with bikes fitted for mixed surfaces and provide training on handling loose gravel. |
| Narrow paths | Instruct riders to single file on narrow paths and reduce speed. Implement guidelines for overtaking safely, ensuring there’s enough room and visibility before passing. Communicate upcoming narrow sections to the group in advance. |
| Other road/path users | Teach participants proper etiquette for sharing roads and paths, including yielding to pedestrians and signaling intentions to other users. Instruct riders to stay in single file on narrow paths and to be aware of motor vehicles or pedestrians at all times. |
| Overlapping wheels in group rides | Maintain a safe distance from the rider ahead. Avoid overlapping your front wheel with another rider's rear wheel. Communicate changes in speed or direction. Practice group riding skills in controlled environments. |
| Participants with additional needs | Assess individual needs before the ride and provide appropriate support, such as adaptive equipment, one-on-one assistance, or modified routes. Ensure instructors are trained to work with individuals with disabilities or special needs. Incorporate inclusive practices that accommodate all participants. |
| Rider distraction | Encourage focus on the path ahead, limiting conversations or distractions while riding. Avoid using headphones or mobile devices. Stress the importance of full attention to surroundings, particularly on busy or unpredictable routes. |
| Rider skill and experience | Assess participants’ cycling ability before the ride and match routes to their skill levels. Provide training on essential handling skills such as braking, cornering, and balance in a controlled environment. Pair less experienced riders with more skilled participants, and monitor behaviour for signs of overconfidence. Offer progressive challenges to build skills safely. |
| Riding too close to others | Establish and enforce safe riding distances between participants. Teach riders about the risks of sudden stops and the importance of maintaining adequate space, especially in unpredictable conditions. Use a buddy system to improve awareness. |
| Road crossings | Plan routes to minimize road crossings or use designated crosswalks. Instruct riders on how to stop safely and ensure group leaders are positioned to monitor crossings. Implement hand signals or verbal instructions for crossing as a group. |
| Safeguarding | Ensure all instructors and volunteers have undergone background checks and safeguarding training. Establish clear safeguarding protocols, such as reporting procedures and designated safeguarding officers. Maintain appropriate adult-to-child ratios and enforce boundaries for physical contact. |
| Slippery surfaces | Identify areas prone to becoming slippery, such as wet leaves, mud, or algae-covered paths. Mark these hazards and inform participants before the ride. Encourage careful speed control and braking in these sections to avoid losing traction. |
| Steep hills | Offer riders advance warning of steep ascents and descents. Encourage riders to use lower gears for climbs and emphasize the need for controlled braking on descents. Provide instruction on using body positioning to maintain control. |
| Supervision and group management | Maintain clear adult-to-participant ratios, with leaders positioned at the front, middle, and rear of the group. Provide thorough pre-ride safety briefings, covering route details, signals, and emergency procedures. Establish clear communication methods (hand signals, radios, vocal commands) and set regrouping points. Regular headcounts should be conducted to maintain group cohesion. |
| Uncontrolled speed | Set speed limits for different terrain and instruct riders on how to control their speed, particularly on descents. Provide training on using gears and brakes effectively to maintain a safe and steady pace. Have group leaders enforce the pace as necessary. |
| Uneven terrain | Pre-assess the route to identify uneven surfaces. Use clear route signage and inform cyclists of potential hazards. Provide appropriate bikes with suitable tires for the terrain. Ensure riders wear helmets and padded gloves to reduce impact in case of a fall. |
| Visibility hazards | Equip all bikes with front and rear lights for low-light rides. Require high-visibility or reflective clothing. Postpone rides in heavy fog where visibility is unsafe. Slow group pace to allow more reaction time, and ensure riders stay closer together while maintaining safe distances. |
| Weather and environmental conditions | Monitor weather conditions before and during the ride. Reschedule or reroute in extreme conditions such as storms, high winds, or excessive heat. Ensure participants wear weather-appropriate clothing (e.g., layers, waterproofs, breathable fabrics) and apply sunscreen. Encourage regular hydration breaks and adjust ride intensity based on environmental conditions. |
| Wildlife encounters | Provide guidelines on how to behave if encountering wildlife, including avoiding sudden movements and maintaining a safe distance. Select routes that avoid areas known for potentially dangerous animals. Educate participants on local wildlife to foster understanding. |
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FAQ
How do I use this template?
Click “Edit Using Wizard” to customise the assessment for your organization, then download a PDF.
Can I edit the hazards and controls?
Yes, all sections can be adjusted in the wizard before exporting your final document.
