New Riders: An SF2G Primer

SF2G is a casual group. Membership is granted by showing up and riding bikes. Rides are friendly and fun. There is a commonly agreed-upon system for operating the rides, however, including terms and slang that may seem confusing at first. This system exists mostly to reduce typing, as we are lazy and often drunk. This article should help demystify these practices.

Getting started

Rides are "called" via the SF2G Google group. Calling a ride consists of little more than sending an email to the group indicating your intention to ride to work, with a few simple details included in the subject line.

These details include

  • which route you are taking
  • where you are meeting
  • when you are meeting
  • how fast you intend to go

The Subject Line: 2/21 RRR Bayway 630 Style II

A ride call is easy to spot. It's sufficiently cryptic but includes all the necessary information to join a ride. The ordering of information is unpredictable in the subject line, but always includes the items in the sample above. They are decoded as follows:

  • 2/21 - February 21st
  • RRR - Ritual Roasters Rollout, the meetup spot for this ride
  • Bayway - The route
  • 630 - 6:30 AM PST, the rollout time. This is when the group leaves. Show up earlier for coffee.
  • Style II - The intended speed of the ride. See ride styles

Joining a ride: +1

SF2G riders signal their intentions to join a ride by responding to the ride call with a simple "+1". SF2G is a colorful group and +1 emails often include such caveats as "+1 if I'm not too hungover" or "+ .5 depending on sleep." Fractions are also sometimes included, as a "maybe."

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