Incentives FAQ

• To use your incentive credits to register for an Event, email davidu@cascade.org and tell Davíd which event you would like to register for. You should receive a link from him to register for the event after member registration opens.
• For one day events (except Flying Wheels), it “costs” just six incentive credits to register; Flying Wheels is 21; Cascade Tours are 21, STP, RSVP, and CTS as a participant are 24 incentive credits.
• You may also use your incentive credits for annual membership, 12 for an individual, and 20 for a household per year.

• New Ride Leaders are awarded their first official Ride Leader jersey when they complete the following:
  • Serve as a Ride Leader for at least three months and;
  • Post and lead three Free Group Rides or;
  • Lead or sweep nine rides (FGR, OTS)
• Ride Leaders should complete either #2. or #3. above during their first six months in order to receive their initial jersey. Additionally, newly-certified Ride Leaders should commit to completing an equal number of rides in the subsequent six months, once they have received their initial RL jersey.
• Once you have completed the requirements above, email davidu@cascade.org so he can provide you the garment.

Yes!  But please, as an unassigned Ride Leader, ensure you are not acting in any way as to be interpreted as one of the “on-duty” RLs. All “off-duty” RLs participating in a Free Group Ride should act in any way as not to be confusing to other participants, such as riding off the front, or taking alternate routing from the prescribed course.

Pink Ride Leader garments are not incentive awards, but only Ride Leaders can purchase them. About once a year, the Ride Leader garment store opens for online orders, and pink garments can be ordered with a personal credit card. This normally happens in the fall, and is announced in the RL Newsletter.

Yellow garments are longevity incentive awards. About once a year, the Ride Leader garment store opens for online orders. Ride leader incentive points are used to purchase the garments. After you have served as a RL for 12 months, you may acquire one garment per year with incentive points. Garments “cost” between 22 and 28 incentive points, depending on the type. The orders are normally taken in the fall, and the ordering process is announced in the RL Newsletter.

Ride Leaders earn two credits for leading a ride. Sweeping a ride also earns you two credits. RLs earn two credits for posting a stand-alone Free Group Ride. (So if you post and lead the same ride, you earn four credits.) 

• For any Free Group Ride, one leader and one sweep can earn incentive credits.
• For larger Free Group Rides, a third RL can earn incentive credits if there are 15 total participants. If there are 25 participants, a fourth leader may also earn credits, and so on.

Ride Leaders earn one incentive credit for rides that are listed which are canceled due to weather or unforeseen circumstances.

Incentive credits last for the full calendar year AFTER the year they were earned. So for example all your credits earned in 2023 remain in your account in 2024, and don’t expire until after the major ride schedules are announced in early 2025. That way you can always use up your credits!

Yes, by mentoring a RL candidate, serving on the Rides Committee or CTS Steering Committee, or by having a RL candidate (who successfully certifies) identify you as the person who prompted them to become a Ride Leader. Serving as an Other Training Series Director or Ride Director earns credits, too. Additionally, serving as a CTS start admin helper earns you one incentive credit for each ride day.

To remain a certified, active ride leader, you need to earn eight incentive credits each rolling 12-month period. Ride Leaders must also maintain an up-to-date Cascade Bicycle Club paid membership.

Please don’t sell your Ride Leader garment or donate it to Goodwill. Ask the RL Facebook group if anyone wants it (if it’s still serviceable). Or return it to the Club headquarters.