"Why marshal at a road race? It's enjoyable to be part of helping the race to happen, so that those who want to race can, and getting to watch the race and give encouragement to the riders, as well as being a sociable day out. It might not be the Tour de France, but watching the peloton sweep round the bend in the sunshine, it's just cool to see."

Edinburgh RC puts on lots of events each year, both for club members and events open to all.

We can't do this without the hard work and dedication of volunteers, from within the club and outside it. We are always looking for more people to help - from helping out on the day at an event, getting involved in organising a club event or race, and being part of the committee and other club roles. If you are interested we'd love to hear from you. Some more detail of what you can do to help is included below. Either contact the relevant race organiser or visit the Contacts page and send a message to the Road, Track and TT conveynor. Please also join our volunteers WhatsApp group, to hear the latest on what is happening and ask any questions...or help answer them!

We also take pride in rewarding the efforts of those that give up there time to volunteer for the club in it's many events and activities. To this end we have a generous Volunteer Rewards Policy, which provides points to all volunteers towards the purchase of Club kit from our clothing supplier. The rewards and policy will be reviewed annually and input from members with regards to this is always welcome. Contact any committee member via the Contacts page. Travel expenses can also be claimed by all volunteers.

Registering to Volunteer

The club uses The Signup Place as an easy way for people to see what events are needing volunteers. It also administers the points accumulated.

Registration is quick and simple at ERC Volunteers Registration.

All the open volunteering events and roles will appear within The Signup Place once you have registered.

Once registered you can login in future at The Signup Place login page

How Can You Help?

Corner marshal

The biggest need for people is to marshal a corner of the course. This gives you a great view of the riders in action, and some peace and quiet in the Scottish countryside when the race is round the other side of the course. For more information on what marshalling will involve, please see our quick guide.

Our road races run on laps of between 10km and 21km (races being between 50km - 120km depening on the category) - and the classic time trial Tour of the Meldons is a 35km loop. The role is to let riders know where they are going, and warn them and other road users - but it is important to note that you aren't able to stop approaching cars (and shouldn't ever try to). In a road race there will be motorbike riders (NEG) that will manage the traffic, as well as cars in the convoy before and after the riders, and there are also signs to warn approaching cars. Usually you will be positioned with someone else, particularly if you are new or it is a busier junction.

The most important thing is looking after yourself - which means keeping in a safe position at the side of (but not on) the road, and plenty of warm and waterproof clothing, even in summer events. We'll provide food and hot drinks as far as possible - but you may be positioned a bit of a distrance from the race headquarters, so take some of your own supplies as well.

If you are limited on transport then there will be lifts available from central Edinburgh, and possibly further...just ask on our volunteers WhatsApp Group. Many also rider out to the circuit - and are always happy to help with a route or with teaming up for the ride out and back. Lifts will also be available from the race headquarters to the marshal position

Convoy driver

A bunch start road race means that there a convoy of cars. This sounds much grander than it is, as sadly budgets do not stretch to a fleet of branded cars as in the Tour de France - these are volunteer's cars with roofboxes and radios. This will be a combination of lead cars (usually two), commissaire cars (usually two - the commissaires are appointed to the race by Scottish Cycling, but ERC will provide the car and drivers), a first aid car (often provided by a third party provider) and, whenever possible a neutral service car or two (to dish out spare wheels and other mechanical assistance). Team cars are allowed, but are rarely seen in Scottish races.

Skills needed are being able to drive (usually very slowly), and listening and transmitting messages over the radio over any potential hazards and the race situation. A useful guide is available on the British Cycling website.

Travel expenses for the race itself and to/from race HQ can be claimed.

Race HQ roles: HQ set-up, sign-on, putting out food, tidying

If you don't fancy driving, or being out in the Scottish weather, there are a number of roles that are based at race HQ (which is usually a local village hall). This ranges from setting up ahead of people arriving, dealing with sign-on for riders (which can be more fast paced than it sounds!), setting up the catering, to a bit of light clearing up of the HQ after the race.

Signs

Ahead of the event, signs warning riders of approaching hazards and junctions, and other road users of the presence of cyclist are erected around the race route. This usually takes a couple of hours to go round the course to put out, either the night before or morning of the event, and is best tackled as a team of two - one to drive, one to leap out with the signs and some cable ties (both provided) to get them in place.

After the event the same happens, but in reverse. As in the signs come down, not the direction of going round the course.

A car is essential for this role due to the size and volume of signs.

Mechanic

When there is a service car, there is a need for a mechanic to go in it actually service the riders. With the range of groupsets currently in use, as well as different braking systems, this can mean packing a lot of wheels (which the riders will provide - the rule is no wheel, no service, so if one hasn't be put in, the rider is out of luck). Without spare bikes anything more difficult that a wheel change is usually race ending, so the main skill needed is being able to change a wheel under a bit of pressure relatively quickly - a bit of practice pre-event is worthwhile. Often the main part of the role is to allow the rider to get back to the race HQ and their car. But even getting back from a puncture is virtually impossible without team cars and team mates to draft, so a slow change is unlikely to make the unlucky riders' day much worse than it already is. Any riders being rude or discouteous should not be provided service and should be reported to the commissaires and/or race organiser.

A good selection of tools and some inner tubes will be useful.

First Aid

Unfortunately there is always the possibility of an accident happening in a cycling event or race. The club will often use a third party provider, but even where this is the case, there is the need for some additional first aid cover back at the race headquarters.

A full basic first aid kit is required and a first aid certificate - please discuss with the race organiser.

Photography

Riders always like to see pictures of themselves in action (no matter how much they are suffering). This can simply be adding photos on social media (we're always happy to share photos on the club chanel) - but we also need someone to act as event photographer, and getting the important race finish and podium shots, as well as some arty or scenic shots for future event promotion. And lots and lots of photos for the riders to bore their other halfs with.

Social Media

It's always great for the club members, and wider public, to hear about what is happening - and it's good for our sponsors too. Particularly when it features some of our home riders. This involves liasing with the photographer to get some picture content for after the race, as well as preparing some short snappy text. During the race, some updates on its progress also helps keep interest up.

Finish Line

Making sure the results are accurate is vital. The club uses a variety of systems, and will sometimes use a third party provider with timing chips or registered timekeepers. But or many races, the finishing order is captured by our own video system. This needs some specialist training and practice, so if interested, best to sign up as the finish line assistant for a few races first of all.

Event Organisation

We're proud to run a large number of events - both for club members and those open to entrants from other clubs. We currently put on the most road events of any club in East and Central Scotland, and want to continue with this, as well as being open to running new and exciting events. If you have a idea you think is worth pursuing and/or would like to help make them a reality let us know. Event organisation usually means a fair amount of planning, but is less of a time commitment than you would think.

We usually run events with a small team of organisers, so that the workload is spread and so even established events could use further help.