The Flexible Marshalling System (Marker System)
(Author Lee, editor PtF)

• There is a group leader and a back marker for each group.
• These 2 remain the same for the entirety of the run.
• At every deviation from the "straight ahead" route, the leader will indicate that they wish to "drop off" a marker. They will do this by pointing towards the side of the road in good time before any deviations.

Dropping a marker

• The rider following the leader will then stop and indicate to the rest of the group which way the leader went.
• Usually the positioning of the marker will make it obvious which turn is appropriate, sometimes the marker may have to use hand signals to avoid confusion.
• The best places to stop are generally:
  Left turn - prior to the Junction
  Left turn marker 1
  Left turn marker 2
  Right turn - immediately after the turn (providing you're still visible to the following riders)
  Right turn marker 1
  Right turn - before the junction if there are visibility problems.
  Roundabouts - just after exiting
  Roundabout marker
  Roundabouts - on large or complex roundabouts a marker may be dropped before entering and on the exit.
• This marker will then rejoin the group immediately in front of the "back marker"

Sweeping

• Thus, the first and last bikes for each group will always be the same, but everyone else will find themselves following the leader at some point.
• Riders who are neither leader nor back marker should feel free to change their positions i.e. don't feel you have to stay behind the guy in front until it's your time to be in the number 2 spot again (just don't overtake the leader).
• It would be helpful if only the leader and backmarker had their headlights on. This helps the leader to identify the tail bike and thus perhaps avoid dropping as many markers. (If he can see the last bike then no one's getting lost!)