Group Riding Tips
- Have a full tank before arriving at the departure point.
- Tell the leader if you have any special concerns, i.e. speed, sharp corners, etc.
- Tell the leader if you plan to leave the group before the destination. Also tell the persons riding in front and behind you so they don't think you are having a problem.
- When a rider leaves the group while in staggered formation, the best way to compensate for the hole made by his absence is for each rider slide up and not over.
- Tell the leader if your bike has an unusually short fuel range or if you require frequent restroom stops.
- It is not unusual to start out on a ride when it is fairly warm and have the temp cool down a lot before getting home. Riders often wear a light jacket because it felt fine at the time of departure and really be freezing after it got dark.
- Remember to take some clear eye protection if the ride will extend into the evening.
- When exiting a expressway, keep up the pace so the riders behind you aren't forced to slow down while still on the expressway and become a traffic hazard.
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STAGING
- Try to limit the size of a group to 10-15 bikes for safety reasons. Often there are many more than 10-15 bikes. In this case line up in two or more columns as indicated in columns A, B, & C in the picture to the right. Column A will depart first. A few minutes later column B will leave and then column C.
- If you want to ride with friends, you should all be in the same column. If you are in different columns, you will not ride in the same group.
- You should talk to one of the leaders and learn the route and destination of your ride. In the unlikely event that you get separated from the group, all will not be lost and you can catch up or meet the group at the destination.
- Be prepared to ride at the specified departure time with a full tank of gas and having made a restroom stop.
- If you have special needs or concerns be sure to tell the leader of your group.
- Lesser experienced riders should be at the front of the group behind the leader, not at the back. The back of the group is constantly exposed to a slinky or whiplash effect and is most likely to be separated from the group at intersections.
- If you plan on dropping out during the ride, be sure to tell the leader. They tend to get upset if they have to look for you only to find out that you went home.
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RIDING STAGGERED
- It is best to ride in a stagger formation for safety reasons. The minimum recommended spacing to the bike directly in front of you should not be less than two seconds (the two second rule). The bike in the lane to your left or right should not be less than one second ahead of you. You will find that two seconds is a long distance when riding at highway speeds. That is it's a long distance when everything is going well. When things go wrong, however, two seconds distance is gone in the time it takes to figure out you are in trouble.
- The two second rule is a rule of thumb should try to adhere to this rule when possible, especially at highway speeds. There are times, however when it is best to squeeze together while in city streets & while slowing for a stop. This will help prevent cars from entering the group.
- The last bike should ride in the middle of the two bike lanes with all head lights and running lights on. This will help the lead bike see the last bike. Refer to the image to the right.
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PASSING ON A TWO LANE ROAD
- It is usually very difficult for a group to pass a slow moving car on a two lane road. Generally groups will not pass a car on a two lane road, particularly on local rides, unless it is going very slow. If the lead biker decides to pass the car, each biker must decide on his own if it is safe for him or her. DO NOT follow the bike in front of you unless you are certain that it is safe for you too.
- After passing the car, keep going. You must make room for all the bikes behind you.
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PASSING ON A FREEWAY INTO A FASTER LANE
- As a group, it can be difficult to pass a slow moving car on any road with two or more lanes of same-direction traffic. This is especially true with moderate to heavy traffic. Often there is not enough room for the entire group to get between cars in the faster lane.
- The way to accomplish this is for the last bike to pull over one lane to the left and hold his position. Each rider should move to the left lane as the cars in front of the rear biker pass them. You can then pass the slow car as a group after the lead rider moves to the left lane.
- The lead rider should move back to the right lane after passing the slow car by a safe distance. It is very important that the lead rider maintain speed to make room for all the other riders. Each rider should move back to the right lane one at a time once safely cleared the slow car. This can be a real slick choreographed move for other motorists to observe.
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GROUP PARKING
- Parking in an orderly method substantially reduces the time for all to get off the road and out of traffic. There is risk of injury for the last bikes that may be blocking the road in an attempt to stay with the group.
- A good way to park, if there is room, is for each bike to pull ahead of the intended parking place and then back up into your spot. You can see how this is done on the image to the right. This can be done very fast because you don't have to wait for the bike ahead of you to finish the job.
- If you find yourself at the end of the group and can't get off the road while waiting for others to park, go around. Come back a minute or two later when things have settled down and take your time.
- Don't forget your pipes. Everything is cool when you back up to the curb until you lean your bike over on the kick stand and you bend and scratch your left pipe on the curb.
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HAND SIGNALS
- START ENGINES - With your right or left arm extended, move your index finger in a circular motion.
- LEFT TURN - Raise your left arm horizontal with your elbow fully extended.
- RIGHT TURN - Raise your left arm horizontal with your elbow bent 90 degrees vertically.
- HAZARD LEFT - Extend your left arm at a 45 degree angle and point towards the hazard.
- HAZARD RIGHT A - Extend your right arm at a 45 degree angle and point towards the hazard.
- HAZARD RIGHT B -Extend your left arm upward at a 45 degree angle with your elbow bent to 90 degrees and point towards the hazard over your helmet.
- SPEED UP - Raise your left arm up and down with your index finger extended upward. This indicates the leader wants to speed up.
- SLOW DOWN - Extend your left arm at a 45 degree angle and move your hand up and down.
- STOP - Extend your left arm at a 45 degree angle with the palm of your hand facing rearward.
- SINGLE FILE - Position your left hand over your helmet with your fingers extended upward. This indicates the leader wants the group in a single file formation. Usually this is done for safety reasons.
- STAGGERED FORMATION - Extend your left arm upward at a 45 degree angle with your index and pinkie finger extended. This indicates that it is safe to return to staggered formation.
- TIGHTEN UP - Raise your left arm and repeatedly move up and down in a pulling motion. This indicates the leader wants the group to close ranks.
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