Group Riding

MOTORCYCLE GROUP RIDING

Introduction:

There are more people getting together as groups not only for impromptu short excursions but also for organized rides. A group ride could be defined as any group of two or more motorcycles riding together. There are many specifics concerning group riding, including, instructions before the ride so everyone understands the hand signals, the route, how long between rest stops, etc. Listed below are general guidelines for group riding, so everyone can have a safe ride, without being so overwhelmed with things to remember as to take away from the enjoyment of the ride.

Arrive Prepared:

Arrive on time with a full tank of gas. We often try to make a gas station our starting/meeting location, enabling riders to top off their tanks as needed.

Hold a Rider’s Meeting:

Discuss things like the route, rest and fuel stops, and hand signals (see diagrams below). Assign a Lead and Sweep (bring up the rear) rider. The Lead and the Sweep riders should be experienced riders with group riding experience.

Keep the group to a manageable size:

If necessary, break the group into smaller subgroups, each with a Lead and Sweep rider.

Ride Prepared:

These days most everyone carries a cell phone; please share numbers during the rider’s meeting. At least one rider in each group should pack a first-aid kit, and full tool kit, so the group is prepared for any problem that they might encounter.

Group Riding:

Normal riding as a group is done in a staggered formation.

When coming to a stop, the group generally forms up two abreast / side-by-side.

When the group starts off, the rider on the left starts first.

When riding in curves, the stagger is no longer warranted and a single file type of formation is normal. The Lead Rider should dictate these changes in lane position. Holding two fingers straight up in the air (either the index and little fingers, or the first two fingers) indicates a staggered formation, while the index finger pointing straight up in the air is a direction for single file riding.

Single file riding allows the riders more freedom to negotiate the curves and to dodge obstacles while having the freedom to use the whole lane. In single formation the normal distance between riders is increased to 3 -> 5 seconds.

For safety, the single file formation should not be elongated to such a distance that the rider in front cannot be seen. There are two reasons for this:

1. It is much easier to negotiate around corners by using the next rider's position to "see" further around blind curves

2. The rider can see and pass back to other riders the hand signals indicating obstacles or other information ahead.

Avoid riding in side-by-side formations, as they reduce the space cushion. If you suddenly needed to swerve to avoid a hazard, you would not have room to do so. You don’t want the handlebars to get entangled.

If any rider feels that the group pace is too fast for comfort, then he or she should motion the following bikes to pass until the only one left following is the Sweep/Drag Rider. Then ride at your own pace until the next stop, where you should inform the Lead Rider that you are uncomfortable with the pace. It will then be up to the Lead Rider to separate the ride into two groups, or go at a slower pace so that all members of the group feel secure.

Group riding should not be, and is never considered a race!

If you’re separated from the group, don’t panic. Your group should have a pre-arranged procedure/location in place to regroup. Don’t break the law or ride beyond your skill level to catch up.

If a rider in the formation needs to pull out for any reason, the group will close up the gap and reorganize the stagger and continue riding. The Sweep/Drag Rider of the group will aid the rider who has pulled over. He will also communicate (via cell phone) with the Ride Leader, if needed, to apprise him or her of the situation. The next (last) rider then becomes the Sweep/Drag rider until the Sweep/Drag rider returns to the group.

When turning onto another road, if the next rider back cannot be seen, due to traffic in-between riders, or there is a large gap in the group, the last rider in the line must wait at the turn for the next rider to show up before leaving the turn so as to signal that the route has taken a turn. This will keep the group together on the same route even though there may be unforeseen gaps in the formation.

Sharing Information Through Signals:

During the ride, the Ride Leader will make various signal light, hand, and leg signals. (See Diagram Below) These signals indicate lane changes or turns, obstacles, increasing/decreasing speed, or whether to form a stagger formation or a single line. These hand signals need to be passed back through the group from the front rider to the next rider in line. Following these steps, each rider only needs to be cognizant of signals from the rider directly in from of him or her rather than everyone trying to keep an eye on the Ride Leader

Signal lights should always be used to not only allow everyone to see the upcoming change, but to feed back acknowledgment. In a group ride, whether it is the Ride Leader or in the middle of the pack, the bike in front needs to see the signal light of the following rider before turning in front of the following rider/bike (such as a right hand turn when the bike in the left stagger crosses over in the right stagger lane). This prevents the bike in front from crashing into the (surprised/unprepared) following bike/rider when making the turn, assuming that the following bike sees your signal light. Sometimes riders don't notice signal lights right away, so they should be turned on well before the turn, that way everybody in the group becomes aware that a turn is coming up.

If an obstacle is spotted in the road, it should immediately be signaled to the riders in back for safety. (See Diagrams Below) Sometimes, when the obstacle is spotted in a blind curve, and one doesn't want to take one's hand off the handlebars, the signal is often done with an outstretched leg (indicating which side of the lane the obstacle is located). This can be very useful when you don't want to take your hand off the throttle and the obstacle is on the right side of a blind curve. Some typical obstacles which should be signaled as to where they may lie in the lane are: sand/dirt/gravel/rocks, pot holes, dead animals, road dragons, (pieces of truck tire treads), vehicular debris, range cattle, tar snakes (road tar repairs), etc. These obstacle signals should always be passed to the rear as soon as possible so as to give those riders the best opportunity to dodge them. Don't forget that the riders toward the rear in a group ride will not be able to see as much of the whole road surface as those in front due to the visual blockage of the front riders. Other hand signals include speed changes, directions for coming alongside or passing, the need for a food or rest stop, and other miscellaneous things like telling another rider that his blinker light is on unnecessarily.

Group Riding ~ Hand Signals:

Conclusion:

Group riding can be a lot of fun if all the members are comfortable within the group. If one or more of the members are not comfortable, then this should be discussed at the next stop so as to accommodate or correct the cause of the concern. We can then all enjoy the fine sport of Motorcycling.