Seems like only a few of us really ever do group rides. Well, I been doin em since the late 70s with up to 150 ? in the pack...plan on keepin on till I cant ride anymore.
Just a few rules of thumb for group rides, especially if with a crew yer not used to :
Newer, less experienced ride to the rear. This way, if a new guy lays his bike down, he wont take a bunch with him. The extreme rear, know as "the tail", would be 2 members from the sanctioning group, to help stragglers and such. A job often given to prospects.
Ride staggered. Meaning, that on a 2 lane road, you ride to the opposite side of the lane as the bike in front of you. 30mph or less, one bike distance is enough, because this gives you 3 bike lengths from the guy directly in front. 45mph, ride 2 lengths....55 and over, 3 lengths. More than enough room to see an oops and avoid. Riding in groups and having large gaps is also bad, because if a soccer mom in a cage see's an opening, she may dart out, not realizing there are 20 more coming. Keep it tight, but safely tight.
When a large group, try to arrange for a tender truck...first aid kit, tools, gas, ramps, compressor in case of on the road problems.
In groups of 30 or more, plan the route, then allert the local PDs on that route that you'll be coming thru. Very often, especially in rural areas, they can give ya escorts, or wave all on thru a redlight and such. Cops would rather ya let em know than need to run to an MVA.
Not a necessity, but printed maps of the route distributed to all helps in case someone lags behind or gets lost.
No showboating. Im constantly seeing groups of sportbike riders wheelieing, weaving, and passing each other. Its a ride, not a racetrack.
Lil late for these words this year, in the NE anyway, as Oct is the last month for most sactioned rides. But stuff to think about over the winter, if ya ever plan on going on a charity run or whatever.
Just a few rules of thumb for group rides, especially if with a crew yer not used to :
Newer, less experienced ride to the rear. This way, if a new guy lays his bike down, he wont take a bunch with him. The extreme rear, know as "the tail", would be 2 members from the sanctioning group, to help stragglers and such. A job often given to prospects.
Ride staggered. Meaning, that on a 2 lane road, you ride to the opposite side of the lane as the bike in front of you. 30mph or less, one bike distance is enough, because this gives you 3 bike lengths from the guy directly in front. 45mph, ride 2 lengths....55 and over, 3 lengths. More than enough room to see an oops and avoid. Riding in groups and having large gaps is also bad, because if a soccer mom in a cage see's an opening, she may dart out, not realizing there are 20 more coming. Keep it tight, but safely tight.
When a large group, try to arrange for a tender truck...first aid kit, tools, gas, ramps, compressor in case of on the road problems.
In groups of 30 or more, plan the route, then allert the local PDs on that route that you'll be coming thru. Very often, especially in rural areas, they can give ya escorts, or wave all on thru a redlight and such. Cops would rather ya let em know than need to run to an MVA.
Not a necessity, but printed maps of the route distributed to all helps in case someone lags behind or gets lost.
No showboating. Im constantly seeing groups of sportbike riders wheelieing, weaving, and passing each other. Its a ride, not a racetrack.
Lil late for these words this year, in the NE anyway, as Oct is the last month for most sactioned rides. But stuff to think about over the winter, if ya ever plan on going on a charity run or whatever.