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 Motorcycles wandering into safety zones can cause both
riders to crash, which in turn can lead to a lethal domino
effect among the rest of the group. While less
concentration is required on being seen, so much more is
needed on situational awareness, not only watching the
rider in front, but also to either side as well as behind.
Since riding in a group requires everyone involved to
adjust their own personal rhythms and riding habits to
that of the overall flow, it’s easy to understand the
initial feeling awkwardness when riding with others for
the first few times.
Here are some hints that can be used by a biker riding in
a group for the first time or a seasoned group rider to
ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable ride.
Before you arrive at the ride
All riders are responsible for making sure their own
motorcycles are mechanically up to the task. Before you
even meet up with the group, make sure you've got plenty
of fuel in the tank, and you've taken care of all those
maintenance issues. Not sure what to check? Use T-CLOCS.
Tires and wheels. Check the air-pressure, spokes and of
course, tread.
Controls and Cables. Make sure cables and levers feel
smooth and don’t bind. Check the brakes, making sure both
the front and back work properly.
Lights. Seeing and being seen is the foundation to safe
riding, not to mention using indicators is a must with
group riding. Unless you want however many motorcycles are
behind you on the ride getting to know your back wheel
intimately, make sure the brake lights work as well.
Oil and fuel. Nothing will be more embarrassing and ruin a
group ride more than running out of gas. Although most
modern motorcycles come with fuel gauges there are many
riders who swear by visually checking the gas level in the
tank. The best way to make sure would be to fill up on
the way to the starting point of the ride.
Chassis. A quick look over to make sure nothing came loose
on the last ride or is about to on your next one. If your
motorcycle is adjustable check that it’s set for today’s
ride.
Sidestand and Centerstand. Visually check that nothing is
cracked loose or bent. Sure they’ll be a bunch of bikers
to help pick it up if the bike falls, but do you really
want to make friends that way? This might be a good time
to make sure you’ve packed whatever it is you use under
the stand in the case of soft soil or sand.
Breaking the ice
Whether it’s the first time riding with a group or even a
larger number of motorcycles than you’ve ridden with before,
introduce yourself to the small circle of bikers
organizing or leading the ride. Get an idea of how they
like to ride, the route that’ll be taken (more about this
later), and the overall plan for the day.
Well organized rides will have a pre-ride discussion to go
over all of these items as well as introducing the group to the
key people leading the ride. However it’s always better to
let yourself be known as the new guy in the group,
especially if the people in charge decide to skip over any
pre-ride instructions thinking everyone’s ridden together
before.
For the leaders of the group
When planning the route, take into account how many and
where the stops will be made based on the stamina of the
group, the experience of all the riders, and the limits of
the motorcycles in the group.
 A pre-ride discussion is crucial, even for the more
seasoned group riders. Having everyone with the same
understanding of your plans, preferences, and requirements
helps avoid surprises. It may sound trivial but
people enjoy the ride more when they have a rough idea of
when the next bathroom break is coming up! Review the
expected pace, signals, details like fuel stops and
routes. Really well arranged rides have printed directions
with important telephone numbers.
If you’re one of the ride leaders or organizers an effort
should be made to see if there are any new bikers joining
the ride. It’s as much of a benefit to the organizers to
get an idea of the experience both in riding years as well
as with group riding beforehand rather than during the
ride.
For club-organized rides, make sure everyone understands
any rules or procedures for various situations. Review the
signals that’ll be used and be prepared to use them
liberally to ensure the other riders are aware of your
intentions and no one is caught by surprise.
If it's going to be a large group, consider establishing a
buddy system among the riders, or even divide the group
into smaller packs of five or even riders. This system can
save having 25 motorcycles sitting on the side of a busy
highway wondering what happened to the riders in the back
of the pack. Also, smaller groups can more easily navigate
through city streets.
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 Great Tip:
Ride leaders or organizers should
make each rider responsible for the one behind him or her.
The rule is ‘If you don't see the rider behind you for a
few minutes, signal the rider ahead if possible, then slow
down or pull over and wait for the rider(s) behind you’.
This simple rule will prevent wasted time looking for
missing riders and make for a much smoother ride. |
It may seem like overkill but as an organizer of the ride,
taking an inventory of who has any first aid kits, tire
repair kits, tools and other emergency items could save
time if they’re needed during the ride.
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