Safety or Courtesy on Group Rides???

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Sep 8, 2008 | 11:40 AM

#31

truedat

Intermediate

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 43

Likes: 0

From: Fernandina Beach, FL

I personally would not be offended if someone I was riding with just explained to me what I was doing wrong, and how to fix it!
True

Sep 8, 2008 | 12:03 PM

#32

TwiggyAZ

Banned

Joined: Oct 2007

Posts: 5,258

Likes: 2

From: AZ

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toolguy

I was riding with 2 buddies a week ago. Both are experienced riders but I don't think one is experienced with riding in groups. He stayed center of lane in front of me. If I moved over to stagger my position he would move in front. If I moved got within 50 feet of him he got faster. How can I bring him up to speed on group riding without insulting him?

Safety is not insulting. It is life saving. Tell him that, then tell him where to ride, and how to ride....for everyones safety. If he's insulted, you don't want to ride with him IMO!!! If you don't want to say anything, hand him something in writing that you got from the internet!!

Sep 8, 2008 | 12:23 PM

#33

kk6pg

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 2,289

Likes: 22

From: Beautiful Downtown Burbank

If you dont think he's up on group rules, then you need to make that point before the ride, or at the first stop.
Let him know the difference between holding up one finger and two, Hand and foot signals, lane position and why its important. And avoid waving at other bikers. The last thing you need is to have him wave and cause problems back in the pack by misconstrued signals.

I took my eyes off the road for a second this weekend looking for debris to my left on the twisties because the guy in of me front waved. The group I ride with uses hand for left and foot for right.

Sep 8, 2008 | 12:47 PM

#34

Sharknose

Elite HDF Member

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 3,927

Likes: 5

From: Midwest

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redd

Exactly the reason I gave up doing charity rides a few years back. Just didn't need the aggravation anymore.

+1. Make a donation and skip the parade.

Sep 8, 2008 | 01:10 PM

#35

AK_Hog_Herder

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Jan 2006

Posts: 3,015

Likes: 5

From: Alaska

Avoid open to the public humongous group rides.

Typically group size should be no more than 7 to 10 bikes. Any larger and the group will annoy other drivers and be difficult to move through traffic.

Safety brief before departure is important. It should cover route, destination, speeds, formation, and hand signals. Leads and sweeps should be pointed out so group members know who they are. Remind riders that they control their bike so even if in a group they still need to watch for traffic and road debris. Also remind them that if they chose the wrong group to ride with, either too fast or too slow, they should leave the group.

New riders must know how to safely operate their bike at posted speed limits before even thinking of joining a group ride.

Riders new to group riding or seeking a refresher should attend a "Group Riding Introduction Program" or "GRIP" session if available.

Sep 8, 2008 | 05:25 PM

#36

rdam

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Oct 2006

Posts: 2,263

Likes: 36

From: Georgia Mountains

To quote Forrest Gump, riding in a large group is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get.

Sep 8, 2008 | 07:11 PM

#37

wb0zrd

Road Captain

Joined: Mar 2007

Posts: 651

Likes: 12

From: Broomfield, Colorado

About a month ago I rode up to Sturgis with seven other people. Five people I knew and two others that I didn't. One of the guys that I knew insisted on taking the lead position and being in that position the whole trip. That was ok, he had been there before, knew the route, knew where to stop for gas...so on. The two guys that I did not know before the trip insisted on riding right behind the lead guy (these two guys and the lead guy all knew each other from before). The second day we were in Sturgis we took off west on I90 toward Spearfish, I was right behind the lead guy, one of the two fellows that I just described must have thought I was merging onto I90 to slowly, he blew by me like a bat out of heck, darn near ran me off the rode. He then went right in front of a pickup truck that was hauling along pretty darn fast, the pickup slammed on his brakes and swerved to miss the fool. It was very close to being a very bad day. All the rest of the people in our group saw what had happened. We all kept our distance from him the rest of the trip. I'll never ride with him again. Buy the way...I saw the pickup comming, that was why I wasn't hauling *** onto I90, I was waiting for him to pass. One of the other people in our group confronted him about his less than steller riding at lunch, his response was "if people don't get the **** outta my way I run them over". Nice guy huh.

I guess it takes all kinds...too bad his is one of them.

Paul in Colorado

Sep 11, 2008 | 05:00 AM

#38

gofornitro

3rd Gear

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 7

Likes: 0

Thanks to everybody for the replies. It's funny to see how we all have the same experiences. I've been riding since I was kid (~40 years) and am amazed by all the "experts" that have come on the scene in the last few years. I'm just trying to have fun and keep it safe for everyone in the group. Like others commented here, charity rides are very rare (make the donation and head out on your own), and now even smaller group rides with unknown riders is becoming a risk (I forgot to mention the lane weaving too!). Keep riding and heads up for cars and bikes too!