Riding Etiquette
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 641
Likes: 30
From: Clovis, CA
Riding Etiquette
I'm new enough to riding the road...lots of years on the dirt, but i've only got about 1800 miles on my 2014 RK since I bought it in May. Yesterday, I got a ride going between me, a neighbor and a few of his friends. One of the friends Friends...a 4th guy I didn't know, was tagging along. Being that I haven't ridden in a group on the street, i let my neighbor lead. Also, since I'm a control freak...I was in last chase position (4th)...We all decided to go get gas, since the number 3 guy was saying he really needed gas. (I actually was already filled up, but I digress). We decide on a station not more than 4 miles away. While on our way, me in number 4 spot, the number 3 guy is lolly gagging. We're doing 30 in a 45 and the Number 1 and 2 guys are pulling away. Through a couple of lights we were able to catch up, but once on the freeway, this guy...who was supposedly experienced..(had the bike, the vest with patches, the goatee, and the weathered look...and the nickname to go with it all)...He kept getting farther and farther behind. I figured no big deal, we're all heading to the gas station. Well, we're out of sight of the number 1 and 2 guys and the Number 3 guy in front of me...blows by the turn off to the gas station. I was like WTF? Being that I've learned that riding is a big boys hobby, I figured number 3 can put on his big boy pants and either find the gas station himself or call his buddy who brought him and I blared my horn as I exited the freeway.
here's the question: Should I have sped up in front of him and led him off the freeway? What is the etiquette here? (Now, if I knew he didn't know where he was going, he was from out of town, etc. I would've jumped in front of him. But him not knowing where we were going, in a town he's from, and losing sight of the riders in front...Doesn't that just serve to teach a lesson?)
Flame on!
Mike
here's the question: Should I have sped up in front of him and led him off the freeway? What is the etiquette here? (Now, if I knew he didn't know where he was going, he was from out of town, etc. I would've jumped in front of him. But him not knowing where we were going, in a town he's from, and losing sight of the riders in front...Doesn't that just serve to teach a lesson?)
Flame on!
Mike
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,331
Likes: 56
From: north of Daytona
This all normally discussed before jiffy stands go up. "Hey guys, what do we do if we lose one another?"
Rides I hgave been on....LEAD guy leads. If group breaks in two.....Tail Gunner/sweep goes iinto lead.....until back on track.
In your case... the #3 may not have been able to keep up for whatever reason, and I think the 'do not leave a guy behind' rule comes into play. Especially if he was the bike that required fuel. Catch up to the jerk, say "Follow me, try to keep up best you can."
Rides I hgave been on....LEAD guy leads. If group breaks in two.....Tail Gunner/sweep goes iinto lead.....until back on track.
In your case... the #3 may not have been able to keep up for whatever reason, and I think the 'do not leave a guy behind' rule comes into play. Especially if he was the bike that required fuel. Catch up to the jerk, say "Follow me, try to keep up best you can."
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
riding with others is tough.
trust is built over many. many hours of hanging out and riding.
a number of times i have pulled off and waved others by...I'm not so social ( not much) that i need to put myself in an uncomfortable position just to "hang".
a pre-ride discussion is always good.
show up on time with gas oil, cables, tires etc etc checked.
figure out the positions- staggered, single file whatever.
run through some hand signals.
including the one that signifies a rider is bailing...maybe he finds the speed too fast or doesn't feel good with other riders...of he just got a phone call about work- what ever.
Over the years I really only have 3 Pals that I would ride side by each with.
i gotta a couple of Pals that I keep a distance from- and one , whose pipes are so annoying he always has to ride at the rear
on a group ride from a hog a dealer etc. where you don;t know the others...there will be inexperienced riders who WOT on the straights and lock it up on turns...stay away from these clowns.
Mike
trust is built over many. many hours of hanging out and riding.
a number of times i have pulled off and waved others by...I'm not so social ( not much) that i need to put myself in an uncomfortable position just to "hang".
a pre-ride discussion is always good.
show up on time with gas oil, cables, tires etc etc checked.
figure out the positions- staggered, single file whatever.
run through some hand signals.
including the one that signifies a rider is bailing...maybe he finds the speed too fast or doesn't feel good with other riders...of he just got a phone call about work- what ever.
Over the years I really only have 3 Pals that I would ride side by each with.
i gotta a couple of Pals that I keep a distance from- and one , whose pipes are so annoying he always has to ride at the rear
on a group ride from a hog a dealer etc. where you don;t know the others...there will be inexperienced riders who WOT on the straights and lock it up on turns...stay away from these clowns.
Mike
Last edited by mkguitar; Aug 24, 2014 at 03:06 PM.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Central MN
What to do? When i get caught in predicaments like that I usually suck it up and deal with it. I ride with a variety of riders. I ride with family members occasionally that can't ride past a bar or a gas station. Sucks but i deal with it. I ride with buddies occasionally that if i lead, they get lost. If i follow they can't do the speed limit. Drives me nuts but i deal with it. Not to sound like an anti-social pos but I rode 560 solo miles one way to Sturgis this year and I can't remember enjoying a ride as much as that one.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 6,129
Likes: 143
From: Santa Cruz
What to do? When i get caught in predicaments like that I usually suck it up and deal with it. I ride with a variety of riders. I ride with family members occasionally that can't ride past a bar or a gas station. Sucks but i deal with it. I ride with buddies occasionally that if i lead, they get lost. If i follow they can't do the speed limit. Drives me nuts but i deal with it. Not to sound like an anti-social pos but I rode 560 solo miles one way to Sturgis this year and I can't remember enjoying a ride as much as that one.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,056
Likes: 11,078
From: San Diego, CA
In the early 80's I rode from SD to Yosemite with a group, as a yearly ride. One year we had 56 bikes make the trip. The protocols were discussed and everyone stayed together. There was even a small group of riders, that I would ride side by side with through the narrow twisties of Yosemite.
Great riders... great times...
Life got in the way, things changed, and I haven't ridden with anyone in that group since the early 90's. I didn't know how good I had it...
Something has changed....
Fast forward to 2005'ish... New group, newer riders, and it was totally different. I couldn't ride with a group of 4 or more, when there wasn't at least one guy, totally clueless... just doing his own thing. Why did he go on a group ride!?
As mentioned before, I'll stick with a guy with a problem, but won't hold someone's hand or babysit someone oblivious to what the group is doing....
I've recently ridden with 5 riders or less, who took up more roadway than 15 guys from the old days....
There were slowpokes (5 to 10 mph below speed limit) who would fall out of sight, and then complain that the pace was too fast.
Guys insisting on maintaing a car length for every 10 MPH between bikes in a staggered formation. It frustrated people caught behind us and it made it impossible for them to pass without cutting into the group.
One group leader insisted on cruising in the #1 lane (fast lane) of the freeway, causing anyone over the speed limit to go around on the right.
I felt it just got too dangerous. .... I finally gave up.
I rarely ride with groups... Now, I'll wave off if it gets too ridiculous and go on my own.....
I rode from upstate NY to San Diego.... alone........ best ride I've had in 25 years.....
I sure miss the old crew....!
Great riders... great times...
Life got in the way, things changed, and I haven't ridden with anyone in that group since the early 90's. I didn't know how good I had it...
Something has changed....
Fast forward to 2005'ish... New group, newer riders, and it was totally different. I couldn't ride with a group of 4 or more, when there wasn't at least one guy, totally clueless... just doing his own thing. Why did he go on a group ride!?
As mentioned before, I'll stick with a guy with a problem, but won't hold someone's hand or babysit someone oblivious to what the group is doing....
I've recently ridden with 5 riders or less, who took up more roadway than 15 guys from the old days....
There were slowpokes (5 to 10 mph below speed limit) who would fall out of sight, and then complain that the pace was too fast.
Guys insisting on maintaing a car length for every 10 MPH between bikes in a staggered formation. It frustrated people caught behind us and it made it impossible for them to pass without cutting into the group.
One group leader insisted on cruising in the #1 lane (fast lane) of the freeway, causing anyone over the speed limit to go around on the right.
I felt it just got too dangerous. .... I finally gave up.
I rarely ride with groups... Now, I'll wave off if it gets too ridiculous and go on my own.....
I rode from upstate NY to San Diego.... alone........ best ride I've had in 25 years.....
I sure miss the old crew....!
Last edited by hattitude; Aug 24, 2014 at 02:09 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 803
Likes: 3
From: In the wind.....
It's stories like this that affirm why I will not join any riding group/club. I do have friends that I ride with but we are of equal skill and keep up with each other.
I travel to visit a friend several states away. I don't know the roads there very well. When I ride with them I make sure I don't fall behind.
Pretty simple, lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way
I travel to visit a friend several states away. I don't know the roads there very well. When I ride with them I make sure I don't fall behind.
Pretty simple, lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way