Introduction to Group Riding

 

Riding with a group of friends appeals to many riders and is an activity that can enhance your motorcycling experience. However, riding with a group that has not developed any group guidelines can be a most unpleasant experience. Riding a motorcycle by nature is a solitary activity, but riding with others will bring some benefits, such as: someone to be aware of you if you have trouble, someone to help with routes, and someone to socialize with at stops.

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General Group Riding Guidelines

 

Arrive at the starting point early and with a full tank of gas. Communicate your gas/mileage range with the ride coordinator so stops can be planned ahead of time. If you decide to leave the group, inform the ride coordinator at one of the stops.

 

The ride coordinator, or ride leader, should be experienced and have good vision, perceptual, and decision-making ability.

 

Each rider is responsible for the safe operating condition of his/her motorcycle. Carry appropriate riding gear for the conditions you expect to encounter and carry a first aid (trauma) kit and know how to use it. Ride within your limits, as a typical ride will be in remote areas without emergency services. Don’t allow peer pressure, pride, or stupidity push you beyond your comfort level. Expect to carry a map or a route sheet and know where the planned stops are if you need to fall back.

Planning Considerations for a Group Ride (Group Coordinator)

 

Get to know your group by having a pre-ride meeting and meeting individually with newer riders beforehand. Try to find out about other’s riding experience and expectations.

 

Types of motorcycles can sometime give the leader a clue about riding styles, but not always. High performance sport bikes tend to have riders who are looking for corners to carve, while cruisers and touring bikes riders may be out to enjoy the day. Dirt bike or dual-sport riders may enjoy everything and not mind riding on un-paved or rustic roads.

 

You may end up with a mix of riders and machines with a variety of experience and expectations (depending upon how you advertise your ride), or if someone brings a co-worker or roommate along. If you emphasize riding your own ride, and provide information about the route and planned stops, the groups will migrate to a variety of sub-groups based on friendship, speed, or mood. Stick with your planned route.

Positioning

 

Maintain the following formation for normal group riding. On narrow roads, curvy or mountainous roads, areas where visibility is limited, construction areas, loose surfaces, and when there is an obstacle in the roadway, ride single file.

 

It is inadvisable to ride side-by-side. Riding side-by-side looks cool on that old TV show, "CHiPs," but is not safe—it decreases your space cushion and reduces your possible paths of travel and escape routes if there is a hazard. Sharing a lane with another vehicle is illegal in Minnesota, unless the two motorcyclists agree to do so beforehand. 

 

When coming to a stop, consider lining up side-by-side to take up less room in traffic, and to proceed more efficiently: two at a time.

 

 

Adjust your lane position to deal with hazards and invasions of your space cushion. Use at least 2-second spacing when riding single file, such as in twisty sections. Above all, use common sense.

 

Remember that two seconds is a MINIMUM space cushion, and more room is needed at high speeds, in heavy traffic, in the rain, or at night.

Even if your group is large, break up into smaller groups of no more than 3-5 riders. Smaller groups are less likely to cause disruptions in traffic flow, and the spaces between the groups allow other vehicles to merge, exit, or pass safely. 

Passing

 

Passing cars or other riders in the group is fine, as long as passing is done on the left, and adequate room is given the vehicle being passed. Each rider passing is responsible for making sure that they have enough room to pass. Although lead riders may pass aggressively to make sure they leave enough room for other riders to also pass, it is the responsibility of following riders to make sure they have enough room before pulling out to pass. If you are being crowded by a rider following you, move to the right and slow down, wave them forward, and let the following rider pass.

 

RIDERS PASSING ON THE RIGHT, WEAVING THROUGH GROUPS OF RIDERS, TAILGATING OR OTHERWISE RIDING IRRESPONSIBLY ARE NOT WELCOME ON GROUP RIDES.

Group Behavior

 

No drinking alcohol and riding. If the ride includes an overnight stay, responsible drinking is permitted after the motorcycles are parked for the night. If you are taking medications make sure someone in the group is aware of any special needs you may have.

Route Sheets

 

Everyone on the ride should know where it begins, goes, stops, and ends. Many groups use a traditional map (right).

 

However, a simple route sheet, handed out before the ride, can help ensure everyone has fun and no one gets left behind. A tank bag is a perfect place for a route sheet while riding. A back pocket is not. Not everyone can easily carry a route sheet, so make sure at least one rider in every subgroup has one.

  • Be aware of who has a route sheet and who does not
  • Route sheets should be simple, clear (with large type), and small. Alternate lines of text with different (bold) font or use different (white/gray) backgrounds to ease readability

Below is a sample from an imaginary route sheet:

 

***Cumulative
Direction** Miles* Road Miles
R North 0.9 MN 101 0.9
L West 1.2 CR 144 (141st Ave.) 2.1
R North 3.1 CR 116 5.2
S North 7.7 CR 121 12.9
R East 4.9 CR B 17.8

 

* Incremental mileage on this road

** Direction R = "Right," L = "Left," S = "Straight”

***Cumulative mileage can be used, but most riders prefer the incremental method for long rides, where vehicle differences and other errors can add up significantly.

 

How to read this route sheet:

 

Leave on MN 101 heading North for 0.9 miles. Turn left and head west on County Road 144 (also marked as 141st Avenue.) At 3.1 miles, look for your right turn on County Road 116, which will change to County Road 121 at the county line. Follow 116/121 for a total of 18.1 miles, then turn right and go east on County Road B for 17.8 miles.

 

An Alternative

 

If you don’t want to use a route sheet, there is an alternative. Some groups make it a practice to wait at turns for the next rider.

 

It works like this: you are responsible only for the rider behind you. The leader is the one who knows the route and waits for the next rider at every turn. When the second rider has seen and acknowledged the leader, the leader continues. The second rider then waits at that turn until the third rider sees and acknowledges them, then continues. And so on.

 

This is a great method for an informal group outing. You will find that keeping a consistent pace and distance from other riders will allow you to conduct a group ride without ever stopping to wait at a turn.

 

Final Note

 

These are just rough guidelines for a successful group ride. Every group has their own objective, style, and personality. Take these ideas and adapt them to make them work for you.

 

If you would like to read more about group riding theory, rules, and procedures, try the msgroup.org forum (off site link) for additional viewpoints and strategies.

 

Some groups have highly-structured and well-thought-out rules for group riding, using road captains, set order, and numerous hand signals. To see other viewpoints on group riding, I suggest these links:

 

http://www.gwrra.org/regional/ridered/pdf/roadcaptain.pdf

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/downs/2207/gpride.html

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/downs/2207/rideldr.html

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/downs/2207/gptrip.html

 

Above all, have fun. Riding alone or with a passenger is the most enjoyable activity I can think of. Riding in a group can take that enjoyment and double it.

 

Back to Safety Tips

 

Last Updated 1/12/2007

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