Hi all, it’s Darian
here hoping to impart a little bit of wisdom learned over the years in
regard to riding in a group situation, with some do’s and don’ts of group
riding. This article is aiming to help everyone enjoy a FUN and SAFE ride.
Please note that this article is by no means a letter TO anyone in
particular, just things that myself and other have seen (and done) over a
few years of riding and would like to put in print to help others feel a
part of the club and let us learn the easy way. Anyway, here goes;
FORMATION:
You know? The way everyone rides staggered on alternate sides within a
lane. This is a great thing because it allows everyone to ride closer and
more bunched up, making our visibility to other traffic far superior. It
also gives everyone a full lane width to avoid road kill or potholes
without taking anyone out!
Within the group, it makes your own visibility much improved as you can
see further forward without some boofhead ruining you line of sight. Also,
in reverse view, you can see much more out of your mirrors. In addition,
the middle of a lane is where all the loose stones sit. So please stay out of the middle
of the lane.
Note that as speeds rise, so should the gap between riders. If you are a
few bike lengths behind at 50kph that’s fine, but 100kph you are too
close! As a rough rule, double the speed, double the gap.
RIDE YOUR OWN RIDE:
This is one of Mark Chapman’s famous catch cries and is, I believe, the
most important of all. You will hear it at the start of all our rides, but
I don’t think it sinks in to many people. One quick look at everyone at
the start of a ride and you will see the “different strokes” among our
club being guy’s, girls, experienced riders, learners, fast bikes, slow
bikes, fast riders and ‘cautious’ riders. Our club has no minimum standard
of skill required. Nobody cares in the slightest possible way how fast you
are. You won’t win a medal for coming first, it’s a road ride not a race.
There are very fast guys out there that ride very conservatively (and
could eat you for breakfast if they wanted), but chose to leave a bit up
their sleeve in case of emergencies. Some people just don’t get it. Go to
a club track day and you’ll understand. If you are pushing your limits
trying to keep up, you are heaps more likely to come to grief. Take it
easy and do your own thing.
On the flip side (this is just as important), for the more cautious riders
amongst us, nobody cares how long they have to wait at a corner for you.
Some riders prefer to let everyone go ahead and have no distractions so
they can concentrate on the road. We aren’t fazed in the slightest if we
have to wait 20 minutes on a corner, someone always stops for a chat and
you get to watch mono practice. We’d all prefer this way rather than
organizing a trailer for a crashed bike or worse!
Also, if others are doing illegal things, i.e. overtaking over double
lines, you are in no way obligated to follow. Do only what you are happy
and comfortable with.
Keep WELL within your limits and don’t be sucked in to cornering way to
fast for your skill level. That person in front of you may have been
riding for 10 years and spent loads of time on race tracks. This would
have to be the most common way for riders to become unstuck on a group
tour. Do not ride outside of your limits. There is always someone quicker
than you (unless your last name is Rossi!).
OVERTAKING:
This is very simple but has many more facets than you may think. The
underlying theme is that if you stuff up and cause an accident, you are
going to take down many others with you!!! BE PATIENT. Most stupid
overtaking moves happen because someone is rushing or trying to keep up.
Firstly, for all riders, PLEASE keep checking your mirrors while riding.
If someone is right on your tail, they probably want to get past. It will
stop someone getting frustrated and doing something stupid. It amazes me
how many people I have sat behind that NEVER check their mirrors! If
you see someone right on your tail with their indicator on, they are
asking nicely to overtake you; so if you can, help them out and give them
some room to overtake.
To overtake a rider within the same lane, there really is only one
acceptable way to do it. Once the rider in front acknowledges they have
seen you, they will move into the left of their lane and flick or kick
their leg to motion a passing move to you. Once again, overtaking slowly
is the ticket. In general, we do not overtake on a rider’s
left side, or on the inside of a corner. It's not a race track, leave
you're passing to the straights were possible.
If someone catches up to you in the twisties, don't race them on the
straight, or accelerate hard when they try to overtake you. Back off and
let them past safely, if they had caught up to you, they’re most likely
more skilled anyway.
When overtaking someone within the group don't cut back immediately (if
possible) and spray them with stones from the centre of the road. No one
likes stone chips on their pride and joy, or holes in their radiators.
There is no rush; just keep accelerating and move back steadily (if you
have a choice of course).
Don’t do stupid overtaking maneuvers of cars. If an oncoming driver a)
flashes their lights at you or b) shits themselves and swerves to the left
of the road, you most likely have stuffed up! Think about the safety of
people behind you.
Avoid overtaking other bikes within the group at high speed. They often
don't see you coming, it frightens the crap out of them, and it really is
the last thing you expect from another rider you are riding with. Be
patient. If someone is slower and you want to pass, come up slowly and
move into the other lane as if you were passing a car (preferably not at
13000rpm!).
When passing a few cars, you can be sure that you will have someone, if
not several riders, following you. At the end of the day, you are
responsible for yourself only, and it is up to the riders behind to make
their own decision as to what is safe. There are so many variables to
consider for yourself, let alone to worry about everyone else behind you.
Firstly, try to avoid overtaking as a group. The lead rider may judge
their ‘overtake’ so that they can pass safely, but it may leave you hung
out to dry on the wrong side of the road.
On the flip side, don’t ‘chop’ or turn off your throttle once you’re 2cm
past a car/truck etc if you can avoid it and you have room. Maintaining a
steady throttle makes it easier for those behind you to judge there own
pass.
GENERAL:
When meeting in the morning for a ride, you are expected to have a full
tank of juice.
If one fills up at a servo, we all fill up. Use the lead rider as a guide.
Corner marking (briefly) - Firstly, the ‘lead’ rider and ‘sweep’ (or last)
rider are chosen at the riders briefing in the morning. Upon approaching
an intersection or turn-off, the lead rider signals to the second rider in
the group to stop and wait with their bike pointing in the new direction.
Once all other riders have passed, the sweep rider, usually wearing a
flouro armband, will then signal with
their hand an ‘L’ letting them know that they are the last rider, and for
the ‘corner marker’ to continue. Next corner, we do it all over again and
again and again………. If something needs to be communicated to a corner
marker, pull over and TELL them. Hand signals only lead to confusion
and mistakes.
You NEVER leave the corner till the last rider comes through. The sweep rider NEVER passes anyone.
If you have somehow still managed to stuff up (it does happen, no dramas –
once!!!) you will eventually come to a corner, hopefully a tee
intersection. If no-one is waiting, you should be suspicious. STOP YOUR
BIKE AND WAIT. We’d rather not chase you down one of two roads.
When on a big ride with lots of turn-off’s the leader rider may pull
over to regroup, DO NOT GET OFF AND LIGHT UP A CIGGY, or take any gear off. Be guided
by the lead rider - if he stays on the bike, helmet and gloves on, do the
same. It usually means that we’ll be continuing shortly.
This is for the new members – For your first ride, the easiest place to
start the day is at the back of the pack, regardless of how good a rider
you may think you are. You most likely will have no idea of what people
are doing or how fast they are capable of going, so this will save you
from getting into a sticky situation. If you are comfortably keeping up,
you can slowly move through the pack till you find someone who rides that
same pace as you, and generally, this will be a good place to stay.
We seem to be getting quite a few newbie’s turning up and wanting to ride
at the front of the pack to show everyone how good they are, and I have
seen too many near misses from people trying way too hard to keep up.
You’ll have a much greater chance of stuffing up and pissing people off,
or at the very least, looking a bit stupid. If you are told to slow down,
it’s for your benefit, so listen and slow down.
Pay attention and learn from what other riders around you are doing – it
takes time to build up trust from other riders within the club, but if you
start of on the wrong foot it will take a lot longer.
This was written in an attempt to get people to think a little more about
those around us.
Don’t be shy to ask ANY questions. Like they say, there is no such thing
as a stupid question, only stupid people! (okay, forget the last three
words, I had to quote South Park!).
Darian
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