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
PACE:
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.
Riding in a group can be heaps of fun, but its also
important to remember those around for you. All we
ask as a club is that you have consideration for the
whole group when riding. Kick those riders past who
have caught up to you, and be patient when you catch
up to another rider, especially as they will be
kicking you through momentarily.
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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