Group riding etiquette 101

SPACEBOY · 02-04-2007, 06:23 PM

Here is some riding etiquette for group rides taken from another board. Since we are having more group rides lately I thought this would be informative for all.

Group riding is fun, but can be a tricky thing, especially when there are some newbies in the group. So please read the following.

1) Always ride in staggered formation, unless we start hitting hard twisties, then ride in single file. Allow yourself a safe distance from the rider ahead of you.

2) For experienced riders: Always show your front wheel before passing. Only attempt this if and only it is safe. For example, overtaking a cager or fellow rider when an upcoming turn is only 30 or 40 feet away is not safe since it does not give the cager/rider ahead enough time to react.

3) Never pass or buzz by in the same lane UNLESS waved on first.

4) Never pass during a curve or turn.

5) Never cross the double solid yellow line trying to overtake a rider or cager.

6) Signal lane changes with signal lights and or hand signals.

7) Signal debris in the road with foot signals (putting a foot out where the debris is to let the person behind you know there is something in the road).

8) During busy intersection turns, the second lead guy should turn wide and block traffic for the rest of the group.(The use of this is debatable depending on the size of your group)

9) Always ride at YOUR pace within your limits... NEVER try to keep up if someone is riding faster than you. Don't worry, the group will always wait at the next turn-off.

10) Positioning: Lead guy (point-man) in front, of course.
More experienced riders at or near the front.
Newbies at the rear.
"Sweep" following last.

11) Fill-up with gas BEFORE arriving at the meet.

SoCalZX6R · 02-04-2007, 11:17 PM

That's allot to learn.. is there gonna be a test? - How about keep group to 4 bikes - I hate big group rides - too many bikes make for issues.

02-05-2007, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCalZX6R

That's allot to learn.. is there gonna be a test? - How about keep group to 4 bikes - I hate big group rides - too many bikes make for issues.

By all means, stay home.

I've led rides with over 25 bikes, numerous times, and usually all goes off without a hitch.

CAN there be issues? You bet. Issues can be dealt with early on with a good group mentality and keeping egos in check.

SPACEBOY · 02-05-2007, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wanderer

By all means, stay home.

I've led rides with over 25 bikes, numerous times, and usually all goes off without a hitch.

CAN there be issues? You bet. Issues can be dealt with early on with a good group mentality and keeping egos in check.

JakeR1 · 02-05-2007, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPACEBOY

Here is some riding etiquette for group rides taken from another board. Since we are having more group rides lately I thought this would be informative for all.

Group riding is fun, but can be a tricky thing, especially when there are some newbies in the group. So please read the following.

1) Always ride in staggered formation, unless we start hitting hard twisties, then ride in single file. Allow yourself a safe distance from the rider ahead of you.

2) For experienced riders: Always show your front wheel before passing. Only attempt this if and only it is safe. For example, overtaking a cager or fellow rider when an upcoming turn is only 30 or 40 feet away is not safe since it does not give the cager/rider ahead enough time to react.

3) Never pass or buzz by in the same lane UNLESS waved on first.

4) Never pass during a curve or turn.

5) Never cross the double solid yellow line trying to overtake a rider or cager.

6) Signal lane changes with signal lights and or hand signals.

7) Signal within-lane position changes with foot signals.

8) During busy intersection turns, the second lead guy should turn wide and block traffic for the rest of the group.

9) Always ride at YOUR pace within your limits... NEVER try to keep up if someone is riding faster than you. Don't worry, the group will always wait at the next turn-off.

10) Positioning: Lead guy (point-man) in front, of course.
More experienced riders at or near the front.
Newbies at the rear.
"Sweep" following last.

11) Fill-up with gas BEFORE arriving at the meet.

12) Lane-switching on the highway:
When switching lanes while riding in a large group we must follow a standard procedure. And in order to do this correctly and safely, we need RESPONSIBLE leaders, lane-holders, and sweepers.

To explain the lane-switch procedure, it's easiest to use an example. Let's say there are 10 of us in the right lane. The leader wants to change lanes.

a.) He looks, and once it's safe for him AND the number 2 rider to change lanes, he switches lanes.
The number 2 rider then switches with him. That number 2 rider is now the LANE-HOLDER.

b.) The lane-holder slows down and begins to drop back so that the number 3 rider can pass him. Once safely past the lane-holder, the number 3 rider merges into the lane behind the leader.

c.) The lane-holder continues to drop back, allowing the number 4 rider to merge in, then the number 5 rider, and so on.

d.) When it's the sweeper's turn to merge in, he does so. Then the lane-holder must show the sweeper his front wheel, and the sweeper must allow the lane-holder to pass him within the same lane, so the sweeper can resume the sweeper position.

I see several things wrong with this.

7) Signal within-lane position changes with foot signals.
Foot signals are used to signal debris in the road, not lane position changes. This could be very confusing, especially to new riders.

8) During busy intersection turns, the second lead guy should turn wide and block traffic for the rest of the group.
You never need to block traffic at an intersection. That's just plain dangerous. If for some reason your group gets separated, pull over and wait for them. Or make sure that you have experienced riders that know the route and regrouping points scattered throughout the group.

10) Positioning: Lead guy (point-man) in front, of course.
More experienced riders at or near the front.
Newbies at the rear.
"Sweep" following last.
Ok, not all bad, but you need to have someone to help out the noobs in the rear, not just a "sweep rider".

12) Lane-switching on the highway:
When switching lanes while riding in a large group we must follow a standard procedure. And in order to do this correctly and safely, we need RESPONSIBLE leaders, lane-holders, and sweepers.

To explain the lane-switch procedure, it's easiest to use an example. Let's say there are 10 of us in the right lane. The leader wants to change lanes.

a.) He looks, and once it's safe for him AND the number 2 rider to change lanes, he switches lanes.
The number 2 rider then switches with him. That number 2 rider is now the LANE-HOLDER.

b.) The lane-holder slows down and begins to drop back so that the number 3 rider can pass him. Once safely past the lane-holder, the number 3 rider merges into the lane behind the leader.

c.) The lane-holder continues to drop back, allowing the number 4 rider to merge in, then the number 5 rider, and so on.

d.) When it's the sweeper's turn to merge in, he does so. Then the lane-holder must show the sweeper his front wheel, and the sweeper must allow the lane-holder to pass him within the same lane, so the sweeper can resume the sweeper position.
This is probably the most retarded thing I have ever heard.

Now, so that I'm not being completely negative, the points that I didn't just rip to shreds are good ideas.

lovinmyf4i · 02-05-2007, 11:28 AM

Some good points in there... but the highway lane change procedure is super complicated.

JakeR1 · 02-05-2007, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lovinmyf4i

Some good points in there... but the highway lane change procedure is super complicated.

And retarded.

SPACEBOY · 02-05-2007, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JakeR1

I see several things wrong with this.

7) Signal within-lane position changes with foot signals.
Foot signals are used to signal debris in the road, not lane position changes. This could be very confusing, especially to new riders.

8) During busy intersection turns, the second lead guy should turn wide and block traffic for the rest of the group.
You never need to block traffic at an intersection. That's just plain dangerous. If for some reason your group gets separated, pull over and wait for them. Or make sure that you have experienced riders that know the route and regrouping points scattered throughout the group.

10) Positioning: Lead guy (point-man) in front, of course.
More experienced riders at or near the front.
Newbies at the rear.
"Sweep" following last.
Ok, not all bad, but you need to have someone to help out the noobs in the rear, not just a "sweep rider".

12) Lane-switching on the highway:
When switching lanes while riding in a large group we must follow a standard procedure. And in order to do this correctly and safely, we need RESPONSIBLE leaders, lane-holders, and sweepers.

To explain the lane-switch procedure, it's easiest to use an example. Let's say there are 10 of us in the right lane. The leader wants to change lanes.

a.) He looks, and once it's safe for him AND the number 2 rider to change lanes, he switches lanes.
The number 2 rider then switches with him. That number 2 rider is now the LANE-HOLDER.

b.) The lane-holder slows down and begins to drop back so that the number 3 rider can pass him. Once safely past the lane-holder, the number 3 rider merges into the lane behind the leader.

c.) The lane-holder continues to drop back, allowing the number 4 rider to merge in, then the number 5 rider, and so on.

d.) When it's the sweeper's turn to merge in, he does so. Then the lane-holder must show the sweeper his front wheel, and the sweeper must allow the lane-holder to pass him within the same lane, so the sweeper can resume the sweeper position.
This is probably the most retarded thing I have ever heard.

Now, so that I'm not being completely negative, the points that I didn't just rip to shreds are good ideas.

Granted some of these can use some work so we canmodify them to our liking.
As far as #7 goes the first group rides I ever went on they used this method for changing lanes. It is more common with cruisers to do this than sportbikes.
The same with #8. This was always done on the larger group rides. Then again for part of those rides we also had a police escort and they also did this for us.
#10, usually one sweep is enough. If you have a bunch of complet noobs then yes I could see having another rider in back to help out.
#12, it is pretty complicated and really is not needed for our rides.

Edit to original post to follow.

SoCalZX6R · 02-05-2007, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wanderer

By all means, stay home.

Rude ~

SPACEBOY · 02-05-2007, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCalZX6R

Rude ~

Jacques you know Darrin is only rude to those he loves.

02-04-2007, 11:17 PM	#2
SoCalZX6R Newbie Join Date: May 2005 Location: San Marcos Posts: 39 iTrader: (0) Rep Power: 0 (15)	That's allot to learn.. is there gonna be a test? - How about keep group to 4 bikes - I hate big group rides - too many bikes make for issues. __________________ ~JB

02-05-2007, 11:28 AM	#6
lovinmyf4i Club Racer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Bikes: '07 Triumph Daytona 675; '01 Yamaha R6 (track bike) Age: 26 Posts: 2,244 iTrader: (0) Rep Power: 5 (58)	Some good points in there... but the highway lane change procedure is super complicated. __________________ *-Chip* "Word to your momz, I came to drop bombz" '07 Triumph Daytona 675 (street) - '01 Yamaha R6 (track)

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02-04-2007, 06:23 PM	#1
SPACEBOY Club Racer Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,204 iTrader: (1) Rep Power: 6 (40)	Group riding etiquette 101 Here is some riding etiquette for group rides taken from another board. Since we are having more group rides lately I thought this would be informative for all. Group riding is fun, but can be a tricky thing, especially when there are some newbies in the group. So please read the following. 1) Always ride in staggered formation, unless we start hitting hard twisties, then ride in single file. Allow yourself a safe distance from the rider ahead of you. 2) For experienced riders: Always show your front wheel before passing. Only attempt this if and only it is safe. For example, overtaking a cager or fellow rider when an upcoming turn is only 30 or 40 feet away is not safe since it does not give the cager/rider ahead enough time to react. 3) Never pass or buzz by in the same lane UNLESS waved on first. 4) Never pass during a curve or turn. 5) Never cross the double solid yellow line trying to overtake a rider or cager. 6) Signal lane changes with signal lights and or hand signals. 7) Signal debris in the road with foot signals (putting a foot out where the debris is to let the person behind you know there is something in the road). 8) During busy intersection turns, the second lead guy should turn wide and block traffic for the rest of the group.(The use of this is debatable depending on the size of your group) 9) Always ride at YOUR pace within your limits... NEVER try to keep up if someone is riding faster than you. Don't worry, the group will always wait at the next turn-off. 10) Positioning: Lead guy (point-man) in front, of course. More experienced riders at or near the front. Newbies at the rear. "Sweep" following last. 11) Fill-up with gas BEFORE arriving at the meet. Last edited by SPACEBOY : 02-05-2007 at 06:59 PM.