BMB Rockets Motorcycle Club

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.

• Establish guidelines for safety and cooperation

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.

• Arrive early
• Have a full tank of gas
• Be certain your bike is in safe, reliable operating condition
• Know your mileage/fatigue limit
• Communicate your intentions
• Be prepared for any weather
• Be prepared for an emergency
• Ride your own ride

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.

• Know who you’re riding with
• Make sure they ride THEIR own ride
• Hand out maps or route sheets

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.  

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.

• Allow as much space for yourself and others as you would riding alone
• Don’t follow any rider closer than the distance that rider is following the vehicle in front of them

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. 

• Break up into small groups

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.

• Pass only on the left
• Pass only when you are certain you have enough room
• Allow other riders to pass you
• Respect the space of others

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.

• Alcohol and motorcycles are a stupid combination that impresses no one. Even one drink can seriously affect your judgment and timing. If you’re going to bar-hop, drink root beer. If you like drinking and riding, stay home. You’re not welcome.

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:

* 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.

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

NO ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AT ANYTIME DURING THE RIDE !!!

1. Formation 
Riding will be in a standard formation unless the leader calls for single file. In stagged formation, the bikes form two columns, with the leader at the head of either the right or the left column, as he chooses. The second bike will head the second column and will ride approximatly 1 second behind the leader (and in the opposite side of the lane). The other riders will position their bikes 2 seconds behind the bike directly in front of them, which puts them 1 second behind the diagonal bike.

This formation allows each rider suffient safety space and discourags other vehicles from cutting into the line. The last rider or Sweep may ride on whichever side of the lane he prefers. He will have to change sides during the ride, based on the situation at the moment.

Depending on the number of participants on a ride, we will break into smaller groups of up to 8 riders, each with its own Ride Leader and Sweep. All groups will follow the same route and make the same stops. Each group will stay together during the entire ride, meeting up with the other groups at the designated stops. If an individual rider is planning to leave the ride at any time, he must inform his Ride Leader when and where he plans to do so.

2. Road Captain 
The Road Captain is responsible for the overall organization of the ride. He will route the ride, distribute route maps, and designate gas stops and stopping points. He will assign Ride Leaders and Sweeps to each individual group and assist in staging the bikes into groups. He will lead the first group, launch the ride and communicate any information to the riders necessary to ensure a safe and enjoyable ride

NO ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AT ANYTIME DURING THE RIDE !!!

3. Ride Leader 
The Ride Leader is responsible for the safety of the entire formation of his group. He must be aware of the length of the columns, and must gauge the passing of merges, highway entrances and exits, etc., to allow for maximum safety and keeping the group together. He must make sure that he leaves enough time/space for the formation to get into the appropriate lanes before exits, etc. All directions come from the Ride Leader. The Ride Leader makes all decisions regarding lane changes, closing of gaps, turning off at exits, any concerns of what lies ahead, and so on. No individual will assert himself independently without direction from the Ride Leader to do so. If his group gets split up for any reason, he will pull off at the next available safe place and wait for the remainder of his group to catch up.

4. Sweep 
The Sweep serves as the eyes of the Ride Leader. He watches the formation, and signals the Ride Leader of any potential problems within the group. He watches other vehicles, will watch for merging lanes, and will move into a merging lane (or stay in a merging lane just vacated by the group) in order to “close the door” on other vehicles that may otherwise find themselves trying to merge into the formation. He will also assist in any emergency situations that may develop.

NO ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AT ANYTIME DURING THE RIDE !!!

5. New Riders
The position of new (inexperienced with GROUP riding) riders whitin the group is significant. New riders should be positioned as close to the front as possible.

6. Lane Changes
All lane changing starts with a signal frm the Ride Leader. The Ride Leader will put on his signal as an indication that he is about to order a lane change. As each rider sees the directional signal, he also turns his on, so the riders following him get the signal. The leader then initiates the change. All other riders change lanes too. The important concept is that NO ONE moves until the bike in front of him has started moving.

NO ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AT ANYTIME DURING THE RIDE !!!

7. Emergencies
In the unlikely event of an emergency condition, the Ride Leader will make every attempt to move the formation to the shoulder in an orderly manner. If a bike breaks down, let the rider move to the right. DO NOT STOP. The Sweep will stop with the problem bike. The Ride Leader will lead the rest of his group to a safe stopping place. If another group comes along and sees that a group is stopped, it should continue on to the next scheduled stopping point. If a group comes along a rider in an emergency situation and that rider is not being assisted, then the Ride Leader should stop his group at the next available safe stopping point and offer assistance.

8. Hand Signals
Each rider (or passenger) should duplicate all hand signals given by the rider in front of him, so that the signals get passed all the way to the back of the formation. The following signals are used in addition to the standard (right turn, left turn slow /stop) hand signals. Hand Signals 

NO ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AT ANYTIME DURING THE RIDE !!!

 Spring is upon us. The birds are returning north, flowers are beginning to blossom, and motorcyclists are pulling their motorcycles out of the garage after a long winter’s nap. A study of motorcycle mishaps from 2008 - 2009 determined motorcycle fatal mishaps doubled in the spring over the winter season numbers. With this in mind, ask Presidents or Road Captains to have a  Spring Focus for all motorcyclists and their leadership. March began the ―Spring Focus on motorcycle mishaps. Past fatal spring motorcycle mishaps indicate: 

- The average fatal motorcycle mishap involved a male between the average age of 28

 - Mishaps primarily occurred during the day, while operating a sport bike and speeding

 - Another significant factor was limited experience due to no training or license, or training and licensing for less than a year

 Riders can protect themselves by:

 - Preparing yourself for getting back on the motorcycle; know that your skills aren’t what they were when you put the bike in storage

 - Preparing your bike; pre-check your equipment before you ride

 - Preparing your personal safety equipment; make sure you are protected against the unexpected

 - Realizing that car drivers are not use to seeing you—they will see you late or not at all

 Presidents, Road Captains, and members can help prepare riders by:

 - Asking riders if they have pre-checked themselves and their bike.

 - Talking to them about the hazards of the road

 - Helping inexperienced riders prepare for the season

 We can help reduce motorcycle mishaps through concerted efforts of all motorcyclists.  Presidents and Road Captains lead the way. 

Enjoy the ride, but make sure you and your bike are up for the new riding season.