Group riding guide

[McGee]

First things first not all my material, some of it is from other people just combind for this little guide.

Group Riding Tips

1.
Always show up on time – or early! If the group has set a leave time of 10am – arriving at 9:45am will give time to chat and say hello. Getting there at 10:15am, just as the group has finished their pre-ride hellos and route discussion, has donned helmets, and has fired up engines, will make you unlikely to win the Best Riding Buddy award.

2.
Always show up with a full tank of fuel. Although almost everyone likes to spend time standing around talking about bikes, there are limits. The rider who needs to stop in the first 20 miles to fill a tank will not see the faces being pulled – unless he has x-ray vision.

3.
Always bring cash and plastic. Some of the eating establishments motorcyclists favor for lunch breaks – small, out of the way, casual, and interesting – may not credit cards. Having to borrow money from friends you may have just met is always a bad idea.

Be prepared. This is the UK. You’ll always need a warmer layer if your ride is in the later months. You’ll always need some sort of rain protection. You should always have a first aid kit with you. A spare pair of gloves would be a good idea. Easy to get carried away here, and for sure some modern sport bikes are luggage-capacity challenged, but ending a ride early because John is going to get the sniffles, or worse, is a drag.

4.
Clean your bike and make sure its 'safe'. This may ruffle a feather or two with the lazy people out there, When you ride as a member of a group, Many people take a lot of pride in the appearance of their motorcycles – and rightfully so. Some people like your bike to be spotless but this is my viewpoint and that of a few others its not my place to tell you to clean it just a clean bike looks nice. It’s unlikely anyone will make a disparaging remark about your bike showing up for a ride caked with last week’s road grime. Also a non-road legal bike might upset the members of the group. At least this is how i see it. Not every one needs a perfect bike but remember that a unsafe bike is not only putting you at risk.

5.
Be willing to compromise. Everyone has a different choice of pace. Every motorcycle has a slightly different "sweet spot" for a given gear and speed. In addition, all OEM motorcycle speedometers are inaccurate (intentionally) on the high side. Put it all together and you will have differing "correct" speeds among members of the group. As long as the leader’s pace is somewhere within reason, just go with it and adjust. If the leader is riding at a pace that you feel is dangerously fast for the circumstances, then actions such as slowing down and dropping behind, may be required.

On the other hand, you may meet a passive-aggressive person who insists on riding at his or her pace usaly a bit to fast, no matter what anyone else is doing. Such people are attempting to control the pace of others from the back, and such is not the way.

A good tip is to put the slower less confident riders up near the front but still have some people that know the route that way no one is left behind and the ride should go well. Riding "over your head" in an attempt to keep up with someone who is braver, more experienced or more foolish than you are. This is a sure route to a disaster.

6.
Avoid riding about 5 feet behind the bike in front. I have done this, and can be fun. The coordinated ballet of the two bikes, but the knowledge of where your friend wants to be in a given corner or situation is not the easiest things to predict, it can be a extremely bad situation for you. With people you do not know well it is incredibly dangerous, and irritating to the person in front. Also dont ride in a single file line, if there is room ride slightly to the left or rght of the rider ahead. Gives you better vision ahead and less chance of hitting the rider in front if they have to brake quickly.

7.
At an intersection, do not leave until the person behind you can see you clearly. On country roads bikes can get quite spread out – and intentionally so if you combine sport bikes and the dictates of #6 above. It’s your duty to look out for the people behind and make sure the group stays, if not together, at least on course.

8.
Thou shalt not abandon a member of the group (or any rider) when things go wrong. Sooner or later, someone will have a problem. Perhaps a mechanical problem or a flat tire. Perhaps a speeding ticket. Or, rarely one hopes, some sort of a crash. If you’re willing to abandon the day’s ride to assist, you’ll be a hero for life. You may only need to use a mobile phone and wait for a tow. Perhaps you can assist with getting the bike operable again. In the worst of situations, someone being carted off for medical attention will remember your sacrifice in staying behind to see to the bike and them. There are always more days for rides, but friends you can rely on are rare and precious.

9.
Volunteer to lead once in awhile if you know the route. Being the "leader of the pack" is not all that glorious, and is arguably the least fun position in the group. The leader has to consider the needs of everyone in the group. A good leader will perhaps delay a pass until the group has all caught up. When making the pass, the leader should accelerate long enough to make room in front of the vehicle being passed to allow for others.

As experienced riders know, it’s much easier to be a bit back in the group. You no longer have to worry about the directions, for one thing. For another, the brake lights of those in front give you additional information about the corner ahead. And best, because you will get left behind at intersections and in some passing circumstances, you actually get to ride faster. So, if you’ve been enjoying yourself all day, know the route, and think the leader would like a rest, volunteer to help!

10.
Have Fun! If your upset people will pick up on this and may not take kindly to it so just enjoy yourself.

McGee


With thanks to Priller and suzi_bandit for help with number 6. Bendy And G for there coments and helping me rethink some of it.
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◙◙► K6 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 1000 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► 96 RF600r ◄◙◙
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Its pronounced Jixxer!

[McGee]

Comments welcome
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◙◙► K6 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 1000 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► 96 RF600r ◄◙◙
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Its pronounced Jixxer!

[v4forlife]

i was out on a group ride yesterday, and it was good fun, bar a few hairy moments. these rules were put into action as a, almost, automatic thing. its ncie to have them here for the riders that may have not ridden in bigger groups, nice one
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www.wilcollinsphoto.co.uk

[McGee]

If you lot would like to add stuff add it here or pm me and ill add and give credit.

And thx.
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◙◙► K6 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 1000 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► 96 RF600r ◄◙◙
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Its pronounced Jixxer!

[colin1]

I bristled slightly on the subject of a dirty bike. I am lazy and rarely clean my bike.

However I wd probably like looking at it more, if I cleaned it, and i have recently bought a nice polishing kit so you just never know.

This would be of more benefit to me when its parked outside the patio door to my living room, as I cant see how unshiny it is when I'm riding it.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[priller]

[suzi_bandit]

[McGee]

Updated thanks guys
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◙◙► K6 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 1000 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► 96 RF600r ◄◙◙
◄◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙►◄◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙►◄◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙►
Its pronounced Jixxer!

[tokarev]

Nice one. Most of these things were put into practice on the last rideout I went on in Brighton (sort of ).

Hopefully I can practice some off this stuff next time round.

[G]

Seeing that you asked for comments.

[GearboxGeezer]

Should show my m8s this guide, about %90 of them are simply dangerous to ride with, they follow each other filtering threw lorries and stuff, and there only on scooters most of em :O

[McGee]

Thanks G See thats a review. not a comment appriecate it but i prefer bikes to look good a hard ridden bike dosent have to be dirty does it ??

And yeah hand it out lol.
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◙◙► K6 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 1000 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► 96 RF600r ◄◙◙
◄◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙►◄◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙►◄◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙►
Its pronounced Jixxer!

[McGee]

Also i could take this as an insulte,

I take care of my bike and clean it often i might take a bit ott some times I am taking her easy atm to break her in but i have always cleaned a dirty viehicle from when i started its summit my dad put in to me. I take great pride in my bike i clean it when ever its dirty or if not i still wipe it down twice a week with a wet chammy (sp?) to get dust off. Yes i have the free time to do it but, i like to ride hard and fast im not a poser just because i ride a clean polished bike does not make me a crap rider. It means i take a great deal of pride in it. Also all of my mates do the same you might consider this strange but im 18 and its mine its one of the only things that is rightfully mine i worked damn hard to get this and why should i leave road grime all over it so i can look like a 'Road Racer' I use my bike every damn day but they have always looked clean and nice.

G i respect most things you say but thats my point of view if you tell me what should be there i will be glad to edit the guide Its just my bikes well looked after.

[Bendy]

I've got no problem with people who want their bikes to be nice and shiny, but putting it down as a requirement for a rideout and saying that it will be "(probably) resented to a degree" certainly isn't accurate for any rideout I've ever been on. Just smacks of the terribly elitist rideouts I've read about on other forums, where it's all 'this person leads, if you're new you go at the back and don't overtake a senior member as it's disrespectful, we will all park up in a straight line' and so on. Roadworthy is a different thing to cleanliness, have no problem with expecting that.

"If your upset people will pick up on this and may not take kindly to it so just enjoy yourself."

Sorry, same kinda thing here. If you're upset, you're upset. If it's cos of the rideout, either leave it or tell someone what the problem is. It's just a group of human beings, not a hive mind that's going to be unbalanced because one of the collective is having a bad time.

I guess any rideouts I've been on have been very informal affairs with no protocol to follow, so the idea of 'upsetting the group' kinda rankles, isn't biking all about freedom?

The rest is pretty spot on.

[McGee]

Yeah i do see where your all coming from i really do but it is my view on it and a few of my mates who say this, but when you think where i am in America its expected to have a nice clean bike. Otherwise they will rip the piss outta ya.

Any suggestions on what i shoud put there. ?? maybe change it to just making sure the bikes in good running order.
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◙◙► K6 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 1000 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► 96 RF600r ◄◙◙
◄◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙►◄◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙►◄◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙►
Its pronounced Jixxer!

[Bendy]

Dunno, maybe just word it that 'depending on who you ride with...'

Or just leave it, I'm sure nobody will take it as gospel anyway, just as guidance.

[McGee]

Thanks Changed number 4
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◙◙► K6 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 1000 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► 96 RF600r ◄◙◙
◄◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙►◄◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙►◄◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙►
Its pronounced Jixxer!

[paulthewitt]

good set of guides there. with respect to number 4, i get what you mean now. i turned up with a averagely dirty bike, that had been crashed a couple of times (was roadworthy though) so was generally accepted. though you could see a coulpe of people turn there noses up!

Paul

[McGee]

What i was trying to say is just make sure its road worthy.
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◙◙► K6 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 1000 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► 96 RF600r ◄◙◙
◄◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙►◄◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙►◄◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙►
Its pronounced Jixxer!

[CoronaBoner]

What advice would you give for situations like leaving a race?

I went to my first track day awhile back (BSB silverstone) and could not believe how insane it was getting out and onto some clear roads.
Luckily I think im quite good at very slow riding, balance and control.. and managed to get through it all.
Must have had literally inches of space between bikes, could not believe no one made contact.

Is there any tips for situations like this? is there special signals etc to let someone know you want to move over??
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2004 RSV Factory

Cluck cluck chicken

[McGee]

I will have to ask you guys for hand signals cause we just point and shout lol. Any tips guys.
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◙◙► K6 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 1000 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► 96 RF600r ◄◙◙
◄◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙►◄◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙►◄◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙►
Its pronounced Jixxer!

[paulthewitt]

[GearboxGeezer]

This signal works rather well

[McGee]

____________________
◙◙► K6 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 1000 ◄◙◙◙◙► K5 GSXR 600 ◄◙◙◙◙► 96 RF600r ◄◙◙
◄◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙►◄◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙►◄◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙►
Its pronounced Jixxer!

[CoronaBoner]

lol will keep that in mind, although i better not ride alongside Ducati's as they drown out anything..
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2004 RSV Factory

Cluck cluck chicken