Group Riders on 66
kindly submitted by Tony Toner – Road Captain
Accidents while riding in groups can ber serious. The loss of control of a motorcycle within a group creates Four main hazards:
- The rider,
- The motorcycle
- Others in the Group
- Other road users.
It is therefore vital to everyone safety that certain rules are understood and adhered to. Having to deal with the competency of other road users is tough enough, without having to worry about riders within the group who are either single-minded, maverick or both.
All our Routes are planned and mapped in advance.
Road Captains are fully briefed on each Route and they alone dictate the pace and progress of individual groups.
- Groups will consist of 8 motorcycles in total including one Road Captain.
- The general on-road formation will be a staggered two by two.
- In the USA the Lead Rider takes up a position on the left side of the right lane, rider number 2 staying one second behind to the right side.
- Number 3 rider should be two seconds behind the Lead Rider, with number 4 in line with number, 2 two seconds apart.
- Riders, 1, 3, 5, and 7 should be in line two seconds apart from each other and within the mirror range of those on their right.
- Riders, 2, 4, 6 and 8 should also be in line to the right of the lane and within the mirror range of those on their left.
- This configuration keeps everyone close without riding in tandem or reducing following distances. Double this in wet conditions.
- There will be No Overtaking each other without prior planning and signalling
- Everyone rides to the Buddy System
- Always look to see what is dictating the pace to the rider or traffic in front of you.
- No one turns left or right or deviates from the ‘ahead’ course without being sure that the rider behind has seen them.
- Knowledge that those caught on overtakes or mechanical breakdown is then visually relayed to the front easily.
Routes
All our daily routes are planned and mapped in advance. Individual groups decide on the points of interest within the catchment area of the day’s ride, including potential stops for fuel and refreshments.
Road Captains have direct communication with other Road Captains, Secretariat, Luggage, Medical and Mechanical Support Teams.
Route Plans are designed to consider the comfortable range of all the bikes on the trip as well as the ability of the riders to ride for long distances.
All riders will have the mobile phone numbers of organisers/route stops and Road Captains.
Everyone should carry the road booklet with the name and address of each daily stopover plus the phone numbers of all Support Team Leaders.
If you get broken up from the group make contact with Base Number as given by the organisers. They will then contact your Road Captain.
Riding on Interstates
Interstates carry many long distance vehicles with some travelling at speeds in excess of 120kph. Traffic can include Articulated trucks or Semi’s as they are called in the US.
Staying together, or at least in sight of one another is important on Interstates.
This is especially true where groups spend a short while on them and may exit early. Stopping on the hard shoulder near a turn off just to let the rest of your group catch up is dangerous plus illegal which can result in getting you booked or worse.
The lead rider will set a speed limit which is well within the capability of everyone else in the group. As Interstates have a speed limit of 75mph this speed should be within the comfort zone of the slowest rider in the group. If not, the Road Captain should bring the speed down to that suitable.
Overtakes have to be well planned with ideally, the bike at the rear (No. 8) moving out first and followed subsequently by the rider in front of them, (No. 7) and so on to the lead bike.
Overtaking or being overtaken by an articulated truck will result in the motorcycle being buffeted. When overtaking the rider should accelerate through to counteract the turbulence, which ca n seem severe, especially to the less experienced.
If being overtaken simply move more to the centre of the lane, grip the bars tighter and wait for the Truck to pass.
When the lead rider completes the overtake, they DO NOT move in until the last rider has cleared the vehicle they have overtaken.
Overtakes must be done with approximately 30kph to spare over the speed of the slower vehicle.
Should the group be split up by a faster vehicle, riders in front should allow it to pass and allow re-grouping.
The lead rider on an Interstate MUST be extremely vigilant for DEBRIS, in particular shredded tyre, and should signal appropriately to following riders.
Everything appears in control on an Interstate until a quick change or similar reduction in speed is required. This danger is hugely exaggerated when travelling in darkness.
No Overtaking within the group and proper use of the Buddy System applies on all Interstates.
Riding through Cities and Towns
Riding in cities or towns with their different traffic volumes and management systems can be a religious experience at the best of times.
Choosing the wrong lane or getting caught out at traffic lights being the main features. Staying together in our group formation of 8 takes team work and understanding.
Sometimes the group is bound to get broken up and being total strangers to the area, the stranded may have major problems reuniting with their Group.
The only way to sort this out is to fully implement the Buddy System with bikes dropping off at left or right turns, the understanding being that those at the rear MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT AHEAD COURSE until they pick up their waiting Buddy.
Assume a single file formation during turns and when entering or leaving an Interstate.
Ride in a staggered formation so it is possible for the group can stay fairly close to one another at low speeds.
NO ONE SHOULD EVER BREAK A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT TO KEEP UP. THE GROUP WILL WAIT!!
