Road Code for Riders in NZ: how good is it?

[superman]

3. Learners (or the slowest riders) when riding in a group should be placed behind the leader. This allows the pack to stay together, the leader to know when the pace is too quick, and to keep an eye on the learners. If they are at the back you can't see if they're keeping up or dropping off. The last thing you want is to have them trying to keep up.

Had this situation many a time when I was brand new, I just stayed at the back and let them go off. They'd end up waiting around for me to catch up later since I never felt the need to push myself when new... Plus I didn't want to be in the middle, far too much pressure makes you giddery and then you feel like you're holding up everyone. I don't see the pack staying together as essential... as long as everyone ends up at the same destination who cares.

[Gremlin]

Had this situation many a time when I was brand new, I just stayed at the back and let them go off. They'd end up waiting around for me to catch up later since I never felt the need to push myself when new... Plus I didn't want to be in the middle, far too much pressure makes you giddery and then you feel like you're holding up everyone. I don't see the pack staying together as essential... as long as everyone ends up at the same destination who cares.

It depends on the ride. Many organised rides are specifically for the learners, Maha has done a lot, I organised a few years ago. They were structured for the learners, if someone wanted to be a numpty, then stay away from the groups and go do your own thing. For mine, they were very structured, with a leader and tail for up to 4 learners, I think we had 4-6 groups, etc.

Now, if it's just a general ride, someone is marking turns, then yeah, go at your own pace, but I've heard of plenty of learners being left to sort themselves out and see ya later. Not exactly fair on them, and can place pressure on them to keep up.

[wingnutt]

have a look here at tip number 8 for carrying pillions

question 1

http://www.msgroup.org/videos.aspx


Question two

Going back to the days of drum brakes on bikes the stopping percentage of brakes was about 70% front 30% rear

With disc brakes all round these days, well hard to put a % but while the front brake still does the job more than the rear, the brakes are far closer the 70/30 100% braking can only be achieved with both brakes applied.

[MSTRS:Me]

Going back to the days of drum brakes on bikes the stopping percentage of brakes was about 70% front 30% rear

With disc brakes all round these days, well hard to put a % but while the front brake still does the job more than the rear, the brakes are far closer the 70/30 100% braking can only be achieved with both brakes applied.

Yep.
Doesn't matter how effective brakes were/are, 100% is with both applied and the split front/rear will be much the same. ie front is 70%+ of the available stopping force.
In fact, with multi-pot calipers and twin discs on modern bikes, the ratio will be even more biased to the front.

[pritch]

Yep.
In fact, with multi-pot calipers and twin discs on modern bikes, the ratio will be even more biased to the front.

On a modern sprot bike the back wheel may well be intermittently or totally off the ground. Not much braking force there.

[MSTRS:Me]

The prosecution rests, m'lud...

[Buyasta]

Had this situation many a time when I was brand new, I just stayed at the back and let them go off. They'd end up waiting around for me to catch up later since I never felt the need to push myself when new... Plus I didn't want to be in the middle, far too much pressure makes you giddery and then you feel like you're holding up everyone. I don't see the pack staying together as essential... as long as everyone ends up at the same destination who cares.

I had pretty much the same experience - I found riding at the back a lot more comfortable. While they weren't learner rides and most people were going off ahead at a faster pace, one of the more experienced riders who was acting as TEC rode at a slower pace, and being able to see how much speed he was carrying into a given corner and what lines he was taking was extremely useful, and I was much more relaxed knowing there was no one behind me that I was holding up.
Having said that, he'd occasionally drop behind me and observe my riding so he could give me tips when we stopped, which was also very useful, but I found being able to observe another rider the more useful of the two, particularly on unfamiliar roads, and I definitely think having other riders behind them puts more pressure on the learner rider.
Obviously it'll all come down to personal preference, but even now that I have more experience, I still feel a lot more comfortable without anyone behind me.