Group riding – Wake-up call & reality check

[bugjuice]

All good points.

One point which hasn't been made though. I have only been on one KB ride when there was a bin ( 1 bike, 2 places ahead of me in the line, on a corner). Everyone following stopped and all rushed to the downed rider, who's lying half on the road / half in the ditch. People standing on the road picking up bike etc etc. That's fine, but what if some cage comes flying around the corner? The cage will clean everyone up and then we've got REAL trouble.

the few incidences I've been at, often there's the few minutes of flurry as people kind of stand in ore and are a bit disorganised. First thing to do is get everyone clear of the road, and get someone at both ends of the scene, slowing down other traffic.. then get the wounded and crashed sorted..

[BIGBOSSMAN]

I usually get away from the group and am left pondering this question: should I wait, should I turn around, or should I remove my upside down forks to make the bike a bit slower?
Geez, I'm nonplussed...

[MotoGirl]

This thread assumes that each group has a rider in chage (RIC) and a tail end charlie (TEC). I haven't formally seen either of these things in the social rides I've been on with other KB members.

From what I've seen, everyone knows the end point (usually a town as opposed to "x cafe") and the lead rider will chop and change along the way. I've never been on a KB ride that has a nominated TEC. Never. Saying that though, I've been on rides where the group has stopped to let everyone catch up.

As for getting ahead of the group, we have a rule for this: never let the other person's headlight out of your mirrors. This way, you're always looking behind and will notice straight away if someone goes missing.

[Oscar]

Riding in Groups: A very difficult thing to learn.

I've ridden with the same group of blokes for years and I trust them with my life (literally). I hadn't really thought of Group Riding as an issue until I went on a KB ride - I'm not saying which one - and some dickwad stopped on a State Highway. He pulled over on the left shoulder as another member of the group sat on the centreline waiting to turn right (leaving about one car width in the middle). This caused the next two riders who turned up to brake heavily and have to decide if we were stopping or turning right...in the meantime you have four motorcycles blocking a busy state highway....

[Quasievil]

or a large group split into advanced, intermediate, and newbies, there does not have to be rigid regimentation by any means but rather an understanding between the group leaders and tail end Charlies to be the ‘safety co-ordinators’.
If a rider chooses to break away from a group, for whatever reason, and does not make an effort to return after a reasonable period, (assuming nobody in the group has phoned that rider), then any future opportunities to ride with the group may be limited.
Heads Up

Im my Experience from when I used to do Group rides they tend to organise themselves into speed groups anyway, ie fast goes out in front, the middle and slow groups tend to do their own thing with the odd medium or slow rider tyring to break away to prove himself to the fast group by trying to keep up which in my experience invairably ends in a Crash.

In the bush you always tend to let the slow ones up front, but as most riders consider the road as a race track this may not be such a hot idea.

In my view, Group rides are hazardous ways to ride infact they should be avoided at every opportunity, if unfortunately you come across one you should park up and let them go once gone turn in the opposite direction and leave them to it.
If you absolutely must go on a group ride I suggest partnering up with a rider of sensible habits and sticking together for the day.

[EnzoYug]

In my view, Group rides are hazardous ways to ride.... If you absolutely must go on a group ride I suggest partnering up with a rider of sensible habits and sticking together for the day.

I'm with you on this one. In a group ride I'm not comfortable with more than 3 people. Four plus and I start to get dead nervous. The problem is that with more than 3 people it's impossible to know where everyone is all of the time.

When everyone knows where everyone is, then everyone is in control. And control is what you want.

[Terminated]

Im my Experience from when I used to do Group rides they tend to organise themselves into speed groups anyway, ie fast goes out in front, the middle and slow groups tend to do their own thing with the odd medium or slow rider tyring to break away to prove himself to the fast group by trying to keep up which in my experience invairably ends in a Crash.

I'm with you on this one. In a group ride I'm not comfortable with more than 3 people. Four plus and I start to get dead nervous. The problem is that with more than 3 people it's impossible to know where everyone is all of the time.

When everyone knows where everyone is, then everyone is in control. And control is what you want.

I feel most comfortable riding in a group of no more than five, and generally we juggle the positions rotating RIC and TEC.

On large gatherings eg. Wednesday evening rides I often take it easy and ride at the rear with any newbie riders. On recent rides I have taken the RIC position from Featherston when suggesting a varied route out along SH53 then loop circuit to The Tin Hut. Along the way stopping and waiting for the TEC to arrive and wave.

Heads Up and Enjoy

[homer]

the answer to your question is NO
on our group rides the only crash was a fatal
and everyone is on there own in the event of any event happening
and no i would be stopping unless its me in it

[Draco]

the answer to your question is NO
on our group rides the only crash was a fatal
and everyone is on there own in the event of any event happening
and no i would be stopping unless its me in it

Well (if i've read this rather mis-spelt post correctly) me thinks you may change your tune when it is you lying in the ditch busted to hell....... nice to know you care about your fellow bikers soo much

[ElCoyote]

I usually get away from the group and am left pondering this question: should I wait, should I turn around, or should I remove my upside down forks to make the bike a bit slower?
Geez, I'm nonplussed...

We don't need nonplussorius's, they destroy the myth that dinasours are extinct. Buy Skid Mark's bike and you will be home half an hour before you would have left on your bike and miss all the gore.

[FROSTY:Me]

the answer to your question is NO
on our group rides the only crash was a fatal
and everyone is on there own in the event of any event happening
and no i would be stopping unless its me in it

I can't believe your attitude dude.
Someone crashes--you stop--its that simple--Only time I wouldn't stop is in a situation I was putting myself in danger by stopping THERE
I'd still stop but in a safe place

[jrandom]

As for getting ahead of the group, we have a rule for this: never let the other person's headlight out of your mirrors.

I tried this recently, when I was leading some fullas along a road they didn't know, but it ended up causing embarrassment when I slowed down to 90-ish to keep them in view at one point, and they slowed down and didn't speed up, because they thought I was slowing down for some other reason, and we were all riding along wondering wtf each other was doing, and then got overtaken en masse by an SUV...



I've given up on riding with others for fun, apart from a very select few whom I know and trust.

(The ATNR doesn't count; it's just an excuse to cruise to the pub...)

[DougieNZ]

The definition of "group ride" is an issue. Are we talking about a group of mates or like-minded individuals wanting to go on ride, or some military exercise executed with a high degree of precision and accountability, accompanying ambulances, recovery vehicles, pre-ride stretching and post-ride warm-downs, nutritionists, psychologists, allocated CB radio channel, vegan menu, brolly dollies, and liability waivers?

If you're riding with others, then good old common courtesy should apply. If you break down, get lost, get a better offer or get beamed up by space aliens, you should let others on the ride know so they know where you are and can join you if they wish. Get the ride leader's cellphone number so you can send them a text and let them know what's happening.

You really do crack me up at times Hitcher!

LMAO