The Group Ride Guide Announcement

[The Stranger:Me]

The Group Ride Guide

Group rides. Many like minded individuals meet up to share their passion for sport, ride some excellent roads, enjoy the company of old and meet new friends and talk shit. Unfortunately, all too often however these excursions are marred by an accident – or worse, we lose a friend.
Make no mistake it is a dangerous game we play at the best of times, but there are some things particular to group rides that can catch out the unwary.

An approach was made to the wise and powerful Mental Trousers to try and find a way to bring together a group of folk from a broad spectrum of KB and see if we could reach a consensus on these factors and what could be done to mitigate them.

What follows is the fruit of those discussions. A set of guidelines which we hope, if adopted and followed will go some way toward reducing the risks associated with group rides and make them more enjoyable for all participants.

It is hoped that organisers will state that rides will be run in accordance with The Group Ride Guide and provide a link to this in their announcement and/or calendar event posts. It is anticipated that the guidelines can not cover every situation nor should all be applicable to every ride. But please, let people know what to expect so that they may make an informed decision as to whether they should attend the ride or not.

I won’t name names, I think MT has access to a list of all participants, and some, for various reasons wished to remain anonymous. As you know, trying to get consensus on any given topic from more than a couple of people can be difficult, so for my part I would like to thank everyone for their co-operation, time, effort, ideas and constructive input. Well done guys.

The Group Ride Guide

[Mental Trousers]

Thanks Noel. Also thanks to those that took part in coming up with these guidelines. I think we got an excellent group together and there was plenty of vigorous discussion over much of the content. There were disagreements and some strong debating over some of the stuff in this guide.

Please note that this was produced by a group from the community. It isn't in anyway an official Kiwibiker document and isn't published by KB.

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[Kittyhawk]

The latest Motorcycle Trader (September edition) has an article on page 76 about formation riding, common hand signals, the "corner man system" and group touring.

Might be worth a read.

[Macontour]

Cheers to those that put the guide together. A lot of it SHOULD be common sense but even us wise old ones on here occasionally let the red mist descend or try a little hard on roads we do not know well!

I like the info on how to tell if you are trying too hard, I occasionally find myself holding my breath as the back squirms around under heavy braking half way through a corner and the bike is standing up and running wide

[buellbabe]

WOW! A lot of thought has gone into this.
Bloody good job.
The carnage on KB group rides is why I very RARELY EVER do KB rides.

Thing is that people say "who are you to tell me how to ride and what I can and cannot do?"
IMHO if a person has that attitude then they shouldn't BE on a group ride cos they obviously have zero respect for the other riders.

Once again cheers to the people who took the time to put this together. It will be interesting to see if anything changes...

[Tink]

As a beginner I am impressed, as group rides would make me nervous, no less than riding in traffic at this point... I would like this documented... possible more info in the roadcode too.

Just curious how many people actually know CPR or any first aid courses. I am certainly going to seek some knowledge from a good friends mum in Pukekohe who works for St Johns!

[James Deuce]

That's completely convinced me to never participate in another group ride.

Ever.

[Coldrider]

As a beginner I am impressed, as group rides would make me nervous, no less than riding in traffic at this point... I would like this documented... possible more info in the roadcode too.

Just curious how many people actually know CPR or any first aid courses. I am certainly going to seek some knowledge from a good friends mum in Pukekohe who works for St Johns!

I haven't read the article, but as an experienced rider, group riding make me nervous ( gives me the shits).
A whole lot of riders, different experiences, different speeds, different confidences, different cornering lines between types of bikes and ages of bikes, incorrect cornering through following the bike in front, the whole thing spells disaster, not having a go at you or anything, I am a st john first aider for years, but we should never have to attend someone on a group ride, the whole point has been lost at that point.

[SixPackBack]

The Group Ride Guide

Group rides. Many like minded individuals meet up to share their passion for sport, ride some excellent roads, enjoy the company of old and meet new friends and talk shit. Unfortunately, all too often however these excursions are marred by an accident – or worse, we lose a friend.
Make no mistake it is a dangerous game we play at the best of times, but there are some things particular to group rides that can catch out the unwary.

An approach was made to the wise and powerful Mental Trousers to try and find a way to bring together a group of folk from a broad spectrum of KB and see if we could reach a consensus on these factors and what could be done to mitigate them.

What follows is the fruit of those discussions. A set of guidelines which we hope, if adopted and followed will go some way toward reducing the risks associated with group rides and make them more enjoyable for all participants.

It is hoped that organisers will state that rides will be run in accordance with The Group Ride Guide and provide a link to this in their announcement and/or calendar event posts. It is anticipated that the guidelines can not cover every situation nor should all be applicable to every ride. But please, let people know what to expect so that they may make an informed decision as to whether they should attend the ride or not.

I won’t name names, I think MT has access to a list of all participants, and some, for various reasons wished to remain anonymous. As you know, trying to get consensus on any given topic from more than a couple of people can be difficult, so for my part I would like to thank everyone for their co-operation, time, effort, ideas and constructive input. Well done guys.

The Group Ride Guide

Fantastic job Noel you are to be commended.
A lot of folk forget how unselfish you are with your time. For those that do not know Noel has long been involved in ride right ride safe, was instrumental in setting up the KB mentor scheme and displayed the same level of commitment [and the patience of a saint] when setting up the group ride guide.
Big respect Noel.

[Tink]

I haven't read the article, but as an experienced rider, group riding make me nervous ( gives me the shits).
A whole lot of riders, different experiences, different speeds, different confidences, different cornering lines between types of bikes and ages of bikes, incorrect cornering through following the bike in front, the whole thing spells disaster, not having a go at you or anything, I am a st john first aider for years, but we should never have to attend someone on a group ride, the whole point has been lost at that point.

Which means... never ride in a group... never ride in a kb group ... or just never get on a bike.... I have faith in my friends... as to new friends I would guess anyone that makes a monkey of themselves are not worthy of riding with... online or on the road....

I still would like a first aid cert!

[James Deuce]

Big respect Noel.

Absolutely.

Thoroughly wasted on an "organisation" like KB. Too many disparate riding styles, attitudes and egos.

Find people you enjoy, who ride like you do and stay away from KB group rides.

KB's not a club of like-minded people with similar attitudes to life and riding. It's as far from that as you can get and still have a common interest.

Still, if the initiative saves one person from a head-on with a car over the next 12 weeks it was worthwhile.

It's an interesting culture change though. Tried the same approach a few years back and got shouted down fairly aggressively.

[James Deuce]

Which means... never ride in a group... never ride in a kb group ... or just never get on a bike.... I have faith in my friends... as to new friends I would guess anyone that makes a monkey of themselves are not worthy of riding with... online or on the road....

I still would like a first aid cert!

Come back when you've buried a few of those mates you trust and let us know how you feel about it then.

[Tink]

Come back when you've buried a few of those mates you trust and let us know how you feel about it then.

That is a true statement... I hope never too.. but will not expect not too... I am a realistic person.

[Coldrider]

That is a true statement... I hope never too.. but will not expect not too... I am a realistic person.

Why should this be a true statement if you have full confidence in your KB friends, and no , I have never ridden in a KB group, that is internet riding, roads are the real world.

[Tink]

Why should this be a true statement if you have full confidence in your KB friends, and no , I have never ridden in a KB group, that is internet riding, roads are the real world.

the true statement is seeing your friends die (your comment on mine)... I do have full confidence in my friends but.... experienced riders although still die due to mistakes by others & rarely themselves and.... people that place comments on kb... sometimes fall into the trap .. peer pressure, the need to impress etc... which is in my eyes immaturity.. a lack of thought an inability to foresee their actions...