Touring/riding in groups

[nhmaf]

Now that riding season is well started everywhere in the northern hemisphere, and soon many of us will be riding to rallies, I thought it might be helpful to start a thread on tips for riding in groups, or riding for extended trips.   Some of us have many more miles and years on bikes than others on this forum, but I think that anyone can learn something new/helpful from anyone else.   I'll start with some things that some of my buddies and I follow consistently when riding together:

1. Be sure that you all agree on signals for "I need to stop" and "I need gas soon".
2.  When we are riding in small numbers (2 or 3), we always stick together, even if we realize that the leader has taken a wrong turn.   We then signal to stop and work out our route together - this way no one gets lost or suffers a breakdown with no assistance.  Sometimes we even find new and interesting scenic side trips while we are figuring outhow to get back on the right road.
3.  Never let the inexperienced, or little experienced rider, lead the pack - they won't necessarily know of all the things to look out for, or how to warn those behind.
4.  Never let the inexperienced rider ride in the tail, or last position, if you've got 4 or more riders, as they may drop back or get lost/cutoff at traffic lights or intersections and not have someone to help them regain the pack.   Make sure that at the very least, the first and last riders in the group have maps of the route.

Feel free to add !!!

[Semper Gumby]

The BMWMOGA group always has a pre-ride briefing.  There is a designated ride leader and a ride sweeper (last rider) which is usually me becuase I'm on the R65!  

Our group rides are always in stagger formation.  Generally there is no passing the leader and no leaving the group without telling the leader.  Hand signals are discussed, group speed, and if passing is allowed.  At turns middle riders will always wait for a following rider to show up before turning so that the group doesn't get split up.  If a FRS/GRS radios are used then a common channel is pointed out.  Otherwise cell phone numbers are exchanged.  There is no tailgating and no side by side riding.  There are to be no sudden turns or braking.  

It is extremely important that you ride your bike and not the bike that is running away from you.  Accidents will happen when you ride at a level above your ability.  That can easily happen when you follow other faster than thou riders!  

When a group ride hits the super slab then things get interesting as cages (cars) start to interact with the group.  After a while the middle and back riders become more important than the leader as they will sense when a lane change is coming and pullout early to keep the lane clear for the leader.  Emphasis is on keeping the group together and having a good and safe time.

Fuel and food stops every 100 miles depending on who has the shortest "legs".  (Another briefing item)

One of the most fun group rides I was on was a slab run back to Atlanta on I-85 from the Stagecoach ride to eat in Lower Alabama.  After a while we all got on the same page and the group became one.  It was great fun and done under adverse weather conditions (early evening in rain and fog).  At one of the fuel stops everybody (there was six of us) commented on how much fun they were having.

I will post the Club Riding Guidlines when I get some time.  Keep what you like and throughout the stuff you hate... 8-)

[Semper Gumby]

I would also mention that when our group hits city limits we follow posted speed limits precisely.  As ambassadors of motorcycling we do not piss on the locals.  They usually have children in strollers and are very protective.  And we really do not like loud pipes (unless they are stock).

Seriously.

[steve hawkins]

I dont.

Ride in large groups that is.

I have done in the past and have never found it a rewarding experience - almost came a cropper once or twice as well.

The larger the group the less flexibility there is.  You end up stopping when you do not want to and not being able to stop when you want to.  If I want to join a queue I would go down to the post office.

The largest group I would ride with is 4, any more than that and I would be looking to split the group.

I am going to France later this month, and there will be 4 of us in the group, but we have already split into 2 autonomous pairs.  

We will start out together but as the the other two bikes are Honda Hornets and have a ridiculous sub 120 mile tank range, we have agreed to run as two pairs.  They will probably be riding faster, but we will beat them anyway....due to the fact that they will be fueling twice as often as us.  As long as we each have a 200 mile bum.

Two pairs of 'buddies'.  This is for the whole trip - and it will also allow us to reduce, or at least rationalise, what we take with us with regards to spares and camping gear.

We will be in touch by text/phone and we will meet up at points along the way (eg the Channel tunnel).

Also navigation/itinery should not just be left to the rider in the front, everyone should know where they are going and where they are.

If you want to stop for a coffee/pee look at the view, then it is much easier.

The key is to be flexible, let others know what you are doing and enjoy yourself.  And know and trust your buddy.

Cheers

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Like Steve Hawkins, I have ridden in groups for my last time.

That was October 4, 2008; BTW.....

[Trickydisco]

Coincidentally in this weeks Motorcycle News there is a big article about riding in groups, some bloke has done a few years worth of research in to people who ride in groups and why often when in a group you are more likely to have an accident.
Apparently its because of peer pressure, individual riders perceive that they are expected to ride hard and fast and that if they don't the other faster riders will look down upon them, or they don't want to be left behind so they ride above their sill level.
They also pointed out that there are different types of group ride, those which are highly organised with rules etc, then those which are planned and finally the ad hoc where riders meet up at a cafe unknown to one another and go out.
The first type is the safest and increasing with risk to the ad hoc group ride. All this was supported by data from the Police.

I expect that all this is not a surprise to anyone here.

[montmil]

With more than 2-3 riders in a group, my experience has been that most of the ride time is spent watching for the brake light on the bike in front of you.

'round here, we do Sunday morning "Cowboy Way" rides that allow for viewing the scenery. No superslab if at all possible. So many North Texas Farm-to-Market, Farm-to-Ranch and County Roads, it's not uncommon to spend a few hours on the bike and see, perhaps, only three-four cages. Pickup trucks, usually.

A relaxing event at reasonable speeds. Perfect R65-style.

Monte