Group Riding
The purpose of riding in
an organized group
instead of an
undisciplined pack is to
provide the additional
safety that a
well-organized group
inherently generates.
This comes from within
the group and from the
outside. When a group
rides in an orderly
fashion, people don’t
get in each others way,
and the organization of
the formation itself
discourages cars from
attempting to cut in. In
addition to safety, it
is just an exhilarating
experience to ride with
a group that functions
smoothly as a well
coordinated unit. It’s
Cool! EVERYONE Riding
with the SCRC is
expected to follow them.
Anyone violating the
rules, and compromising
anyone else's safety,
will be warned, and if
their actions continue,
will no longer be
welcome to ride with the
club. Most clubs that
ride in orderly
formations follow
similar rules. Details
may vary from one club
to another, sometimes
because of the style of
riding they do, or
sometimes because there
are a number of
reasonable options, so
they chose the one they
prefer. It is important
that all riders know the
group rules, The Ride
Leader will review the
rules prior to the ride
if he feels it
necessary. Every rider
is responsible for
themselves and
maintaining their own
role and performance
within the group. Do not
compensate or change
your riding to adjust to
what anyone else is
doing. For example. If a
bike is riding too
slowly and leaving a
large gap in the
formation, do not slow
down to compensate. This
creates more gaps and
the slow rider will just
slow down more. Let the
Ride Leader deal with
any problems at the next
rest stop.
Before the Ride Starts
- Have a full tank
before arriving at
the departure point.
- Tell the road
captain if you have
any special
concerns, i.e.
speed, sharp
corners, etc
- Tell the road
captain and tail
gunner if you plan
to leave the group
before the
destination. Also
tell the riders in
front and behind you
so they don't think
you are having a
problem.
- We try to stop
for fuel,
refreshments and
rest approximately
every hour and
always inside of 100
miles. Tell the road
captain if your bike
has an unusually
short fuel range or
if your bladder has
a short range.
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Formation Riding
We ride in a standard
staggered formation. In
staggered formation, the
bikes form two columns,
with the leader at the
head of the left column,
so he will be able to
view all bikes in the
formation in his/her
rearview mirrors, and be
able to see around
vehicles the group
approaches. The second
bike will head the right
column, and will ride
approximately 1 second
behind the leader (and
in the opposite side of
the lane). The other
riders will position
their bikes 2 seconds
behind the bike directly
in front of them, which
puts them 1 second
behind the diagonal
bike. This formation
allows each rider
sufficient safety space,
and discourages other
vehicles from cutting
into the line. It is
particularly important
to maintain formation
when riding in “in-town”
traffic conditions. The
last rider, or Tail
Gunner, may ride on
whichever side of the
lane he prefers. He will
have to change sides
during the ride, based
on the situation at the
moment.
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Ride Leader
The Ride Leader must be
aware of the length of
the columns, and must
gauge the passing of
merges, highway
entrances and exits,
etc., to allow for
maximum safety and
keeping the group
together. He must make
sure that he leaves
enough time/space for
the formation to get
into the appropriate
lanes before exits, etc.
All directions come from
the Ride Leader. The
Ride Leader makes all
decisions regarding lane
changes, stopping for
breaks and fuel, closing
of gaps, turning off at
exits, any concerns of
what lies ahead, and so
on. No individual will
assert himself
independently without
direction from the Ride
Leader to do so.
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Tail Gunner
The Tail Gunner serves
as the eyes of the Ride
Leader. He watches the
formation, and informs
the Ride Leader of any
potential problems
within the group. The
Tail Gunner will stop to
assist any rider that
must suddenly or
unexpectantly break
formation and drop out
of the ride. In lane
change situations, he
will watch for merging
lanes, and will when
possible, move into a
merging lane in order to
"close the door" on
other vehicles that may
otherwise find
themselves trying to
merge into the
formation. If possible,
the Tail Gunner changes
lanes before the
formation, to secure a
lane so the formation
can move into it. This
is difficult to
coordinate lacking radio
communications.
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New Riders
The position of new
riders (inexperienced
with GROUP riding)
within the group is
significant. New riders
should be positioned as
close to the front as
possible.
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Emergencies
In the unlikely event of
an emergency condition,
the Ride Leader will
make every attempt to
move the formation to
the shoulder in an
orderly manner. If a
bike breaks down, let
the rider move to the
right. DO NOT STOP. The
Tail Gunner will stop
with the problem bike,
no other riders should
drop out of the
formation or stop their
bikes until the ride
leader has stopped the
group. The Ride Leader
will lead the group to a
safe stopping place.
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Filling in the
Formation
If the staggered
formation is broken for
any reason, the riders
behind the break must
move to reestablish the
stagger. All riders
behind the break,
starting with the first
rider staggered behind
the vacated position
should change lane
positioning to reform
the stagger. Doing this
eliminates any passing
in a single lane.
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Hand Signals:
View Hand Signals
Demonstrated
Each rider (and
passenger) should
duplicate all hand
signals given by the
rider in front of him,
so that the signals get
passed all the way to
the back of the
formation. The following
signals are used in
addition to the standard
right turn, left turn
hand signals.
Slow Down
If the Ride Leader wants
the entire group to slow
down. The Ride Leader
will extend their left
arm with palm of hand
facing down. He will
then lower his hand
about six inches, raise
it back to original
height and repeat four
or five times. All other
riders repeat this and
slow their bikes.
Single up
When conditions warrant
single file (narrow
road, twisty section of
road, obstruction or
construction,
pedestrians, etc.) the
Ride Leader will raise
his left hand straight
up over his head,
holding up just his
index finger. All other
riders will repeat this,
and the two columns will
merge into one.
Staggered
Formation
After singling up, when
single file is no longer
necessary, the Ride
Leader will raise his
left hand with two
fingers raised, rotating
his wrist back and forth
(indicating left, right,
left, right). All other
riders will repeat this
and resume staggered
formation.
Tighten
Formation
When the Ride Leader
feels that the formation
should be tighter (bikes
closer together) he
raises his left hand,
makes a fist and pumps
his arm up and down. All
other riders repeat this
and close up all
unnecessary space in the
formation.
Road Hazard
This signal may be
initiated by ANYONE.
Anyone seeing a
hazardous condition on
the road surface (road
kill, oil, gravel,
significant pot hole,
etc.) will point at it.
All following riders
will repeat this, and
all riders will avoid
the hazard. Hazards to
the left of a bike
should be pointed at
with the left hand,
hazards to the right of
the bike should be
pointed at with the
right hand. If use of
the clutch or throttle
precludes a point, the
leg & foot may be used
to mark a hazard as
well.
Regroup or Misc
Problem
This signal may also be
initiated by ANYONE. If
a bike drops out of
formation and the ride
leader is unaware
(usually a bike from the
rear of the group) or
any situation arises
which the Ride Leader is
unaware of and requires
the group to stop. Raise
your left arm straight
up and move it in a
circular pattern. This
signal may need to be
passed up the group to
be communicated with the
ride leader.
Back Off
If a rider is crowding
you too closely making
you uncomfortable,
signal this to the rider
by extending your arm on
whichever side the rider
is on with your palm
facing the rider. Push
your hand backwards
approximately 12 inches
and then return to the
original position.
Repeat 3 or 4 times. If
the rider does not back
off, inform the ride
leader at the next rest
stop.
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Stopping,
Traffic Lights
When stopping as a group
at an intersection,
break staggered
formation and pull up
beside the bike in the
adjacent lane (parade
formation). This will
reduce the length of the
group by half. Stay in
this formation until you
are through the
intersection. Because
the group is half as
long it will take half
the time to clear the
intersection and
increase the odds of
keeping the group
intact. Return to
staggered formation
after clearing the
intersection.
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Stopping, Stop
Signs
When stopping as a group
at an intersection,
break staggered
formation and pull up
beside the bike in the
adjacent lane (parade
formation). You should
be able to get a group
of 4 bikes through the
intersection
simultaneously. The 4
bikes should move
through the intersection
as tightly as they can
safely maneuver. If
there is no traffic at
the intersection,
additional bikes may
proceed without each
bike coming to a stop.
While not strictly
legal, most law
enforcement recognizes
the safety issues
involved and will not
interfere. Lane or
street blocking to allow
a group to ride through
an intersection is not
legal and should not be
done. Return to
staggered formation
after clearing the
intersection. The ride
leader will ride slowly
after clearing the
intersection to allow
the group time to
reform.
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Lane Changes
All lane changing is
initiated by the Ride
Leader. If possible, the
Tail Gunner will (when
it is safe to do so)
move into the requested
lane and block traffic
approaching from the
rear.
Simple Lane Change: This
is an ordinary lane
change, and can be used
in most situations. The
Ride Leader will put on
his directional signal
and use the appropriate
hand signal as an
indication that he is
about to order a lane
change. As each rider
sees the directional
signal, he also turns
his on, so the riders
following him get the
signal. The leader then
initiates the change.
All other riders change
lanes too. The important
concept is that NO ONE
moves until the bike in
front of him has started
moving. Under some
circumstances the Tail
Gunner may move into the
lane prior to the rest
of the formation to
secure the lane from
oncoming traffic.
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