There are probably as many opinions about safety related issues
as there are riders. I'll attempt to shed a bit of light about universal
items and group riding techniques we use when riding together. Group riding
isn't as dangerous as it may sound, and if done properly, can be a very
safe activity. The most important things are good communications skills (so
everyone knows what to do), an understanding of hand signals, and some basic
riding practices. There's nothing like rumbling down the road in a pack of
motorcycles. Once you've riden with a large group, it's hard to ride alone
again!
Oh, please bear with me a bit...there's a lot of content to read here, but not many
pictures yet...But I'm working on that part!
Hand Signals
There are a few basic hand signals used when riding in a group. The most
common ones are [Right Turn], [Left Turn], and [Slow Down]. In addition,
[Road Hazard], [Car Passing from Behind], [Single File Riding Only],
[Two abreast or Staggered Riding OK], and [Single File]
are fairly common. Lastly, [Close the Door], [Change Lanes from the Rear],
and [Block the Lane] are very helpful to the Road Captain (in the front of the group)
and the Drag Bike (in the rear of the group).
Stop or Slow Down
- Left hand extended downward and palm
facing backward.
Right Turn
- Left arm upright and hand extended.
Left Turn
- Left arm extended straight out and hand
extended.
A Turnaround Signal
- Left arm upright and hand drawing a
large circle overhead. This is used for group riding as well as
signaling to an approaching rider to turn around and join the group.
Single File Riding
- Arm extended over head with index finger
pointed up (like the number 1) means single file riding, used for
narrow, winding roads, road obstructions and hazards.
Staggered or
Riding 'Tight' is OK
- Hand straight up with two fingers
extended (like the number 2). Staggered or 'tight' (riding side by side)
riding is used on open roads and where there is plenty of room to drift in
the lane safely.
Tighten Up
Formation
- Left arm moved in an up and down
Motion (pumping) with fist closed. This action means tighten up or close
riding formation, catch up and stay close. The Road Captain will use this
signal to help keep cars from merging into the group, and to keep
people from straggling too far behind.
Loosen Up
Formation
- An arm extended high over the Road
Captain’s head while he shakes his hand with a limp wrist.
Road Hazard
- Pointing downward is to warn fellow riders of pot
holes and debris in the road (roadkill, etc).
Need Gas
- Pointing to your gas tank means you
have switched to your reserve. Blow horn to alert other riders of your
need, and always pass this signal FORWARDS through the group to the
Road Captain in the front of the group.
Your Signal is ON!
- Hold your left hand above your head,
extend all four fingers, then close them against your thumb over and over (like making a
barking dog shadow figure in front of a light bulb) means
'switch off your turn signal stupid, you're confusing the hell out
of everyone.' heheheheheehhe...Really, we all do it at one time or another,
this is just a way of helping remind each other of it!
Car Passing from Behind
- Ball your left hand into a fist,
and 'rap' repeatedly against the side of your helmet. (Cars are
'hard-headed', so let them pass if they must!)
Policeman in the Area!
- Open your left hand and pat the
top of your helmet with your palm.
Good Communications
Good communications are essential for efficient and safe group riding.
It's very important to have a group ride meeting before each ride, to
familiarize new riders with hand signals and so everyone knows what the
Road Captain expects of all riders. This becomes second nature
with riders in short order, and isn't difficult to follow with a little
experience in group riding.
An important part of communications
when riding in a group is to pass signals back through the pack. Watch
the group ahead of you, or the Road Captain (the Pack Leader) if they are
in view, for possible signals. When the Road Captain gives a signal,
don't assume that everyone else sees it...echo the signal to the
riders behind you. Always pass signals from the front of the group to
the Drag Bike in the rear of the group.
NEVER perform maneuvers in a group unless instructed
by the Road Captain. I often see this, when someone in the pack decides
to change lanes to help the group prepare for passing, but the Road Captain
didn't have this in their plans. Suddenly, the Road Captain looks up and finds
everyone else in the other lane...bad move. ALWAYS
wait for the
Road Captain to make the decision and give the signal _first_. They are supposed
to make the decision, give a signal, and everyone else follow through with the
maneuver.
Group Riding Techniques
'Closing the door', 'Taking the lane', and 'Changing from the rear' are
neat techniques that really improve the flow of a large group on the road,
and help keep cages (cars) out of our midst.
Closing the Door
...This is another of those "cage blocking" moves, designed to keep
other types of traffic out of the group. It is most effective on 3 lane hiways,
which seem to be very commonplace around NC. Hiway US1 is a good example.
Many of you are familiar with 3-lane roads, where one side will have 2 lanes
for a while, then the other side will have 2 lanes. While it might be an
effective use of real estate for the lower use roads, it's a nightmare for
a group of bikers. Here's what happens...you're tooling along with a
group on a 3-lane. You find yourself in the 2-lane section for a while. A
car in the back decides "Hey, this is a good place to pass". They start moving
up the fast lane, and realize that their lane is running out and there are a lot
of bikes ahead... What do they do? They merge right over and into the pack.
This is _not_
a desirable scenario!
Here's what you do: While cruising down a 3-lane and you find your group
in the 2-lane section, the Drag Bike (in the rear) slips into the other
lane. The rest of the group stays right where they are (do _not_ change
lanes with the person who is closing the door!). The Drag Bike closes the door' until the
road switches over and the group finds themselves in the 1-lane section
again. Works like a charm!
Taking the Lane
...This is use when sitting at intersections, merging into a street
from a parking lot, pulling out of a gas station, etc. While it always pays to
watch the traffic and make a judgement based on safety, driving aggresively
is a major player in handling a group in traffic. Very often, a group will
be waiting patiently to enter the hiway, only to have cages not give them the time
of day. Getting a group through an intersection or onto a hiway in one
pack is actually a fairly easy task. Here's how you do it:
The Road Captain pulls the group up to an intersection where a turn is to be
made, pulls up to the parking lot exit with the group, etc. The group needs
to turn onto the road and into oncoming traffic. The Drag Bike pulls along
side the group and up to the front. When the Road Captain gives the nod to
begin the move, the Drag Bike pulls out sidewise into the lane and raises
his hand to the oncoming traffic. The Road Captain pulls the group out and
onto the roadway. Once the last rider is on the road, the Drag Bike falls
back in position in the rear. The Drag Bike doesn't have to be the one to
do this, as it can be someone from up front, but they have to work their
way back to the front of the group once everyone is on the road. Sometimes,
if a turn is being made _across_ traffic, it requires 2 riders to pull this
off...one in each direction of traffic. The persons who will handle these chores
should be decided upon at the beginning of the ride.
Changing From The Rear
...This is a simple task, but is most often
goofed up when one rider, who might not be familiar with the task, makes
a lane change out of place...before you know it, everyone else has
followed them over and chaos sets in.
It's pretty easy to do correctly, and looks sooooo cool when it's done
right. First, the Road Captain decides to change lanes, and gives a hand
signal to do so...but the Road Captain doesn't switch lanes yet. Next, the rest of the
group gives the same hand signal, passing it to the rear of the group...but
none of the group changes lanes yet, either. Finally, the Drag Bike at
the rear gets the signal, checks the lane, and moves over. Once the
Drag Bike at the rear has made his move, the rest of the group can follow over into
the next lane. This might sound silly, but the reason for this is very simple...
it keep cars and other traffic out of the group, and allows everyone to move into a
lane that's clear and safe! An added feature: it allows a large group to
move into a lane that may be heavily loaded with other traffic... The
Drag Bike takes the lane, thus blocking other traffic and allowing the
group to move over. Pretty simple, huh? It's
hard to remember at first, but becomes a good habit very quickly.
Riding 'Tight'
...This is when you ride with someone whom you are _FAMILIAR_ with
their riding skills and habits, ONLY. Never attempt to 'Ride Tight' with
someone you're not familiar with, and always ask if it's OK to ride tight
with someone before you do it...some riders _do not_ like it!
There are probably as many opinions about safety related issues
as there are riders. I'll attempt to shed a bit of light about universal
items and group riding techniques we use when riding together. Group riding
isn't as dangerous as it may sound, and if done properly, can be a very
safe activity. The most important things are good communications skills (so
everyone knows what to do), an understanding of hand signals, and some basic
riding practices. There's nothing like rumbling down the road in a pack of
motorcycles. Once you've riden with a large group, it's hard to ride alone
again!