GROUP RIDING REFRESHER

1. GROUP RIDING REFRESHER

2. Group Riding Instructions • BEFORE YOU ARRIVE AT START POINT • Pre-ride; check your bike – lights, tires, oil, etc. • Wear or take proper clothing – rain suit, jacket, leathers, gloves, eye protection, and helmets if required. • Fuel – always arrive with a full tank of gas. • Fuel stops are planned 70-100 miles apart depending on tank size – usually determined at start of ride. • ONCE YOU ARRIVE AT START POINT • Sign in with the leader, Road Captain, or Activities Director – sign waiver. • Collect map and any information available to you about ride and destination. • WHO IS IN CHARGE – LEADERS AND ROAD CAPTAINS • Leader starts ride and rides in the left side of the lane – easier to pass and see. Road Captain and back up Road Captain ride in the back of the group. • Leader sets the pace for the group and decides when to pass or change lanes. • Road Captain stops to help anyone needing assistance in the group – back up Road Captain stays with group. • Road Captain will communicate via Citizens Band (CB) channel 2.

3. Group Riding Instructions • WHERE SHOULD I RIDE – LANE POSITION • Ride in staggered formation • Two second delay between bike directly in front of you- one second between bike diagonally in front of you. • Pick object on road (sign, pole, or marker) and count off two seconds when bike in front of you passes object until you arrive at the object. • If you get off pace, speed up to catch up. (do not lag behind) • Front of group usually stays on pace. Back of group usually plays catch up. • GOING AROUND SLOWER TRAFFIC – PASSING, LANE CHANGE • Leader decides when to pass – signal, head check, then begins to pass. • Bike directly behind does the same thing and begins to pass just behind the leader. • Left side bike begins to pass first and right side bike follows – follow bike in front of you. • Only 3 – 4 bikes should pass at any given time, the entire group should avoid attempting to pass and/or change lanes simultaneously. • Never cross over in front of a bike behind you on interstates – whole small groups moves together when changing lanes.

4. Group Riding Instructions • WHAT IF SOMEONE DROPS OUT OF GROUP • Move up diagonally to empty spot – use your turn signal so riders behind you know that you are changing lane positions. • Next bike follows suit until all bikes have moved diagonally to fill the empty spots. If someone drops out because of a breakdown, the last Road Captain will stop to provide assistance, the rest of the group should proceed. • If an accident occurs, the last Road Captain and EMT personnel will stop to assist, the rest of the group will proceed on to a safe location as directed by the remaining Road Captains. • IF THE GROUP SPLITS UP • If split up, stay with your group. Keep following the bikes in front of you. • If you are the last bike in a split group, you must stop at a turn and wait for the rest of the group. This will prevent others from missing a turn.

5. Group Riding Instructions • TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND STOP SIGNS • Obey all traffic signals and stop signs. • Bunch up side by side and go through stop signs. • Watch for stopped traffic to wave you on at stop signs – be alert! • HAND SIGNALS – KNOW THEM AND USE THEM • WHEN WE GET THERE AND GETTING HOME • Ride is officially over when you arrive at the destination. • Take a map to plan your route home or retrace the route. • Talk to others and see how they are going home – return home in groups where possible.

6. RiderSpacing

7. Missing RiderSpacing

8. Single FileSpacing

9. Passing

10. Hand and Arm Signals Slow Down / Stop Right Turn Left Turn

11. Hand and Arm Signals Hazard Left Hazard Right Single File

12. QUESTIONS