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A Group Ride is normally composed of a Ride Leader and a Sweep or Drag Rider (bringing up the rear). For
organized rides they usually have Radio or CB communication and knowledge of the route including not only
the final destination, but also the stops along the route. If more riders in the group have radios, then casual
chatter during the ride should be kept to a minimum by the riders of the group so that the Lead and the Sweep
Riders can be in instant communication whenever needed. Motorcyclists normally will monitor Channel 1, but
this can be easily changed if a new channel is agreed upon before the ride starts, or even during the ride, if
necessary. If communication between other riders in the group is desired; then they should go to another
channel.
organized rides they usually have Radio or CB communication and knowledge of the route including not only
the final destination, but also the stops along the route. If more riders in the group have radios, then casual
chatter during the ride should be kept to a minimum by the riders of the group so that the Lead and the Sweep
Riders can be in instant communication whenever needed. Motorcyclists normally will monitor Channel 1, but
this can be easily changed if a new channel is agreed upon before the ride starts, or even during the ride, if
necessary. If communication between other riders in the group is desired; then they should go to another
channel.
Normal riding as a group is done in a staggered formation. This is, basically, dividing a lane in half with each
rider occupying his/her own half of the lane. It is each rider's responsibility to ride in the half of the lane as
dictated to by the next rider in front. If the rider in front needs to change lane halves to maintain the stagger, then
it is the following rider's responsibility to change lane position on down the line to accommodate this change.
The Lead Rider usually starts the stagger in the left half of the lane position. While in staggered group riding, the
normal stagger distance is 1 -> 2 seconds, and no more than a 3 second gap, in order to maintain a tight
formation and not allow traffic to interrupt and break up the formation. This means that each rider will be 2 -> 3
seconds behind the rider directly in front and using the same half of the lane. When coming to a stop, the group
generally forms up two abreast / side by side. When the group starts off, the rider on the left starts first.
rider occupying his/her own half of the lane. It is each rider's responsibility to ride in the half of the lane as
dictated to by the next rider in front. If the rider in front needs to change lane halves to maintain the stagger, then
it is the following rider's responsibility to change lane position on down the line to accommodate this change.
The Lead Rider usually starts the stagger in the left half of the lane position. While in staggered group riding, the
normal stagger distance is 1 -> 2 seconds, and no more than a 3 second gap, in order to maintain a tight
formation and not allow traffic to interrupt and break up the formation. This means that each rider will be 2 -> 3
seconds behind the rider directly in front and using the same half of the lane. When coming to a stop, the group
generally forms up two abreast / side by side. When the group starts off, the rider on the left starts first.
When riding in curves, the stagger is no longer warranted and a single file type of formation is normal. These
changes in lane position should be dictated by the lead Rider. Holding two fingers straight up in the air (either
the index and little fingers, or the first two fingers) indicates a staggered formation, while the index finger
pointing straight up in the air is a direction for single file riding.
changes in lane position should be dictated by the lead Rider. Holding two fingers straight up in the air (either
the index and little fingers, or the first two fingers) indicates a staggered formation, while the index finger
pointing straight up in the air is a direction for single file riding.
Single file riding allows the riders more freedom to negotiate the curves and to dodge obstacles while
having the freedom to use the whole lane. In single formation the normal distance between riders is
increased to 3 -> 5 seconds. For safety, the single file formation should not be elongated to such a distance
that the rider in front cannot be seen. There are two reasons for this:
1. It is much easier to negotiate around corners by using the next rider's position to "see" further around
blind curves
2. The rider can see and pass back hand signals indicating obstacles or other information ahead.
having the freedom to use the whole lane. In single formation the normal distance between riders is
increased to 3 -> 5 seconds. For safety, the single file formation should not be elongated to such a distance
that the rider in front cannot be seen. There are two reasons for this:
1. It is much easier to negotiate around corners by using the next rider's position to "see" further around
blind curves
2. The rider can see and pass back hand signals indicating obstacles or other information ahead.
If any rider feels that the group pace is too fast for comfort, then he/she should motion the following bikes to
pass until the only one left following is the Sweep/Drag Rider. Then ride at your own pace until the next stop;
when you should inform the Lead Rider that you are uncomfortable with the pace. It will then be up to the Lead
Rider to either separate the ride into two groups, or go at a slower pace so that all members of the group feel
secure. Group riding should not be, and is never, a race!
pass until the only one left following is the Sweep/Drag Rider. Then ride at your own pace until the next stop;
when you should inform the Lead Rider that you are uncomfortable with the pace. It will then be up to the Lead
Rider to either separate the ride into two groups, or go at a slower pace so that all members of the group feel
secure. Group riding should not be, and is never, a race!
If a rider in the formation needs to pull out for any reason, the group will close up the gap and reorganize the
stagger. Please do not pull off, also, unless you need to do so. The Sweep/Drag Rider of the group will aid
the rider who has pulled over. He will also communicate (via radio) with the Ride Leader so as to apprise him
of the situation. The next (last) rider then becomes the Sweep/Drag rider until the Sweep/Drag rider returns to
the group.
stagger. Please do not pull off, also, unless you need to do so. The Sweep/Drag Rider of the group will aid
the rider who has pulled over. He will also communicate (via radio) with the Ride Leader so as to apprise him
of the situation. The next (last) rider then becomes the Sweep/Drag rider until the Sweep/Drag rider returns to
the group.
When turning onto another road, if the next rider back cannot be seen, either due to having traffic in-between,
or a large enough gap in the group for any reason; the last rider in the line must wait at the turn for the next
rider to show up before leaving the turn so as to signal that the route has taken a turn. This will keep the group
together on the same route even though there may be unforeseen gaps in the formation.
or a large enough gap in the group for any reason; the last rider in the line must wait at the turn for the next
rider to show up before leaving the turn so as to signal that the route has taken a turn. This will keep the group
together on the same route even though there may be unforeseen gaps in the formation.
During the ride, the Ride Leader will make various blinker light, hand, and leg signals. These signals indicate
lane changes or turns, obstacles, increasing/decreasing speed, or whether to form a stagger formation or a
single line. These hand signals need to be passed back through the group from the front rider to the next rider in
line. That way each rider only needs to be cognizant of signals from the rider directly in front of him/her rather
than everyone trying to keep an eye on the Ride Leader.
Blinker lights should always be used to not only allow everyone to see the upcoming change, but to feed back
acknowledgment. In a group ride, whether it be the Ride Leader or in the middle of the pack, the bike in front
needs to see the blinker light of the following rider before turning in front of the following rider/bike (such as a
right hand turn when the bike in the left stagger crosses over in the right stagger lane). This prevents the bike in
front from crashing into the (surprised/unprepared) following bike/rider when making the turn. Assuming that the
following bike sees your blinker light. Sometimes riders don't notice blinker lights right away, so they should be
turned on well before the turn. That way everybody in the group becomes aware that a turn is coming up.
If an obstacle is spotted in the road, it should immediately be signaled to the riders in back for safety.
Sometimes, when the obstacle is spotted in a blind curve, and one doesn't want to take one's hand off the
handlebars, the signal is often done with an outstretched leg (indicating which side of the lane the obstacle is
located). This can be very useful when you don't want to take your hand off the throttle and the obstacle is on
the right side of a blind curve. Some typical obstacles which should be signaled as to where they may lie in the
lane are: sand/dirt/gravel/rocks, pot holes, dead animals, road dragons, (pieces of truck tire treads), vehicular
debris, range cattle, tar snakes (road tar repairs), furniture, etc. These obstacle signals should always be passed
to the rear as soon as possible so as to give those riders the best opportunity to dodge them. Don't forget that
the riders towards the rear in a group ride will not be able to see as much of the whole road surface as those in
front due to the visual blockage of the front riders. Other hand signals include speed changes, directions for
coming alongside or passing, need for food or rest stop, and other miscellaneous things like telling another rider
that his blinker light is on unnecessarily.
lane changes or turns, obstacles, increasing/decreasing speed, or whether to form a stagger formation or a
single line. These hand signals need to be passed back through the group from the front rider to the next rider in
line. That way each rider only needs to be cognizant of signals from the rider directly in front of him/her rather
than everyone trying to keep an eye on the Ride Leader.
Blinker lights should always be used to not only allow everyone to see the upcoming change, but to feed back
acknowledgment. In a group ride, whether it be the Ride Leader or in the middle of the pack, the bike in front
needs to see the blinker light of the following rider before turning in front of the following rider/bike (such as a
right hand turn when the bike in the left stagger crosses over in the right stagger lane). This prevents the bike in
front from crashing into the (surprised/unprepared) following bike/rider when making the turn. Assuming that the
following bike sees your blinker light. Sometimes riders don't notice blinker lights right away, so they should be
turned on well before the turn. That way everybody in the group becomes aware that a turn is coming up.
If an obstacle is spotted in the road, it should immediately be signaled to the riders in back for safety.
Sometimes, when the obstacle is spotted in a blind curve, and one doesn't want to take one's hand off the
handlebars, the signal is often done with an outstretched leg (indicating which side of the lane the obstacle is
located). This can be very useful when you don't want to take your hand off the throttle and the obstacle is on
the right side of a blind curve. Some typical obstacles which should be signaled as to where they may lie in the
lane are: sand/dirt/gravel/rocks, pot holes, dead animals, road dragons, (pieces of truck tire treads), vehicular
debris, range cattle, tar snakes (road tar repairs), furniture, etc. These obstacle signals should always be passed
to the rear as soon as possible so as to give those riders the best opportunity to dodge them. Don't forget that
the riders towards the rear in a group ride will not be able to see as much of the whole road surface as those in
front due to the visual blockage of the front riders. Other hand signals include speed changes, directions for
coming alongside or passing, need for food or rest stop, and other miscellaneous things like telling another rider
that his blinker light is on unnecessarily.
Sand/gravel is sometimes found in curves from cars and trailers running a wheel off the roadway and
"splashing" up some of the sand/gravel from the side of the road. Sometimes in the springtime there are also
some "dirty" sections of the roads in the higher elevations due to snow melt runoff. When encountering a
dirty roadway, the inside tire track of the lane (closest to the centerline) is almost always the cleanest part of
the road and should be taken in a single file formation.
"splashing" up some of the sand/gravel from the side of the road. Sometimes in the springtime there are also
some "dirty" sections of the roads in the higher elevations due to snow melt runoff. When encountering a
dirty roadway, the inside tire track of the lane (closest to the centerline) is almost always the cleanest part of
the road and should be taken in a single file formation.