10 Tips On Group Riding
Riding in a group carries with it a whole different set of considerations and requirements for excellent riding skills. Without being properly prepared, your fun as well as your safety is at risk.
Here are some things to take into account:
- Determine the skill level of others in the group. It's one thing to have a low level of proficiency when one is riding solo; put that person in a group with other riders and everyone's safety is compromised.
- Take your riding preferences into consideration. Do you like to ride for as long as you can without stopping or do you enjoy stopping and seeing the sights? What does the rest of the group want to do?
- Agree on your methods of communications and review the hand signals you will use. The actual signals are less important than making sure that everyone uses them consistently and understands the expectations for the group.
- Confirm that the lead and sweep riders are experienced at leading and sweeping. Either role takes a great deal of skill that is vital for managing the group safely and efficiently on the road. Special moments should be saved for after the ride.
- Determine the size of the group you'll be riding with. The larger the group, the more difficult to manage and it can invite hazardous situations on the road. If a group is more than 8 riders, we suggest dividing it in half with a qualified lead and sweep rider for each group.
- Discuss the rules of the road with your group prior to leaving and confirm how you will address situations that come up – i.e. amber light. They apply universally whether you're riding solo or in a group. Everyone is in control of their own motorcycle and responsible for their own safety.
- Ask about the speed does the group rides at. Again, refer to #6. Speeding in a group just magnifies the hazards and jeopardizes safety. Here again, an experienced leader can prevent the launch of a yo-yo effect.
- Reserve accommodations if you're staying overnight. It may be difficult to obtain any accommodations let alone those which appeal to your unique tastes and at the end of a long day of riding you don't want to be looking around for a place to stay.
- Include everyone's goals in the planning and ideally on the itinerary.
- Don't overplan – especially with a group. Everything takes longer and overplanning can create tension. On the other hand, it's good to have some structure to keep things moving.
BONUS: Pack your sense of adventure and fun and keep it handy.
We are experienced at planning and leading rides, guiding routes on scenic paved secondary roads, finding accommodations and eateries with local flavour and fare, and discovering unique points of interest. You can leave all the planning to us, pack up and enjoy your ride. With the variety of rides and events we have going on, there's something to please everyone.