riding in groups, my take Serious

G

gordj65

New member
Right guys im not going to waist your time with tail ender, leader stuff, or the great advice about full tanks and going for a pee, because these are common sense things and mostly you all use them when on rides.

what im going to tell you is about the actual riding, you will need for this a bit of ruled paper, a pen and if you want to be really neat a ruler.

1. down the centre of this sheet draw a solid line, (honest you will find what im talking about easier to understand if you do this)

2. on the first line draw a line (vertical) in the middle of the line, that goes down to the next line. miss a line and do the same behind the first one and keep going till youve done a few say eight.
well done you have drawn a group of motorbikes going out on a run one behind the other.

3. imagine you are on the middle bike. the guy in front has to do an emergency stop. where are you going to go? remember this may be happening at say 60 miles an hour instant decisions are required.
so you went right but where did the guy behind you go? right as well!! sh1t thats a wee crash there or you forced him out onto the other side of the road. not a good situation.

now go to the other side of the page and draw a vertical line the same as the first one, in the middle of the top line again.

1. now this time put your next line off to the left and a line behind of the first one, almost at the edge but not quite.then do your next line off to the right of the lead one, almost at the edge but not quite and continuing doing this until youve got say eight or so lines.

2. well done once again youve drew some bikes out for a ride. now once again imagine your the middle bike and your forced into an emergency stop. where are you going to go? same rules ,speeds apply. yep youve guessed it straight ahead because youve nothing in front of you.

this system is flexible, you can tighten up in towns or at low speeds to keep together, or on open roads you can allow it to open up and spread out . its a very easy way to ride and importantly a safe way to ride. hopefully this will help you all enjoy your riding in groups a bit more
 
Im chuffed to say that the Ducati Diva s rode in this formation on our run. worked a treat and anyone watching would have seen how good we looked.:D
 
Yep,but you should cover all eventualities and keep a braking distance between you and the bike in front, the rider to the right (or left) of the space you have between you and the next but one bike might move over.
Bloody annoys me also when other riders ride right up your chuff in a group.
 
humm had this exact 'problem' the last incendent i was involved in the lead bike made a last minuit decision to turn right (national limit road)
i was 2nd and tryed to break enough to make the turn but couldnt and sailed past a bit (with hind sight i should have just kept going and turned round later)

id like to think we were running a staggered formation but it just want enough (space between riders for the speed we were doing) and there were bikes wizzing past every side of everyone

i was lucky no one hit me but two of the lads did have a comming together

hope i learnt something from it all

(proberly just go out on your own hummm)
 
It's easy to laugh about the leader/sweeper dropping a marker system for group rides but it does work really well. People don't get lost, only one person needs to know the way and someone at the back sorts out the halt & the lame.
You can go as fast as you like too. It's not just for the Sam Browne brigade.
If you haven't got the time to make a junction when the guy in front indicates late then you're riding too close for the speed involved. As you discovered the effect gets magnified as you go back through the group. Recipe for a good day out utterly knackered.

Did that sound a bit preachy ?

Sorry.

I get terrified in mixed ability groups with strangers.

ShedBob
 
paraletic said:
Im chuffed to say that the Ducati Diva s rode in this formation on our run. worked a treat and anyone watching would have seen how good we looked.:D
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If you go to the photo Gallery for Breast Way Round and look at the picture 'Divas on the Road' you will see a good example of what Gordon is talking about. :D
 
Solo ride

I was out today on my own for about 5 hours Dumfries and Galloway and Borders and thoroughly(sp) enjoyed the unpressured ride,don't get me wrong I love going out with a few Mates or the club but today was a pleasant change.
I pushed on a fair at times,particlarly the double pass of the Lang Whang right from Balerno to Carnwath(never two places so different:lol2:) to finish off my run ,but never had one arse making buttons moment which,due to inexperience and keen not to get in peoples way,I invaroubly do when out with a group,the last couple of times I've encouraged others to booger off to the front and leave me to it :p.
Got to admit trackdays are very appealing but only a specific track bike which i cannae afford the noo,never used to be away fi Knockers with auld escorts and impreza's those were the days before 3 kids though:eek:
Probably out tomorrow with the mad Spaniard,nae choice to be at the back wi him cos he just doesn't like not being at the front,knob jockey that he is :D
 
CJK said:
I was out today on my own for about 5 hours Dumfries and Galloway and Borders and thoroughly(sp) enjoyed the unpressured ride,don't get me wrong I love going out with a few :D
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I agree fully. Nearly all my long runs are on my own - you can pace yourself without playing catchup and performing some crazy overtaken moves. Was out two weeks ago with one DUK and an R1. Ended up riding at crazy speeds and watching some rather late overtaken moves coming into bends. They stopped a couple of times waiting on me but I'm not prepared to risk my life just to keep up. As I ride almost every day of the year I don't need the buzz of one Sunday per week and only when it's nice and in the summer. Put it this way they forced a 4*4 onto the pavement thrown dust up at me after they pulled in right in front of the guy, otherwise they'd be on the other side of the road around the bend. The thing that always amazes me when we reached some really twisty sections they were like slow moving traffic.
At last years masher I decided to entertain a certain rider that's causing some grief at the DG trackdays that rides a classic bike. Approaching bends - late breaking and accelerating out of corners that's what I like. Waited on the straights for him to catch up but I did enjoy the ride and he did ride safely and at the hostel said it was one of the best road rides he'd done.
Going for a run to Ullapool tomorrow (Thursday) all going well but leaving early.

Geoff
 
Geoff said:
...They stopped a couple of times waiting on me..
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I can't imagine anyone having to wait on you Geoff. You've struck me as one of the fastest riders I've met, having learned the art of how to make good progress safely.
At last years masher I decided to entertain a certain rider that's causing some grief at the DG trackdays that rides a classic bike. Approaching bends - late breaking and accelerating out of corners that's what I like. Waited on the straights for him to catch up but I did enjoy the ride and he did ride safely and at the hostel said it was one of the best road rides he'd done.
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I just let the two of you disappear into the distance :p :)
 
Geoff said:
Going for a run to Ullapool tomorrow(Thursday)
Geoff
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My fav road and the most memorable for me is the road from Ullapool to Gairloch A832.

I used to enjoy going out with Andy (who had a 748) and if either of us got a bit in front of the other then he/me would wait for him/me to catch up. It's so easy for the 2nd rider to get caught up behind a slower vehicle and unable to pass safely and if the rider in front fecks off into the distance it sort of stops being a ride out with your mates :mad:
We didn't ride too fast either but as he was a better rider than me there were a few times I found myself following him round a corner a bit faster than if I was on my own, if he can get round then so could I :)
We started riding trying not to show brake lights into corners, using the engine braking more, which was a much more smoother way of riding rather than lots of acceleration and brakes.
 
Don't like riding in groups or riding fast on public roads I don't know.

Lost too many people close to me to get involved in 'follow the leader'.

When I'm out I pick and choose my times for a blast ;)
 
Derek said:
I can't imagine anyone having to wait on you Geoff. You've struck me as one of the fastest riders I've met, having learned the art of how to make good progress safely.
I just let the two of you disappear into the distance :p :)
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Hi Derek,
Thanks for the compliment. Don't do track days as demanded by Ed after our run in order to show a different riding style to most riders on tracks. For me the track would need to be around 30 miles minimum.

Geoff
 
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