Going for a Group Ride?

Going out for a group ride? Interested in doing so but haven't yet for some reason? Now is as good of a time as any. Sure, it’s easy—just find a place to meet and go riding. But before you do, keep a few things in mind to keep yourself safe, and keep your bike from needing a new paint job.

Hold a pre-ride meeting. During this meeting—which will most likely be a parking lot or your friend’s driveway—discuss hand signals, when to stop and the desired route. Assign a lead and sweep rider (these should be the most experienced riders). The sweep rider should have a cell phone handy in case of emergencies. Some universal cycling signals can found here.

Stagger your riding formation. Staggering your formation will keep your group visible to trucks and other vehicles while also providing the front/back and side-to-side flexibility—the swerve—required for riding. However, with sharp turns on one lane roads switch to single file formation. At intersections and lights, tighten up the formation, as this will ensure everyone gets through the light.

Keep the group to a manageable size. According to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, the ideal size is around five to seven riders. If you have got more than that, split up into smaller sub groups, each with a lead and sweep rider.

Focus. Focusing on the bike in front of you is an easy habit to fall into when group riding. But it is a bad habit. When making turns, focus rather on the turn and the road ahead, as this will give you more time to react, since you’ll see something before you simply emulate the rider in front of you.

Keep your least experienced rider in mind. This isn’t just common courtesy, but an integral part of keeping everyone safe, whether it is around turns, top speeds or navigating through tight traffic. Ideally, your leader should go the speed that the least experienced rider is comfortable with. But sometimes this is not the case. If you find yourself wanting to go a bit slower, drop back and signal the sweep rider that you are doing so. And be sure you know the meet-up place to catch up with the group down the road.

And one last thing. Pete's Cycles carries the complete line of Scala Rider communication systems. The Scala systems are intercom headsets designed for motorcyclists, and have received top awards for their efficiency, durability, and comfort. Come on in and grab a set.

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