When the road tightens up,...
When the road tightens up, a single file formation is best as it gives each rider enough room to use the proper line through the corners.
According to MSF protocol, desired distance between you and the rider in front of you should be two seconds, while the gap to the rider off to your side should be one second. When the road tightens, a single-file formation is ideal, as it will give each rider a little extra room to use the proper line through the corners. Also important to remember is that when in a single-file formation, be sure to leave enough room in between you and the next rider so that your visibility isn’t impaired. If you are too close, you may be unable to see a hazard up ahead and by the time the rider in front swerves around it and you see it, you will have little time to react.
Riding in a staggered formation or in a single-file formation requires there be a lead rider and a chase rider and deciding who will be designated for what position should be done well before your group begins the ride. Best practice is to have the most skilled rider or rider with the most knowledge of the roads ahead in lead position and a rider with equal skills in the back. Both positions do however come with a certain amount of responsibility.
As the lead rider, your primary concern is with maintaining a safe, steady pace that the rest of the group can follow. You should be fully aware of each rider’s skill level, so that you do not begin riding to a point where they cannot keep up. In addition, it is important to understand the situation you and your group are in; if you are on a busy road or freeway, understand that some of the lane changes you are able to make may not be so easy for those behind you. As such, try to keep lane changes to a minimum and try to make necessary lane changes (for instance, to get off the freeway) in advance so each rider has ample time to move over. Conversely, the chase rider should ensure that everyone is riding within their limits to keep the group’s pace, and that anyone falling behind — for whatever reason — is looked after.
Spur-of-the-moment group rides...
Spur-of-the-moment group rides are great, but it’s still important to discuss the route you plan to take and stops you plan to make so that everyone is on the same page and knows where to head if they fall behind.
Unless each of the riders in your group has an intercom system that allows an open line of communication, hand signals are a great way to communicate on the road. The MSF website (
www.msf-usa.org) is a great place for you and your buddies to find some of the important signals, which include hand gestures to signal when a hazard is in the road or when you’re ready to pull to the side of the road. Perhaps the most employed signal for group riding is the one that warns of hazards in the road. By taking your foot off the footpeg and sticking it out on the side of the hazard, you are effectively alerting the riders behind, who may not see the hazard, to keep their eyes open. Again, make sure and discuss the different signals that you will use on the ride prior to departure, that way everyone is aware of what is going on out on the road.
What it all comes down to is the fact that riding with a group of buddies is about having fun. Never in any case should a group ride turn into a competition, because out on the road, it really doesn’t matter who is fastest. So leave your egos at home, enjoy your time with your buddies and make sure and stop every once in a while to share a story or two. After all, there are few more things enjoyable than hanging around your bikes mid-ride and sharing a laugh. sr
Never in any case should a group ride turn into a competition.