http://www.sportrider.com/ride/146_0711_group_riding/index.html
Riding Skills Series: Group Riding

Proper Etiquette Not Only Increases The Fun But Can Also Save Lives


writer: Lance Holt
photographer: Kevin Wing

As someone who's been lucky enough to ride some of the top superbike and
grand prix machinery on many of the world's finest racetracks, let me assure
you that there's still nothing more pleasurable than riding on a favorite
road in a group of familiar partners. Fortunately for me, as a frequent guest
tester for Sport Rider, it's also a common occurrence.

Conversely, don't underestimate the danger that out-of-sync or unpredictable
riding partners can cause you. I've heard and witnessed enough horror stories
to have no tolerance for being around riders who I don't trust. They
represent a greater potential threat than all other dangers combined, since
our exposure to them is often for a longer duration in a variety of
unpredictable circumstances. Editor Kunitsugu's experience with an
egotistical rider at a BMW model launch-who nearly crashed himself and the
group's leader off the road-is a prime example (Wheelspin, Aug. '05). But
just to give you an image of the real potential danger, I've heard the
first-hand account from a former SR staffer who saved the life of a fellow
motorcyclist whose leg was severed from his body by an impact with his riding
partner's bike. Next time you're wondering if you might be over-reacting,
imagine yourself being a part of that grizzly scene to keep your perspective.




For photo composition purposes, we staged the staggered-rider formation a bit
too tightly. Ideally, give yourself a two-second gap to the person directly
in front of you and approximately one second to the person staggered to your
side. Staggering allows a tighter formation and an improved field of vision.

That said, I prefer to focus on the positives, and there are few things as
satisfying as following a group of well-ridden motorcycles as they precisely
carve through a tricky set of corners, each tipping in and clipping apexes in
seamless succession. Even more important, however, is that partners not
surprise each other with unexpected moves or ride in each other's blind
spots. I've been riding with Kunitsugu and SR guest tester Steve Mikolas for
nearly 20 years and with Andrew Trevitt and SR guest tester Jim O'Connor for
about half that. I'm confident no matter what surprise lurks around the next
corner-a patch of sand, pool of oil or, as we just experienced, a deer
skittering for traction with it's hooves clattering across the tarmac-that I
know how each and every one of us will react a split second before we
actually do. It's not just the years that we've ridden together that builds
our trust, though it does help. There's also some basic group-riding
etiquette that allows even newcomers to the group to fit right in.




Great roads and even better bikes are key ingredients for an enjoyable ride,
but the most critical factor is being comfortable and confident with your
fellow riding partners. Space yourselves out with at least a one- to
two-second gap between you-and leave the who's-fastest competition for the
track. When the road turns twisty, single-file formation works best.

The first key to riding harmony is communication among the riders. Don't be
shy about initiating a discussion, setting the guidelines before the ride
begins. Make sure everyone knows the final destination and the route to get
there. Solicit comments from everyone; don't behave like a drill sergeant.
Discuss any recent changes to the conditions of the road or law enforcement
crackdowns.

Once you're rolling, the biggest communication factor will be visual: always
know where the other riders are and what they are doing. This starts by
making sure that you can see the rider behind in your mirror and see the
reflection of the helmet of the rider in front in his mirror. That way you're
visible in his peripheral vision at a glance without forcing him to turn his
head to look for you or get distracted wondering where you are.

Visually, you want to be scanning well in front of the bike in front of you,
not staring at the rider's back. Be aware of what the riders ahead are doing
with your peripheral vision, but don't fixate on them. All riders' visual
awareness needs to be at least two to six seconds ahead; the faster your
speed, the farther ahead you need to look. Don't trust the lead rider to keep
you out of trouble because by the time you see him react, you'll already be
behind the eight ball. Ideally, you'll recognize the situation as a group and
react as a group, while still individually minding your responsibilities to
help keep yourself and everyone else out of trouble.




Keeping the person behind you in your mirror's field of view is actually the
responsibility of the following rider and alleviates any question as to the
follower's position. The leading rider is responsible for ensuring that the
person behind hasn't lost touch with the group.

If you're riding in a multi-lane situation, let the leader choose the lane
and the speed (within reason) and cue off him, moving as a group formation
whenever possible rather than spreading out in multiple lanes. In passing
situations, move as a group when the situations allow but realize that every
rider is also individually responsible for his own judgment and personal
safety.

Allow the leader to set the pace, but let everyone know that there's no
pressure to keep up. Let everyone in the group know at the outset that you'll
be stopping at each major intersection, giving anyone who's dropped behind
time to catch up and eliminating the fear that they need to keep up or be
left behind. This situation should also figure into the pace that the leader
sets. It's more fun to ride as a group, and no one's ego gets bruised in the
process. Likewise, everyone should be comfortable waving someone past any
time they feel like backing it down. Our passing etiquette is to only pass
when waved by, and we always pass on the left when the coast is clear. Never
pass on the right side. It sounds like common sense to most of us, but you'd
be surprised how many riders think otherwise.

Make sure everyone knows the difference between a street ride and a track
day. The street is no place for competitive urges to push the pace up to
elevated danger levels. This has happened a couple of times when new riders
join the group, wanting to impress others with their speed; they always try
to work their way up to the leader and then ride on his taillight as if he
were Valentino Rossi preparing for a last lap pass to win the World
Championship. Probably the best solution is to wave riders like this up to
the front of the pack, then have the rest of group slow down, turn around and
ride in the other direction.




When following, make sure that you can see the face shield of the leading
rider's helmet in his mirror. You never want to be in his blind spot, which
can make the lead rider uncomfortable or force him to turn his head to find
you, potentially causing a distraction.

The first time I rode on a track, I realized that while riding on the street,
I had no idea what fast was. Unlike many racers, I never stopped enjoying
street rides; I just no longer had the need to get a speed fix unless I was
on the track. It's likely no coincidence that most all of my favorite riding
partners have race experience. We settled the who's-fastest question long ago
and don't have anything else to prove.

The more riding experience I got, the more selective I became about who I
chose to ride with. Who you ride with should be given at least as much-if not
more-consideration as what you ride and where you ride. I've been fortunate
to have cultivated a close bunch of riding partners who I absolutely trust
with my life, which is good, because every time we ride together, that's
exactly what I'm doing.