Five Tips for Great Group Rides
Group riding with people that you don't know can be a real crap shoot. A group ride with bad chemistry can quickly become a long, often nerve-wracking, event. I normally decline such rides for these very reasons. I have also abandoned group rides when the group chemistry was all wrong and I felt that something dangerous was going to happen.
But this time, my friend Jon Adams was planning and leading the ride. So, trusting in his experience, I accepted his invitation to a Father's Day weekend tour of the Olympic Peninsula with half a dozen of his coworkers. What followed was one of the best rides, group or solo, that I have ever been on. What made it so good? Planning and execution. Here are some lessons learned for a successful group ride.
Plan the Route and Tell Everyone - Jon made a detailed map and directions for the ride and communicated it to all of the riders. The route plan included rest stops with durations so that riders could plan ahead for fuel and food stops. While such detailed planning takes away some spontaneity, knowing where you are going and where you are going to stop saves you from wandering around town looking for fuel or food.
Brief the Riders - On the ferry ride to the peninsula Jon and I briefed the other riders on group riding etiquette, spacing and hand signals. We made sure that everyone understood how we would change lanes, how we would proceed if the group got split up by a car or in town, etc. Knowing the group rules helps to keep everyone safe. Because of the wide range of bikes int he group, we also asked about fuel range in case stops needed to be adjusted to accommodate.
Set a Comfortable Pace - Our group included everything from cruisers to sportbikes. Jon did an outstanding job of setting a comfortable pace that was satisfactory for everyone. As the ride leader he paid attention to the other riders and was able to tell when he could pick it up and when he needed to dial it back.
Stick to the Plan - A group ride is not a place for improvisation, especially with a group of riders who have never ridden together before. Stick to the route and the schedule. Also, by sticking to the plan, if someone gets separated from the group they will know where the next stop will be and can rejoin.
Wait for the Riding to Be Done Before Having that Cold One - Alcohol and riding do not mix; ever. As an overnight ride, Jon had arranged for accomodations at a great motel in Quinault. Only when the riding for the day was done did we gather around the campfire to enjoy some adult beverages and swap stories. It was the perfect ending to a perfect day.
Group rides don't have to be a chore. With some careful planning and execution they can be great fun and great opportunities to expand your circle of motorcycling friends.
John Davis is a rider and writer. His current ride is Victoria, a candy red Honda VTX1800 Retro. John writes for several web sites and blogs in addition to his own site, NorthwestCycleReport.
