In an effort to
make our organizational rides safe and enjoyable for all, the Ocala
Chapter offers a new member orientation and riding exercise so you
may be informed of the group’s riding techniques, strategies, and
the role you should assume as a participant. As a new member,
we encourage you to attend a session.
Orientation and
riding exercise is conducted periodically as needed, but generally on
a quarterly basis. Date, time, and meeting location will be announced
during the general membership meeting, in the monthly newsletter, and
in weekly e-mail updates. Expect to receive verbal instruction
relative to group riding and then participate in a riding exercise.
Allow 2-3 hours depending on class size, questions/discussion, etc.
You will receive a booklet containing an overview of group riding with
illustrations that you may keep for future reference. The intent of
the riding exercise is to familiarize you with group riding while
allowing you to see our various meeting locations for our
chapter rides. We hope you will find this orientation to be
beneficial and informative while riding with a group or as an
individual.
We look forward to
meeting with you and hope you enjoy the events and activities hosted
by your Chapter.
1)
Group riding requires an extreme level of awareness and
concentration.
2) Know your limits and ride within
them; never ride above your abilities.
A)
Mental
B)
Physical
C)
Motorcycle
D)
Environment
E)
Experience level
3)
Come to the ride prepared.
A) Arrive with a full tank of gas and
an empty bladder.
B) Bring appropriate riding gear for
the expected range of conditions.
C) A tool kit might be beneficial in case of mechanical failure.
D) Having a first aide kit is desirable.
4)
Always ride in a tight but courteous staggered formation or
single-file line.
5)
Maintain a constant speed. This helps prevent the “rubber
band effect”
6)
Novices or riders that are new to group riding should ride at
or near the back unless the riders wish to ride elsewhere.
7)
Your eyes should be watching a few bikes up the road from you,
not fixed on the bike in front of you. Always be looking at least four
seconds ahead.
8)
Riding side by side is very dangerous and against the law in
some states. The only exception to be side by side is when the group
is stopped at an intersection or instructed by a law enforcement
official on an escorted ride.
9)
In a staggered or single-file formation, do not pass the bike in front
of you.
10) Never come up on the motorcycle in
front of you. If you need to communicate with another rider, signal
the rider behind you.
11) If an exit is missed, stick
together as a group; proceed to the next exit, then return to the
correct exit.
12) When in a tight curve, the rider on
the outside of the curve is required to give room to the rider on the
inside in case the curve is too tight to negotiate at that speed
without crowding.
13) Always use hand signals and pass
them along to the riders behind you.
14) It is best not to travel in one large group
(more than ten bikes). When necessary break into smaller groups
leaving adequate gaps between the smaller groups.
Following these tips will enable you
and the group to have a safe and successful ride.
Stopping at an Intersection
When stopping at
an intersection it is acceptable to pull up beside the bike diagonally
to the left or right and in front of you.
When the ride
leader has determined it is safe, he/she will proceed through the
intersection followed by the “number two” bike, then the “number
three” bike, and so on until all bikes have passed through the
intersection. The staggered formation is then resumed by the group.
REMEMBER, each bike must come to a complete stop before entering the
intersection, look for other vehicles, then proceed when safe to do
so.
If you don’t make
it through the intersection with the group, RELAX, and proceed when it
is safe to do so.
