The Ocala HOG Chapter meets the Second Thursday of every month at the VFW Hall on 36th Avenue in Ocala.  Heading North on 36th Avenue for about 2 miles - Look for the Army Tank on the right side!

Social Time: 7:00     Meeting: 7:30

Group Riding

 Jerry “Macho Man” Milam, Safety Officer & Road Captain

 New Member Orientation and Riding Exercise

 Welcome to the Ocala, Florida Chapter of the Harley Owners Group

 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.

 Below are some great tips for group riding that we use

Ride Safe, Ride Smart and Enjoy

Jerry

Group Riding Tips

 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.

                                    Staggered Formation Riding

The staggered formation is the primary riding formation for group riding.

Single-file riding is used when directed by the ride leader.

The following rules apply to staggered formation riding:

One-Second Rule:  The bike in the lane diagonally to your left or right should not be less than one second ahead of you.

Two-Second Rule:  Maintain at least two seconds between you and the rider directly in front of you.

Four-Second Rule:  Look ahead four seconds at your immediate path of travel to give you more time to react to a hazard.

Twelve-Second Rule:  Also look ahead at your anticipated path of travel. Twelve seconds is about one city block.

**This formation offers each rider sufficient space, yet deters other vehicles from cutting into the formation.  It also allows a space cushion if you have to react to a road hazard.  It does require concentration by each rider to maintain the one/two second rule.

Group Parking

Orderly parking reduces the time needed to get riders off the roadway.

The ride leader leads the group into the parking area allowing sufficient room for all riders to exit the roadway.  Riders should follow the ride leader to the selected parking area and establish their parking positions.

Each bike should pull ahead of the intended parking place and then back up into the spot.  After you pull into your parking position and the group has settled down, you may move to the fueling area if fuel is needed. 

After fueling, move your bike back to your established parking position.

"HAND SIGNALS"

*Start engines   With your right or left arm extended upward, move your index finger in a circular motion

*Slow down       Extend your left arm downward at a 45 degree angle and move your hand up and down

*Stop                    Extend your arm downward at a 45 degree angle with the palm of your hand facing rearward

*Tighten up        Raise your left arm and repeatedly move up and down in a pulling motion. This indicates the leader wants the group to close ranks.

*Left Turn            Raise your left arm horizontal with your elbow fully extended

*Right turn          Raise your left arm horizontal with your elbow bent 90 degrees vertically

*Hazard left         Extend your left arm or leg downward at a 45 degree angle and point towards the hazard

*Hazard right     Normally you extend your right leg downward at a 45 degree angle and point towards the hazard

*Single file          Position your left hand over your helmet with your index finger extended upward. This indicates the leader wants the group in a single file formation. Usually this is done for safety reasons (e.g. narrow road, passing a jogger, etc)

**Staggered Formation   Extend your left arm upward over your helmet with your index and pinkie finger extended. This indicates that it is safe to return to staggered formation

****Always pass the signals back to the riders behind you. If desired, the passenger can pass the signals back instead of the driver.

****The exception to this is the "Changing Lanes Motion" is only given by a Road Captain