Team / Group Riding The Hows and The Whys Material used with permission from the GWRRA Team Riding Manual and The Master Strategy Group’s Guidelines for Group Riding for Street Bikes

The Gold Wing Road Riders Association is a touring motorcycle organization comprised of people from all walks of life that share at least two common interests: The Honda Gold Wing Motorcycle Eating

Riding your Gold Wing in a group with other GWRRA friends is an important part of what GWRRA is all about. Riding in a group of friends is the part of the GWRRA motto. However, before you can experience the FUN, it is important that you gain the so that is insured for all participants!

Group Riding: Why? There are several advantages for riding in a group: A group is usually more visible to other drivers than a solo rider Other vehicles can predict what a rider in a group will do because all members generally maintain fixed positions and fixed intervals between riders In case of a mechanical problem or an accident, help is available immediately to the rider Help with getting all your protective / weather gear on and off

Group Riding: Why Not? Group riding is not for everyone: It requires a certain level of skill and self-disipline. It restricts an individual rider’s options as to speed, changes in route, and lane positioning. It requires good communications, courtesy among riders, and a willingness to look out for the safety of others while riding your own ride.

Common Group Riding Terms Road Captain – the person who plans the ride and the route; frequently, but not always, the Lead Bike Lead Bike – also known as the Team Point; rides the most forward position in the group; determines the group’s direction, speed, choice of lane, and formation. Drag Bike – also known as the Team Captain, Sweep, or Tail Gunner; rides the last position in the group; relays information to the Lead Bike regarding other riders in the group, traffic patterns, equipment problems, etc; secures the lane for the rest of the group during lane changes; stops to assist a rider who experiences problems; usually the most experienced rider in the group.

Guidelines for Group Riding Arrive prepared. Arrive on time with a full gas tank, proper riding attire, and ready to ride. Hold a riders’ meeting. Discuss things like the route, rest and fuel stops. Assign a lead and drag rider. Both should be experienced riders who are well-versed in group riding procedures. The leader should assess everyone’s riding skills and the group’s riding style. Keep the group to a manageable size, ideally five to seven riders. If necessary, break the group into smaller sub-groups, each with a lead and tail rider.

Guidelines (continued) Ride prepared. At least one rider in each group should pack a cell phone, first-aid kit, and full tool kit, so the group is prepared for any problem that they might encounter. Ride in formation. The staggered riding formation allows a proper space cushion between motorcycles so that each rider has enough time and space to maneuver and to react to hazards. Periodically check the riders following in your rear view mirror. If you see a rider falling behind, slow down so they may catch up. If all the riders in the group use this technique, the group should be able to maintain a fairly steady speed without pressure to ride too fast to catch up.

Group Riding is Playing “Follow The Leader” Yes, when you join a group ride you do agree to be led by a lead bike and to be sheparded by drag bike. Yes, when you join a group ride you do agree to maintain proper spacing and ride in the correct formation. Yes, when you join a group ride you do agree to adopt the “prime directive” – never hit the bike in front of you!

When you join a group ride,

Riding in a group is a Maintain a steady speed and spacing Stay alert and announce to other team members any obstacle, condition or potential situation which could become hazardous to the team Respect the skills and uniqueness of each team member Have a receptive attitude toward constructive criticisms from others on the ride about how to ride safely. No one knows it all and reminders about safe habits never hurt anyone.

Ride in formation – could also be called Ride information The staggered formation allows the lead and drag bikes to get the most information about the group quickly and allows the group to travel with a safe separation in the least amount to space. Keep in mind that 7 Gold Wings at 60 mph could easily form a group 600’ long. To discourage others from cutting into the formation, you want to “keep it tight”, but not at the expense of maintaining a safe following distance.

In a Staggered Formation, each group member travels in a staggered formation within a car lane. The Lead Bike rides in the front of the group, in the left track of the lane. The next rider positions their bike one second behind and in the right tire track of the same lane. Continue until all bikes have been positioned. This gives a 2 second separation between bikes in the same track.

Exceptions: Trikes and Sidecars will still “stagger”, but will leave a 2 second gap between them and the preceding bike. This is because they do not “fit” in a single track. On curves and where the road conditions warrant, bikes should ride in a single file. Make sure to maintain the 2 second separation from the preceding bike.

Group Formation Lead Bike 2-wheelers 2-wheelers with trailers 3-wheelers 3-wheelers with trailers Drag Bike

Group Formation Lead Bike – experienced rider with a CB riders with a CB riders without a CB less experienced riders Drag Bike – experienced rider with a CB

It’s all About the Ride! Please continue reviewing the information presented in the GWRRA Team Riding Manual. A group ride, whether it’s a short ride through the countryside or a cross-country adventure, is supposed to be fun. If you have questions or concerns about riding in a group or the rules to be followed on a group ride, please ask. After all: