Red Rose Chapter Ride-Out Guidelines
One of the reasons people join a chapter is to meet others who share the enjoyment of riding. It is therefore important to learn and understand the dynamics of group riding to ensure we can all ride together safely and legally.
This guide has been developed to inform members of group riding techniques with the intention of adopting the chapter standards. This is based on an expectation that members are capable and competent of riding progressively in a group within the speed limits.
As a Chapter, we plan many rides throughout the year and when participating on Chapter ride-outs we want everyone to ride safely and within their own capabilities at all times. It’s important that you give respect and consideration to other members whose riding style and comfort zone may differ from your own.
​​​​
The Road Crew
Within the Chapter we have a dedicated and trained group of members collectively known as the Road Crew. This group of Road Captains and Road Marshals are led by the Head Road Captain. Their aim is to offer members an extensive and varied ride schedule to locations within our area and sometimes further afield. Each Road Captain and Marshal is sufficiently trained and experienced with planning and participating in group rides including:-
-
Choosing routes and destinations in a variety of locations.
-
Pre-riding each destination to ensure the safety of chapter riders.
-
Selecting adequate venues for refreshments
-
Road Captains and Sweeps ensure a safe and progressive ride-out.
-
Road Captains plan rest and petrol stop requirements based on the fuel capacity of bikes such as Sportsters and VRods. If the group stops for petrol and a comfort break, take advantage of the time to hydrate, use the toilets, or adjust your riding gear. We typically stop for a 20-minute break every 60 — 90 minutes. On occasion, we may ride up to two hours without a break; however, this is an exception.​
​​
Ride-Out Preparation
Before leaving home you should always do a P.O.W.E.R. check on your bike.
Petrol, ensure you have sufficient fuel for the journey
Oil, check the oil levels
Water
Electrics, check lights, turn signals and horn
Rubber, check tyres for tread, pressure and debris.
If your bike is considered not to be roadworthy you may be asked to leave the ride-out. It is the responsibility of each rider to make sure their bike has current insurance, tax and MOT for use on the road.
Check the weather forecast; pack what kit you need & always carry waterproof clothing. It’s up to the individual rider to decide what clothing they wish to wear before the ride-out starts, if rain looks likely, consider the wearing of waterproofs. It is a good idea to plan to arrive at the meeting point 20-30 minutes before the set off time to allow you to say hello to everyone, listen to the briefing and still be ready to leave on time.
Ensure you arrive, at the start point, with a full tank of petrol.
New riders, those who have not ridden with our group before or those running in a new bike should speak to the Lead Road Captain or the Safety Officer.
If you intend to leave the group during the ride, inform the Lead Road Captain prior to setting off.
​
​Pre Ride Briefing
The Road Captain in charge of the ride-out, known as the Lead Road Captain (LRC), will give the briefing to the group ensuring everybody is aware of what will be happening during the ride.
The LRC will welcome the group and introduce themselves and the Sweep. Both the LRC and Sweep will wear yellow & orange reflective jackets.
The LRC will give an overview of the destination, the route and planned fuel and rest stops.
The LRC will briefly explain the 2nd man drop system, staggered riding technique, hand signals and remind riders of the “two second rule”.
The LRC will also make riders aware of any known or potential hazards that may be encountered on the route, such as complex road junctions, road surfaces, livestock etc.
The LRC should also ask for new or inexperienced riders to identify themselves so they can get a more comprehensive briefing.
After the briefing the LRC will give all members a five minute warning to prepare themselves and their bikes for the start of the ride.
As part of the pre ride brief the following disclaimer will be read out:-
YOU ARE DEEMED TO BE IN CONTROL OF, AND RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR VEHICLE
AND YOUR RIDING AT ALL TIMES, IRRESPECTIVE OF ANY GUIDANCE OR
INSTRUCTION FROM ANY MEMBER OF THE ROAD CREW. YOU MUST AT ALL
TIMES OBSERVE THE HIGHWAY CODE AND OBEY ANY ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATIONS.
IF YOU BREAK THE LAW DURING A RIDE, THE RESPONSIBILITY RESTS WITH YOU!
​
Group Riding Procedures
The Basics
The basics of group riding are simple however, one must observe the following rules: -
-
Be aware of the position of all members on the ride.
-
Do not just look at the rear of the bike in front of you. Look into the distance and the riders ahead of you. They will give you some indication of any changes in speed, road layout, road conditions or hazards ahead.
-
Frequently look into your mirrors to familiarise yourself with the riders around you.
-
Before you move from your chosen position on the road, REMEMBER to:
LOOK, SIGNAL, MANOEUVRE
LOOK to the front, rear and alongside of your bike to see who is close to you,
SIGNAL to all, your intention of moving from your original position,
MANOEUVRE into your new position only when safe to do so.
On many ride-outs there are hazardous or complicated junctions and road layouts. These should have been highlighted in the Road Captain's planning and covered in the Pre-Ride Brief.
When the ride-out stops at junctions, traffic lights or any other enforced stoppage on the road it is important to close up to the other riders side by side. This will keep the group size to a minimum, cause less of a hazard and make it easier to get as many of the group through the break in traffic as safely as possible.
​​
The Two Second Rule
"Only a fool breaks the 2 second rule". This is the rule of thumb for leaving enough distance between you and the rider immediately in front. In extreme weather conditions one should consider leaving a longer gap to allow for the stopping distance, "If in rain, double again".
The prime directive in any group riding is not to hit the bike in front of you!
Alternatively, leaving too much of a gap in front of you could cause problems. Either the ride-out becomes disjointed and hard for the LRC to control the ride or, the riders following somebody who is leaving an excessive gap may become frustrated and may lead to incidence of dangerous riding.
​
​Staggered Position
The group rides in a staggered formation at a safe distance of two seconds to the bike in front of you and one second to the bike to the side of you (see diagram)
When riding in staggered position:-
-
Each bike occupies half the lane.
-
Do not cross the centre of the lane you occupy at any time
-
Be aware of your position at all times.
-
Do not pass bikes in front of you, to the left or right.
-
Be disciplined, observant and adjust your speed to those around you.
That said, even when riding in staggered formation, ensure you adopt the correct road position when approaching a bend i.e. maximum visibility. Return to staggered formation once the bend is exited.
​
​Single File Procedure
Riding in single file may be necessary depending on the roads we ride:
-
Winding roads
-
Narrow roads
-
High wind conditions on the highway
When single file is necessary, the LRC may use the appropriate hand signal.
You do not need to ride directly behind the rider in front of you.
Allow two seconds between you and the bike in front of you, which allows you the whole width of your lane for manoeuvring.
Allow yourself room to safely manoeuvre and react to the road conditions, and the bike in front of you.
​
Second Man Drop
This technique is a tried and tested way of getting a large or small group of bikes to a destination without anyone getting lost. This technique is used to mark the route at junctions and roundabouts to inform those who are following the direction the LRC has planned. The technique only works if riders obey the rules of the system, so do not panic and move off before being instructed to do so by the Sweep.
Once the LRC is satisfied that the group is ready he will lead off with the group behind him forming up into the staggered formation. The rider immediately behind the LRC is known as the 2nd man. The LRC usually takes up position in the centre of the lane or just to the left of the central road markings. The “initial” 2nd man takes a position behind and to the left of the LRC. The rest of the group position themselves in staggered formation from the 2nd man.
The LRC, on the approach to a junction or roundabout, will clearly indicate to the 2nd man where they would like that rider to stop and take up a position to mark a deviation of route. The LRC will usually signal this manoeuvre using his left arm and point towards a kerb where he expects the 2nd man to drop off. It is your decision to stop in a safe position on the road. If, in your opinion, you consider the drop position to be unsafe then select a position where you feel safe, however make sure you are still able to give directions to the rest of the group. Whilst in the drop off position stay on your bike with the engine running and look out for the Sweep who will slow down to allow you time to rejoin the group.
During a ride-out the 2nd man can expect to be dropped off at one of the following places:
Left Turn Junction
The simplest drop-off is the left turn junction. The LRC, when he wants the ride-out to take a left turn, will, as he approaches a left junction, point towards the kerb using his left arm. The 2nd man will indicate left and pull over, placing himself in the required position that is clearly visible to the ride-out members and other traffic. To avoid confusion, cancel indicators and point to the left to confirm that the ride has turned left.
​
This is the important bit. The 2nd man will retain this position until he sees the Sweep who will slow down to allow the drop off to move off in front of him. On occasions the group behind may be strung out due to traffic lights, busy town centres etc. It may be that the 2nd man will wait for 5 or 10 minutes before seeing another rider come past.
Do not panic, wait for the Sweep. Do not leave your position!
​
Right Turn Junction
As the LRC approaches a right turn junction, he will indicate a turn right and then, using his left hand, will point once again to the kerb. The 2nd man will pull over to the kerb if safe to do so, and then point to the right so that the ride-out can clearly see that the ride-out has taken the right turn at the junction.
Alternately, if the right turn junction is open and has no visible obstructions, then the 2nd man will take the right turn and then immediately pull over allowing the rest of the ride-out to see that he has taken the right turn junction. Wait for the LRC to signal your drop off point.
​
Traffic Lights
Traffic lights are treated in the same way as regular road junctions. Should the route for the ride-out be straight through at traffic lights, cross-roads, etc., there is no requirement for a 2nd man to drop off; however it is good practice, and reassurance for the ride-out to have a man drop off if practicable.
​
Roundabouts
The LRC, as he takes an exit from a roundabout, will once again point to a kerb. The 2nd man will pull over where it is safe to do so and in sight of the oncoming riders, and traffic, to indicate which exit was taken from the roundabout by the group. On especially large roundabouts, with numerous exits, some of which may be out of your line of sight, keep going round until you see the 2nd man.
​​
Forks in the Road
If the ride-out is travelling straight through a junction, there is no requirement for a drop-off. It is good practice to give assurance to the ride-out to drop off someone; however, sometimes this is not practicable. Should you arrive at a road junction crossroads with no 2nd man drop-off, continue through the junction on the same road that you approached on.
Confusion can arise where there is a fork in the road however, LRC will indicate a 2nd man drop off to indicate which direction is the intended route.
​
Multiple Drop-offs
Where there is a complex road configuration or busy road traffic, the LRC may choose to drop off more than one person. An example may be a large roundabout where the LRC will indicate a 2nd man drop off on the approach to a roundabout and then another drop-off at the roundabout exit.
​
It's Your Choice
Remember, your safety is your responsibility! The LRC will always consider road safety and drop off options however, road conditions are continually changing and a planned drop-off might not be as originally thought. Always ensure that you stop in a safe position and are well visible to all traffic and the ride-out.
​​
Patience
In heavy traffic or built-up areas, the ride-out may become heavily fragmented and split up. Be patient and wait for the Sweep before leaving your designated drop-off point. If you leave too early the ride-out will get split up and the latter part of the ride-out will miss the turn and get lost. If the ride-out does get split up, stay at your drop-off point. The LRC will eventually stop and wait for the ride-out to regroup. If the ride-out has split, the LRC will organize a Road Captain/Marshal or an experienced rider from the group to back-track along the route and pick up stragglers.
It is not uncommon to lose part of a ride-out, and 99% of the time, the ride-out is lost simply because ride-out members do not follow these simple rules of dropping off when requested and waiting for the Sweep.
​
Re-joining the Ride-out
Whilst waiting in the drop off position stay alert, on you bike, engine running, helmet and gloves on and aware of the bikes riding past you. This is so you can easily identify the bike that you started the ride behind and know you need to move off smartly after they have passed and retake your position in the staggered formation in front of the approaching Sweep. Do not force the Sweep to slow or stop alongside you before you move off as the Sweep may have following traffic. We want the ride to progress smoothly and safely for all riders including the road crew! If you don't stay alert and move off in time the Sweep may have to pass you for their own safety. You will then have to re-join behind the Sweep. However, if traffic conditions do not allow you to move off in front of the Sweep then you must re-join the carriageway when safe to do so after they have passed. The Sweep will slow down to allow you to catch up. Once safe to do so, overtake the Sweep and re-join the Ride-out.
Eventually, if the ride-out duration is long enough and there are ample junctions then the tail end riders will make their way back to the front of the ride-out to become the 2nd man once again.
​
Crossing Over — The Unnecessary Hazard
Probably one of the most hazardous manoeuvres carried out en-masse by the ride-out group is the cross-over. This occurs when the 2nd man is dropped off and the 3rd Man potentially crosses over to adopt the position of the previous 2nd man. This could cause a ripple effect throughout the entire group until the Sweep is reached.
This is obviously not recommended and to avoid any issues when a rider is dropped following riders WILL HOLD LANE POSITION. The LRC will drop subsequent riders from whichever side of the lane they’re occupying, meaning that the remainder of the group will not have to cross over every time a junction is cleared, therefore reducing risk to the group.
​​
The Buddy System
This is the second system used for group riding. The 2nd man drop and the buddy system are two completely different disciplines of Group Riding and, with the exception of trikes, covered later, should not be used together on any ride-out. The 'Buddy System' is a discipline used in group riding when there are only a small number of riders. The LRC may still use a Sweep to aid visibility of the last rider. In this system all riders keep the rider behind in view using their mirrors, slowing down if necessary to ensure following riders do not miss any turnings.
​​
Overtaking
No rider will overtake another rider on a ride-out, unless there is a breakdown or another emergency. If a rider overtakes the LRC then that individual is deemed to no longer be part of the ride! Overtaking on a single carriageway will be instigated by the LRC first. This may be due to a stationary hazard or slow moving traffic. Each following bike will overtake only when safe to do so. If it is safe for more than one bike to overtake at a time they may do so in single file only and not staggered formation. Once you have overtaken the vehicle maintain your speed so that you leave sufficient room for the following bike to come in behind you. Do not slow down hence 'closing the door' and 'leaving them to hang out' in a dangerous position.
When overtaking on a motorway or dual carriageway the same rules apply however, be mindful of fast moving traffic in the outside lanes. When the LRC overtakes a slower vehicle maintain your position in the nearside lane until the vehicle you are planning to overtake is within safe overtaking distance. Do not all follow the LRC and block the outside lane causing a hazard and un-necessary congestion.
​
Progressive Riding
Progressive riding does not mean exceeding the speed limits or riding dangerously. The LRC will always progress the ride within the national speed limit for that road, usually just below the speed limit. They will also take into account the prevailing conditions, such as the weather. If adjustment to speed is required then they will implement the change. With that in mind, it is each individual's duty to maintain a speed which always allows progress to be made. For example, if the road is clear, the weather is fine and the speed limit is 50 mph then the expectation is each rider should maintain a speed on or near the permissible limit. Progress should be made. It is not acceptable to be riding at 30mph in this given situation. The same as riding at 30 — 40 mph on a group ride-out on a motorway. This is totally unacceptable and dangerous. It is worth noting that riding too slowly can be as dangerous as riding too quickly. The frustration it causes is immense and often results in the following traffic using dangerous manoeuvres to get ahead. To this end, listed below are the national speed limits (other than in a built-up area) for bikes.
Single carriageways 60mph
Dual Carriageways 70mph
(with a central reservation)
Motorways 70mph
​
Motorways
There are occasions when the ride will use motorways, mainly to get to a destination in less time than using the more scenic A and B classified roads. There are potential dangers present when group riding on motorways. Apart from traffic traveling faster and more lanes to negotiate there are two main hazards to prepare yourself for. These are entering and leaving motorway slip roads. The slip roads are designed to allow vehicles to increase their speed before entering or decrease their speed when exiting the motorway. It is not advisable to stay in tight formation whilst carrying out these manoeuvres especially when in a large group. You must be aware that other traffic will want to enter your lane so be flexible and leave room to facilitate vehicles using the slip roads. Once clear and a steady speed is maintained, you will be able to be part of the staggered formation again. If a motorway is to be used on a ride you will be told what junctions you will be joining and leaving by the LRC at the pre-ride briefing. Marking the exit slip would be in contravention of the Traffic Regulations. Stay alert when approaching exit slip roads. The LRC will signal in plenty of time to inform the ride that they will be leaving the motorway.
Trikes
Within Red Rose Chapter, giving concern to safety, we have recently trialed a system whereby trikes are positioned behind the Sweep during group rides. This means that the Sweep effectively has to manage both the 2nd man drop system with the main pack and the buddy system with the trike(s). Having read through this document you can see a potential area of concern of rider safety if a trike rider is asked to perform 2nd man drop. Positioning a trike behind the Sweep removes the inherent hazards for all riders and other road-users at road junctions and roundabouts. If riding with different Chapters, members with trikes should approach the Lead Road Captain to establish where they would like the trike to be positioned on their ride.
​​
Breakdowns
What happens if your bike breaks down?
On an organized ride-out, should you become ill or your bike suffers a problem or malfunction, then you should use your mirrors, signal you intend to move to the nearside, when safe to do so move to the nearside kerb and stop at the side of the road. Activate the hazard warning lights on the bike and the Sweep will temporarily stop to check and assist if possible. However, it is your responsibility to ensure you carry adequate breakdown/recovery insurance for riding in the UK and abroad. The Sweep is not responsible for getting you and your Harley home. The Sweep will ensure you have access to a mobile phone so you can call your nominated recovery service. If the problem is of a minor nature the Sweep may at their discretion assist you in getting back on the road but is unable to delay longer than a few minutes.
​
New Riders Joining the Chapter
New riders who join the Chapter should be assessed to determine their level of experience in order to decide how best to safely integrate them into group ride-outs, either starting at the back of the main pack to observe and join in with 2nd man drops or whether they need to shadow an experienced rider for at least their first ride out.
​
As previously stated, the purpose of these guidelines is to ensure that we can all ride safely and legally as a group. If you have any questions or observations about these guidelines or about group riding in general, please ask any of the road crew and just remember as someone once said “Riding keeps you smiling!”
​​