Group Riding Tips

Tips for a successful ride with the South Shore Riders

  1. Be sure to read and understand our rules.
     
  2. Watch this group riding video.
     
  3. Arrive early to the staging area with a full gas tank, and an empty bladder. Make sure you've checked your bike's tire pressure, oil level, lights, etc.
     
  4. Communicate any special needs, concerns, or questions to the group organizers or road captain.
     
  5. Generally we will ride in a staggered formation. We will form two columns, with the road captain at the head of the left column. The second bike will head the right column, and will ride approximately 1 second behind the leader. The other riders will position their bikes 2 seconds behind the bike directly in front of them, which puts them 1 second behind the diagonal bike. (see diagram) This formation allows each rider sufficient safety space, and discourages other vehicles from cutting into the group.
  6. Always maintain your lane position. This allows riders to become familiar with riding styles of those around them and creates predictability. If you must change, wait until we reach or destination.
     
  7. If our travel route takes us onto narrower roads or road conditions that indicate the need, the road captain will signal for a single file formation.
     
  8. When stopped at a traffic light or a stop sign, everyone should double up, side-by-side.
     
  9. We will use the hand signals shown here; be sure you know them. Each rider (and passenger) should duplicate all hand signals given by the rider in front of him, so that the signals get passed all the way to the back of the formation.

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