Chippewa Valley Sportbike Club Forum

Hind Tit

Paid Member

From: Eau Claire

Registered: 2007-04-04

Posts: 2,600

Website

Club Ride Information

Club rides are scheduled alternating Saturdays and Sundays during the riding season. Check the Calendar here in the site. If it's "nice" out, people will be there. It's up to you to determine your own definition of "nice." Use the forum section Ride Outs to communicate with each other regarding non-club rides and "off-weather" club rides.

WHERE: Tailgates

WHEN: Meet at 10:00 am. Kickstands up at 10:30 am.

REQUIRED GEAR: The absolute minimum gear for EVERYONE who rides, including passengers, is:

• Helmet

• Riding Jacket (either leather or cordura/ballistic nylon)

• Gloves

• Jeans (leather or cordura preferred)

• Shoes (boots covering the ankles preferred)

The following information was taken from the MNSBR website and modified a bit. It has some good information for everyone, especially to those who are new to group rides.

GROUP RIDE RULES & ETIQUETTE

ON TIME
Kickstands are up at 10:30 am. Be ready to roll then.

GAS
Always get a full tank of gas before you show up for the group ride. The group will not appreciate having to stop 10 minutes after takeoff because you forgot to get a tank of gas. If you're early to the meeting spot, always double-check with riders as they show up to make sure they remembered gas. There is a gas station adjoining our meeting place, so this should never be an issue.

MONEY
Always bring both cash and plastic. Sometimes a venue (restaurant, gas station, etc) may not accept checks, or plastic. Then again, you might need to spend more money than you have (that's where the plastic comes into play). You don't want to be that person that has to borrow money for one reason or another.

NO ALCOHOL
You may NOT consume ANY alcohol during a club ride.  Period.  If you choose to do so, you may proceed home without the club.

FREEWAYS
Riding down the freeway as a group is not always an easy task.

PICK A LANE: The group leader should pick the best and safest lane available. Often, this will be the left-most lane available. Traffic can use other lanes to pass, and there is no merging traffic into your lane.

STAY IN YOUR LANE: Don't be a rebel and ride in a lane different from the rest of the group. This can confuse other riders as to where to go, or what lane to be in. Other lanes should be used by any riders doing photography (by a 2up rider or video recorder), group leaders, co-leaders, and sweepers. If you're just along for the ride, stay with the group, stay in your lane.

CHANGING LANES: When you change lanes, use common sense! When in a group, a lot of people can be affected by your actions. Use your turn signals, and always try to use an arm or extended leg in addition to your turn signals to notify the other riders around you that you're changing lanes.

If you see a biker ahead of you notifying the group of a change in direction, or turn, duplicate that action to notify bikers behind you what the group will be doing. For example, if the lead rider is going to be taking a left turn, turns on his left turn signal, and extends his left arm, do the same, even if you're the last rider.

TWISTIES
When coming up on twists and turns, the formation of the group should switch from staggered riding to single file.

If you're a slower rider, keep yourself at the end of the group. If you're a faster rider, stay towards the front of the group. DO NOT RIDE ABOVE YOUR SKILL LEVEL! IF YOU HAVE TO TAKE EACH TWIST AND TURN SLOWLY, DO SO. The group will wait for you at a designated spot ahead, at the next stoplight, stop sign, or change in the route’s direction. No rider gets left behind!

HAND SIGNALS
You should learn the basic hand signals riders use while on the open road. If you don't know what one of the signals mean, don't be afraid to ask!

COP: Tap your hand on the top of your helmet signals there is a cop in the area.

ROAD HAZARD: Pointing to the ground repeatedly (with your arm or leg) will let other riders know there is a road hazard (sand, gravel, road kill, etc.) up ahead, generally on the side the person is pointing.

LEFT TURN: Extend your left arm out parallel with the ground, and point.

RIGHT TURN: Extend your left arm, bent 90 degrees at the elbow.

SLOW DOWN/STOP: Extend your left arm out parallel with the ground, with an open hand, and move it up and down.

TURN SIGNAL: Flashing five fingers at a rider will let them know they forgot to turn their turn signal off.

CHANGE LANES: Extend your left or right foot signifying you’ll be changing lanes in that direction. Use this WITH a turn signal.

GAS: Point to your gas tank.

FOOD/DRINK: Point to your stomach.

STUNTING
If you want to stunt, talk to the person who organized the group ride to see if it's okay to stunt with the group. If you stunt, always do it in a lane that does not have any riders in it. Do it far ahead, or far behind the group -- not in the middle.

BRAKING
If you brake, try to "flash" your brake lights by tapping the brake quickly three to six times. This will help alert the riders behind you that you are stopping. If you see riders ahead braking, do not be afraid to flash your brakes a couple times before you actually start slowing down as a preemptive heads up.

GEAR
Wear gear! Always wear a helmet. Always ride with a riding jacket, gloves, jeans, and boots as a minimum.

ACCIDENTS
If there is an accident, have one designated person call 911.

When talking to 911, STAY CALM. Breathe. Be efficient. Answer the questions they ask you, do not ramble.

Do not move the rider unless it is absolutely necessary (ie: face down in a puddle).

Do not remove the riders helmet, unless you must perform CPR.

Perform CPR if necessary. If you do not know CPR, learn (by getting certified).

Keep the neck protected without touching or moving the rider.

Do not remove anything that may be impaled in the rider (ie: branch, piece of metal, etc).

Get the other riders to a safe place, off the road.

Have riders & bikes slow down/direct traffic, ONLY IF NECESSARY.

Find out where the rider will be taken (which hospital).

The group leader (or a designated rider appointed by the group leader) should be the only person to talk to the police. The police do not need to hear the same story 50 different times by 20 different people.

SWEEPERS
Be aware of sweepers! Sweepers (Rolling Blockades) will pull off to the sides of an intersection, and park the bike. After the group had cleared the intersection, the sweepers will rejoin the group. Sometimes, the sweepers will need to head to the front of the pack, so be aware of passing bikes.

THE LAST RIDER: This type of sweeper is the designated "last rider". This rider will be the last bike in the group, and never be ahead of any other rider in the group. When stopping at stop signs, stop lights, or a change in the routes direction the group leader will often wait for a "thumbs up" from the last rider signifying that everyone in the group is accounted for. If there is an accident, they will call ahead and notify the group leader, call or help, or whatever else they must do given the situation.

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Do I think I'm better than everyone? Only the ones I'm better than.