Riding in Groups
The Route
It’s important that everyone in the group knows the type of route that is planned. If one or two in the group really don’t like riding on motorways there’s little point in planning a route that takes the group up and down these types of roads. On the other hand, if someone in the group dislikes narrow, twisty roads they should be avoided. It all depends on who you're riding with and how much come and go there is within the group, but a compromise is usually good. For instance, you may have to hop on and off of a motorway to get you to your start point.
Maps
It doesn’t have to be an OS map but place names, road numbers, junctions and distances between points can help those in the group who might get lost. Remember, if you need to look at a map, STOP. Don’t be tempted to look down at a map that’s tucked into your ‘tankbag. If you’re travelling at 60mph on a motorway, a 3 second glance at your map and you’ll have travelled about the length of a football pitch before you look back up. If you’re lost it’ll take longer than 3 seconds to find yourself on your map.
Distances
Both a comfortable distance for the bike to travel before refuelling, but also a comfortable distance for each member of the group to travel. There’s no fun in getting off the bike at the end of a journey stiff and sore because you’ve spent too long in the one position.
Stopping Places
These can not only serve as resting places but also meeting places for anyone taking there own time or who may have got lost along the road. The stopping places should be safe from roadside traffic, ideally a café or service station.
Contact
Mobile phones can be great for keeping in contact. If you own a big tourer it could already be fitted with bluetooth in the helmet coms. If not, a mobile on vibrate tucked in your pocket can be almost as good. Text a message for the person in the group you want to contact and they can read it next time they stop at the side of the road. If someone does go astray they are less likely to get worried or do stupid things to catch up if they know where they are supposed to be heading and how to make contact with the rest of the group.
Riding Order
I would say that the order of riders in your group might change several times during the trip. This isn’t a problem as long as you all agree before hand that overtaking is allowed. Provided it doesn’t turn into a trial of speed for the best in the bunch.
The most important things to remember are that the slowest, least experienced rider isn’t left at the back. They won’t enjoy trying like a bear to keep up as the rider in front of them gets smaller and smaller on the horizon and once they get that first corner wrong and end up getting too close to a Scania coming the other way they won’t feel like anything but going home to their bed.
A sweeper bike is always a good idea if you can organise it. Hopefully an experienced rider who looks out for accidents, break downs and slower members and stays with them, even if they aren’t as brisk as the front-runners. If they wear a yellow vest or tabard, it points out to everyone else they are the last bike. They should have a reliable bike, like a Honda; did I mention I own a Honda?
Always keep a good distance
Don’t get to close to the vehicle in front. If the rider in front slows down to admire the view and you ride up their rear, they’ll be less than chuffed.
A large group of bikers can be intimidating to other road users. Overtake with care and don’t bunch up and overtake in groups. Generally, if you’re courteous to other drivers, they return the favour. The first bike will do the rest of the group who are following no favours if he cuts up a car when overtaking it. That driver is only likely to take out his anger on the rest of the group.
If you do find yourselves having to use the motorway network, staying in touch with each can be challenging. When you mix a group of bikes and a group of cars and other vehicles, spaces can develop and riders can get left behind. Especially when other vehicles using the motorway are all travelling at different speeds. Whether you’re on a British motorway or an unrestricted Autobahn you should all have the same max speed arranged so that the slowest bike in the group can keep up comfortably. If you are all together, at least in sight of each other, no one will have to jeopardise their safety or their licence by stopping on the hard shoulder to indicate to stragglers, which exit to come off.
Riding in built up areas
It’s very easy for a group of bikes to get split up in a built up area. The larger the group of bikes will make it more difficult to stay with each other. When traffic lights change the group may be split in half. When a large lorry pulls out between your group, and is slower, another split is made. So, if you plan to stay in smaller groups of three or four there is more chance of re-grouping at your stopping place or destination. If you can stop before the built up area or plan to before entering it, all the better. Tall landmarks are always good to use if available, like a church steeple or a tall skyscraper. If, however, you do become completely lost, having a map and at least one of the other members of the group to help read it will be of great comfort.
What if things go wrong?
If despite all your best laid plans something does go wrong, whether is an accident, a breakdown or illness having the proper type of insurance and recovery can be the difference between a happy end to your journey or a total nightmare costing a lot more than you’d planned. If you became ill for example and you were in Germany, how would you get your bike back home? It could cost you more than the bike is worth! It’s worth checking that all of your group have insurance too. If another bike knocks into you and they’re not insured, you’ll be paying for their mistake. If you have insurance that you think covers you for riding abroad for example, it’s worth calling them just to make sure. Some companies don’t charge any more money as long as you notify them of the bikes use.
Hopefully these tips have been of some use to you and help you all to make the best use of your time away on two wheels.
