Riding In A Group
Taking your bike out on your own can be fun and enjoyable enough, but sometimes you want to see if your friends are free to go on a ride with you. Riding in a group is a great way to bond with your fellow motorcyclists and have an adventure that you won’t soon forget!
However, when you’ve got several bikers riding together, it’s important that everyone is on the same page and that you’re all able to have a good time, even if your abilities differ. Your local motorcycle dealership is Cycles of Jacksonville, serving all of Florida. We’ve provided these tips for riding with a group to help ensure your next ensemble excursion goes off without a hitch!
How To Pack
First, you’ll need to make sure everyone’s bikes are well-stocked and prepared for the journey. Every single rider should have their bikes tuned up and ready to go with full gas tanks. You’ll all want to have some snacks and some water as well as your typical riding gear. If you’re going on an overnight or multiple-day trip, then everyone’s going to have to fill their saddlebags with extra clothing, rain gear, toiletries, medications, phone chargers and anything else that might be necessary for the journey.
The group needs to have at least one repair kit and one first-aid kit, and while everyone probably has their phone with them, an emergency hand-crank radio isn’t a bad idea in case you get stuck and can’t get a signal. You may wish to have your rear-most rider carry these special items so they can stop and help anyone who needs to use them.
Plan The Route Together
Everyone needs to be on the same page when it comes to where you’re going and how you’re getting there. Discuss your route as a group and figure out what roads will be the best options. You’ll want to look online to see whether there are any road closures or areas of high congestion that you should avoid.
Figure out how long it will take you all to ride at a safe speed to get to the destination and where you’ll want to build in breaks and stops along the way. Maybe there are some interesting tourist attractions that you’ll want to tour together, or maybe you’ll find a cool diner to have a big group lunch. Just make sure everyone knows the route so they can find the group again if they are left behind somehow.
Select A Formation
No one in your group should be left behind, which is why picking a riding formation is so important. This will ensure that each rider has their place in the group and no one will get separated. Appoint a leader and a follower; both of these riders need to be among the most experienced in your group in addition to being patient and willing to accommodate newer riders’ needs. The leader will need to be good at directions and capable of signaling any changes back to the rest of the group. The person at the back will be the one who stops to help a biker whose bike is giving them trouble or who may need to stop for other reasons.
A staggered double line is a popular riding formation that helps you all stay visible to drivers of cars and trucks and it ensures that you can all travel smoothly without anyone being in the way. From above, this formation resembles the teeth of a zipper, with riders two seconds apart.
With some planning, you can ensure that your group rides are successful ventures that help you to bond with your fellow bikers. Still in need of a great bike? Stop by our Jacksonville location today to see our available selection of new and used motorcycles for sale. Cycles of Jacksonville proudly serves the cities of Orlando and St. Augustine, Florida.