(Geez Dick... I knew you were old, but DANG!)
Riding Rules
SAFE - SANE - SOBER - RESPECTFUL
Download our Liability Waiver Form and our Ride Rules Poster and Safety Booklet
- Before leaving home, do a pre-ride check of your bike to make sure it’s up to the trip. Check the controls, oil, coolant, tires/wheels, brakes, lights, gauges, and drive belt or chain. Even better, check the bike the day before a big ride so you’ll have time to remedy any defects.
- Dress appropriately for the season. Colorado weather can change quickly. The weather also varies greatly with elevation. Keep this in mind if your trip takes you through the mountains. Layers are always a good idea, as is rain gear.
- Never ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This includes OTC cold medicines, antihistamines and/or prescription drugs that may impair your ability to ride safely.
- Arrive at the rendezvous departure point fed, fueled, and with an empty bladder.
- Be early: at least 10 minutes before departure time. It can take a while to assemble a group and go over the route and any last-minute changes with the Trail Boss (Road Captain).
- Make sure your bike is fueled to the maximum safe level. Know how far your bike can go on a full tank before you hit reserve. On longer rides, the Trail Boss will want to know the range of all the bikes so he/she can plan fuel stops.
- Study the route on the Trail Boss’s map, or have your own map to read and mark up with the route. Familiarity with the route frees your mind from the worry of getting lost, and allows you to concentrate on riding. You can get free maps online from Mapquest, Google or Yahoo.
- Stay alert. The Trail Boss will signal turns, slowdowns, and other maneuvers. Each rider should pass the signal back to the riders behind him/her. But unplanned events may require quick thinking to avoid accidents. It’s the responsibility of every rider to work for their own safety, and that of the group.
- The Trail Boss takes the first position in front of the pack in the left position of the lane. This allows him to see the pack in his mirrors and check adjoining lanes for traffic when anticipating a lane change or turn.
- The other riders will follow in staggered formation within one lane: right, left; right, left, etc.
- Keep a safe distance from the bike in front of you - about two seconds. The staggered formation allows a lot of bikes to travel together in a relatively small space. But if the bikes are too crowded, a lot of folks can go down quickly should there be an emergency.
- The last rider, the Tail Gunner, will occupy the center of the lane in back of the group. This allows the Tail gunner to see the Trail Boss, anticipate lane changes and turns, and act quickly to block out traffic.
- Maintain a steady speed and spacing. Do not speed up and slow down or shift your position from side to side. This disrupts the efforts of others to regulate their speed and obviates the main purpose of riding as a group.
- Maintain a minimum safe riding distance, preferably 2 seconds, from the bike in front of you, depending on conditions. "Holes" in the pack invite motorists to cut in, disrupting the formation. If a car must cut through the pack, usually to enter or exit the road, be courteous, signal to the riders behind you to slow down, then wave the driver through. Close the hole as quickly as possible when the car has passed.
- When changing lanes, on the Trail Boss’s signal, the Tail Gunner will shift to the new lane to block trailing vehicles from disrupting the pack. Riders will follow the Trail Boss into the new lane, maintaining riding order.
- When entering traffic from a parking lot, gas station, or when leaving a traffic signal, each rider should move out promptly and get into position in the formation as soon as it’s safe to do so.
- When passing a slow-moving vehicle on a two-lane, two-way road, each rider should pass in order, single file. One of the most dangerous situations occurs when riders try to force the issue of keeping up with the pack and pass blind or without allowing a safe margin regarding oncoming traffic.
- Should the pack become separated due to a red light, stop sign or intervening vehicle, the Trail Boss will slow the pack down and wait for everyone to catch up. Never sacrifice safety to the idea of keeping the pack together. Do not run red lights or stop signs to keep up. Obey all traffic signs and signals.
- When stopping at a signal or stop sign, pull up to two-abreast (parade formation). Maintain this formation if you will be going through a series of closely spaced stops (e.g., city streets).
- When turning at an intersection maintain your position in the formation. Don’t crowd the inside bike.
- Enter a parking area or gas station in single file. The Trail Boss should "loop" the area to allow all riders to get out of traffic quickly.
- When riding on narrow, twisting roads move into a single file, while maintaining a safe distance between bikes. Position yourself in the middle of the lane, keeping a safe distance from oncoming traffic. The Trail Boss will signal single file formation by holding up a single finger. Each rider will pass the signal back, as they must with all hand signals.
- Be sure to inform the Trail Boss and Tail Gunner if you will be breaking off from the pack along the way. Otherwise, any bike that pulls over or exits the highway will be considered to be in trouble. The Tail Gunner will follow to assist.
Download our Liability Waiver Form and our Ride Rules Poster and Safety Booklet
(Geez Dick... I knew you were old, but DANG!)
Who knew scanning a tin-type photo would come out so well?!?