the road captain
Contents
1. Special biker jeans are available made from denim but with Kevlar reinforcements Consider wearing body armor incorporated into lightweight mesh underwear Leather clothing traditionally offers the best and most fashionable protection When you re sliding on the hot asphalt leather is abrasion resistant denim is not Whatever your fashion tastes leather is still cheaper than your skin Avoid riding in shorts as they don t even offer protection against leg burns from a hot exhaust HIGH VISIBILITY CLOTHING COLOURS Whatever clothing style you choose remember that they should be fashionable practical guarantee good protection and increase your visibility to other road users 19 Road Surface Dangers DIESEL Keep a constant watch for slippery dark patches on the road as this may be diesel that has spilled from a truck or water which has dropped from a car s air conditioner unit ROAD MARKINGS Bear in mind that the painted areas on the roads DO NOT have a grip surface They are very smooth Try to avoid braking on any painted surface as the chances of a wheel lock and skidding are high Be extra cautious around pedestrian crossings which have a higher than usual amount of painted area SAND Blown onto the road sand can cause a bike to slip or make steering difficult FURROWS Look out for furrows corrugations or other uneven surfaces which can affect bike stability and steering For this2. 2 E N BMF iy Ja cpl yal cy peal gal BAHRAIN MOTOR FEDERATION BMF BAHRAIN MOTORCYCLE CLUB Contents Page 1 Mission statement 2 2 Objectives 2 3 Rules of the Road 4 4 Guide to Safer Riding 15 5 Dress to Live 18 6 Road Surface Dangers 20 7 Riding Alone 23 8 Riding with a Passenger 27 9 Riding in a Group 29 10 After a Ride 41 Bahrain Motorcycle Club mc MISSION STATEMENT BMC will provide a means to unite riders with similar interests to promote safety friendship and structure regardless of the make of bike or nationality of rider OBJECTIVE Bahrain motorcycle club has been formed to provide an organization to meet the needs of like minded bikers in the Kingdom of Bahrain BMC will provide services to its members such as advice planning and guidance within the scope of the BMC activities This will include promotional campaigns for official rides providing official Bahrain motorcycle club clothing labels and patches to identify with the Bahrain motorcycle club has a commitment to safety to all road users and to developing a safe motorcycling culture wherever our riders may be We have a commitment to the brotherhood of motorcycle riders of the and to the commitmentunit Bahrain motorcycle club in general Rules of the Road The purpose of riding in an organized group instead of an undisciplined pack is to provide the additional safety that a well organized group inherently generates When groups ride in
3. when animals are difficult to see Always check to see if the road you are traveling on is fenced on both sides as fences will reduce the risk of animals wandering onto the road SWERVING OR EMERGENCY STOPS If you see animals in the road ahead you should warn others slow down and give the animals a wide berth However you may find yourself in an it came out of nowhere situation where you have little time to react What then You can try to swerve away from the animal object but it is NOT RECOMMENDED as you will be putting the bike and yourself in an instable condition and there is actually a slight increase in speed when swerving 22 Riding Alone DRIVING STANDARDS Road users come from all over the world There is a wide variation in the understanding of the Highway Code and differing levels of competency among drivers with a lot of room for personal interpretations This makes riding exciting and challenging FIT TO RIDE Avoid riding if you are not well have taken medication or consumed beverages that may impair your judgment or reaction time Remember there is no drink drive tolerance If you are involved in an accident and found to be under the influence the consequences are severe RIDER SKILLS TRAINING Constantly improve your riding skills Try to participate in a Safe Rider Program Advanced Riding Skills Training or a Track Day At the time of writing no such servi
4. or full face helmet instead CHECK BEFORE EACH RIDE Perform a visual check of the bike to identify any loose fittings oil or fuel leaks headlight tail light etc 17 Dress to Live HELMET Invest in the best quality helmet you can afford Look for the DOT or SNEL quality approval Each helmet has its advantages and disadvantages Let us inform you on the available options Full face helmets protect your face and chin against wind sand birds and insects if you ride without a windscreen but are not well suited to this climate Certain makes of helmets e g Schubert have enough room even for persons who wear spectacles Cruiser style helmets leave the face free but have no chin protection Bed Pan helmets may look stylish and let you hear the exhaust but they do not afford any real protection in an accident GOGGLES Either goggles or glasses should be worn whenever riding Buy a darkened set for the day and a clear set for night rides Whatever style you go for it s recommended to buy the wrap around style that reduces the chance of sand getting into your eyes 18 GLOVES In an accident it s natural to put your hands out to break your fall Lightweight leather gloves with reinforced sections on the palm offer some protection against skin loss BOOTS Should be sturdy cover the anklebone and have heat resistant non slip soles Avoid riding with only sandals on JEANS
5. an orderly fashion people don t get in each other s way and the organization of the formation itself discourages cars from attempting to cut in For example trucks have been known to move to the far side of their lane to minimize windblast for bikers when they see a well ordered formation Once a group has adopted riding rules EVERYONE riding with the group is expected to follow them Anyone violating the rules or anyone who compromises the safety of the ride will be warned and if their actions continue they will have their memberships revoked and will not be welcome to ride with the Bahrain motorcycle club The following rules are compiled from a number of sources Most groups that ride in an orderly formation follow similar rules Details may vary from one group to another but for the Bahrain motorcycle club these will be the rules we follow FORMATION The group will ride at or below the posted speed limit Formation riding will be in a standard staggered formation In staggered formation the bikes form two columns with the Road Captain at the head of the left column In this position he will be able to view all bikes in his rearview mirrors and also be able to see around vehicles that the group might approach The second bike will head the right column and will ride approximately one second behind the Road Captain and in the opposite side of the lane The other riders will position their bikes two seconds behind the diagonal bi
6. g maneuvering into a parking space keep revving the engine slightly to avoid stalling the back wheel may suddenly lock and you may be unable to stay upright PARKING HOUSES amp BOOM GATES When approaching boom gates remember that the pressure sensitive strips embedded in the road surface in front of the boom do not register a 2 wheeled vehicle only cars So the boom will probably not open for you to pass When following a motor vehicle either into or out of a parking house equipped with a boom gate remember that the boom will fall again immediately after the car has passed most likely on your head 25 SIDE STAND DOWN WHEN REFUELLING For those of you who do not get off your bike while filling up at a petrol station as you should remember your footing could slip unexpectedly on an oily floor causing you and the bike to topple over Make a habit of engaging the side stand as an added safety precaution 26 Riding with a Pasenger CLOTHING A pillion passenger requires the same basic safety gear as the rider including helmet gloves boots goggles and suitable clothing INSTRUCTIONS Make sure your intended passenger knows the basics of how to behave on the bike If they are taking their first ride on the back of a bike they will need instructions The passenger should mount or dismount only after ensuring themselves that the rider is holding the handlebars with both hands both feet planted firmly
7. group USE YOUR MIRRORS Use your mirrors to a maximum to constantly verify the situation of the bike behind you Keep watchful eyes on traffic moving up to overtake the group Remember that a car traveling at high speed only takes a few seconds to reach your position Above all make it a habit to always glance over your shoulder before changing lanes to overtake or turning even if you just checked your mirrors and didn t see any other vehicle LIGHTS When riding at night behind other bikes ensure that high beam headlights are switched off unless you are leading the group Otherwise these lights dazzle the riders in front of you 33 FORWARD VISION When in your selected file and following the bike in front of you remember that anything that happens to a rider ahead will directly affect you as well Try to position your bike slightly to the left or right of the bike in front of you all the time maintaining the integrity of the column Occasionally cocking your head slightly to one side will improve your forward vision and may give you vital milliseconds of warning of an impending problem with the group ahead NO PASSING The Road Captains have been given the responsibility to set the pace and get to the final location as a group Do not pass either the Road Captain or other riders CONSTANT PACE Avoid repeatedly accelerating and slowing down for no reason This disturbs riders behind you or in the next col
8. not unknown for an aggressive driver whose progress in the left lane has been blocked by the group of bikes to overtake on the right come up past the group in the slow lane and then try to cut through the group at the front At times it may be preferable for the convoy to occupy the overtaking lane e g to support the action of the Lead Road Captain or because of an obstacle blocking one of the lanes ahead In such a case the Rear Road Captain can exercise his 39 discretion and move into the overtaking lane This would then be the signal for the whole convoy to move over CENTERSIDE FILE DO S amp DON TS Do not initiate the overtaking sequence too late bringing you and the first bike closest to you too close to the vehicle in front This means that although you will have left yourself sufficient room to maneuver the first bike in the next file may not have enough space Do not terminate the overtaking sequence too soon thereby cutting too close in front of the bike following in the right hand file By checking your mirror you will see when the first bike in the next file activates its turn signal indicating a return to its original position Then activate your turn signal glance over your right shoulder at the next bike behind you before gradually moving back into the slow lane again CURBSIDE FILE DO S amp DON T S Return to your original lane as quickly as possible by activating your turn signal and glanc
9. on even ground and asking if the rider is ready to accept the increased load When cornering the passenger should lean with the bike not against it and keep their shoulders in line with those of the rider Either too much or too little balance will have a negative affect on the bike s stability and steering through corners Show your passenger where the handgrips are located and mention the best grip positions when accelerating and slowing down Point out that the exhaust gets very hot and should not be touched once the engine has warmed up 27 Agree on some basic sign language to enable some communication while traveling STOPPING DISTANCE Remember the distance required to stop your bike is almost double that of when you are riding alone Increase your usual distance from the vehicle ahead TIRE PRESSURE Refer to the User Manual for the recommended tire pressure for rider and passenger Increase pressure as required SUSPENSION Refer to the User Manual and adjust as necessary INDEMNITY If carrying a passenger on a fund raising ride it is advisable to have them sign an indemnity to shield yourself from damage claims in case of an accident 28 Riding in a Group COMPETENCY Riding in a group requires greater concentration and a higher degree of self discipline than when riding alone Each rider is responsible to fellow riders for their safety A negligent attitude can endanger other rid
10. reason especially if you are on a section of road that you aren t familiar with avoid riding with only one hand on the steering 20 SPEED HUMPS Be especially wary around speed humps They are often overlooked by many motorists frequently resulting in accidents Check your rear mirrors to ensure that any traffic behind you has seen and will slow down for the hump Otherwise you could be hit from behind Make use of hand signals to make clear to others that you are slowing down and may come to a complete stop to negotiate a speed hump take care not to bottom the bike especially if your bike has been lowered PEDESTRIANS Keep a look out for pedestrians who may unexpectedly step into your path In particular beware of persons in the center aisle trying to cross a busy road Some may be difficult to see in the shade of trees at night or on roads with poor lighting Pedestrians often overlook or underestimate the speed of an approaching bike or are more concerned in not missing their bus or pick up so they run unexpectedly to the other side of the road right in front of you STOPPING ON THE ROADSIDE If you have to stop signal your intention clearly choose a clean and even piece of hard shoulder and move as far away from traffic as possible 21 WILDLIFE Beware of any type of animal on or close to the road Be especially careful at sunrise and sunset when you may be blinded by the sunlight as well as at night
11. AND DOWN and CONFIRM IT IS LOCKED IN PLACE Then PUT THE BIKE IN GEAR and TURN THE HANDLEBARS FULL LOCK LEFT By doing so you will avoid the chance of the bike moving forward if parked facing down on a slight incline or if someone bumps your bike causing it to slip off the stand Remember to park on a flat surface If parking on an incline cannot be avoided then park with the bike facing up the incline TURN HANDLEBARS FULL LOCK LEFT If you leave your front wheel pointing straight ahead the bike can quite easily be nudged forward causing it to slip off the stand especially if not in gear Make it a habit when parking to turn the front wheel full lock left 42
12. ad Captain will raise his left hand with thumb and pinky out and his other fingers closed rotating his wrist back and forth indicating left right left right All other riders will repeat this and resume staggered formation TIGHTEN FORMATION When the Road Captain feels that the formation should be tighter i e bikes closer together he raises his left hand with fingers spread wide and repeatedly closes them into a fist All other riders repeat this and close up all unnecessary space in the formation ROAD HAZARD This is the one signal that can be initiated by ANYONE Anyone seeing a hazardous condition on the road surface road kill oil gravel significant pothole etc will point at it Pointing can be accomplished by sticking your right or left leg out right leg for right side hazard or left leg for left side hazard All following riders will repeat this so that all riders will avoid the hazard 11 ANY SUGGESTIONS After the ride if you have any suggestions on safety aspects or want to express a viewpoint please feel free to contact the Road Captains Safety Officer or any other Committee Member It s your ride and safety is everyone s concern REMEMBER THIS 1 When asked to do so please form up quickly in a column comprising 2 files of bikes 2 No switching between files during the ride 3 Ride in a staggered formation 1st bike in the left file 2nd bike slightly behind in the right file 3rd bi
13. ces are available locally so a course in Europe or Asia is the only option 23 BUTTON UP ALL LOOSE CLOTHING Before setting off on a ride make sure that all items of clothing are securely fastened helmet chinstrap neck scarf jacket etc as loose clothing flapping in the wind is distracting and potentially dangerous DRINK LOTS OF WATER Dehydration occurs more quickly on a bike especially in a hot dry climate It s important to make a habit of drinking water at every stop Dehydration will impair your judgment RIDE WITH A BUDDY If a friend is not available and you decide to ride out alone be sure to inform someone of your intended route and approximate time of return If you cannot return at the expected time then be sure to let those persons know to avoid undue concern LIGHTS ON Always ride with your headlight on day or night Use your high beam during daylight hours If other road users signal to say your lights are on Great You have been noticed 24 BRAKING Avoid heavy braking which may cause your wheels to lock and make the bike unstable Remember the 70 30 rule 70 front and 30 back Avoid using front brakes on sand as the wheel may lock and cause the front to slip away If you do need to slow down while in a corner gently apply the rear brake Use of the front brake while cornering requires practice to do safely MANOUVERING AT LOW SPEED When turning at low speed e
14. d Captain of any potential problems within the group He watches other vehicles and informs the Road Captain of hazardous conditions approaching from the rear such as vehicles trying to cut into the formation and trucks passing which could cause potentially dangerous wind blasts He will watch for merging lanes and will move into a merging lane or stay ina merging lane just vacated by the group in order to close the door on other vehicles that may otherwise find themselves trying to merge into the formation At the Road Captain s request the Safety changes lanes before the formation to secure the lane blocking traffic behind him so the formation can move into it THE STOPPER The Stopper s volunteer to stop traffic so that the ride can leave together or during a ride when circumstances permit to stop side traffic so the convoy can keep together This is done at the riders own personal risk and responsibility This is not an easy task It requires great skill and the ability to read traffic conditions Such support should only be used when absolutely unavoidable NEW RIDERS The position of new riders who are inexperienced with group riding is significant New riders should be positioned as far at the back of the group as possible LANE CHANGES All lane changes start with a radio request or a hand signal from the Road Captain to the all the riders The Safety will when or if it is safe to do so move into th
15. e requested lane and will inform the Road Captain when the lane is clear At this point the Road Captain has three options SIMPLE LANE CHANGE This is an ordinary lane change and can be used in most situations After the Safety has secured the new lane the Road Captain will put on his directional signal as an indication that he is about to order a lane change As each rider sees the directional signal he also turns on his signal so that the riders following him will get the order to change lanes The Road Captain then initiates the change and all other riders follow by changing lanes as well The important concept to remember is that NO ONE moves until the bike in front of him has started moving GROUP LANE CHANGE This can be used interchangeably with Simple Lane Change It requires a little more work but it is well worth the effort It s quite impressive to watch and gives the riders a tremendous feeling of togetherness This may sound a little complicated but it is actually very simple to do After the Safety has secured the new lane the Road Captain will put on his directional signal as an indication that he is about to order a lane change As each rider sees the directional signal he also turns on his signal so that the riders following him get the order for a lane change The Road Captain then raises his left arm straight up Each rider repeats this signal Then by lowering his arm to point to the lane into which he s m
16. e the following 1 Destination of the Ride 2 Precise description of the route 3 Mileage and Time requirement 4 Reminder that everyone should have enough fuel 5 Maximum speed not to be exceeded 6 Mention any known hazards or obstacles 7 Identify and welcome any new riders along for the first time or any new members Instruct them for reasons of safety and until they are familiar with group ride procedures to join the rear of the group 8 Designate the Road Captains and other key positions within the convoy 9 Ask for 2 volunteers preferably with big bikes with large taillights to act as traffic stoppers as the group is leaving 10 Indicate where to line up 11 Instruct the Stoppers that the Road Captain will signal them to move to block passing traffic as soon as the group is ready to leave 12 Ask for a show of hands of those riders intending to leave the group before arrival at final destination Instruct such riders to join the rear of the group where they can depart without inconveniencing others No cutting through the group or swapping columns 13 Repeat the Safety Rules as needed Staggered formation 2 second interval No overtaking No swapping files If the group gets split up in traffic the lead group will slow down for others to catch up there is no need to speed unnecessarily THE SAFETY The Safety serves as the eyes of the Road Captain He watches the formation and informs the Roa
17. ers and result in a domino effect of accidents Before deciding to participate in a group ride make sure you are physically and mentally fit to do so and that you are sufficiently competent on your machine Remember a chain or group ride is only as strong the weakest link HAND SIGNALS Make sure you are familiar with the hand signals illustrated within this manual They are designed so that bikers will have a common language to communicate needs intentions or dangers to each other while riding in a group BIKE CONDITION Make sure your bike is mechanically ready for a run If you are experiencing any problems sort them out before the ride otherwise you will just inconvenience others or even the entire group No bald tires 29 FUEL UP Before a ride fuel up on the way to the meeting point well before the intended departure time ARRIVE IN TIME As a courtesy to others arrive well before the intended departure time so that you hear any last minute instructions Noisy bikes rolling in during final announcements are very annoying LISTEN CAREFULLY The Road Captain or other person designated to make the ride announcements will call everyone together to explain what the program is for the evening It is important that you listen carefully so that everyone has the correct information If anything needs clarifying ask BREAKING OFF FROM THE GROUP Make it known at the briefing if you intend
18. ers in the group so don t do it 35 CORNERING There should never be two bikes side by side in a corner If one of the bikes slides away it may drag the other bike down too SPEED HUMPS Be especially careful on stretches of road where speed humps are installed If the rider behind you is not concentrating properly he or she may not see the warning sign and overlook the fact that you are slowing down Such low speed accidents really spoil your day and cause a disproportionate damage to rider and machine Be particularly vigilant if there are new riders in the group who may not know the road as well as you Activate hazard warning lights well in advance and give a clear slow down hand signal to warn everyone behind you Get into the habit of doing this for every soeed hump Once you are certain that the rider behind you has recognized the danger remember to cancel hazard warning lights IF THE GROUP IS SPLIT Constantly check the person behind you If you find yourself at the end of a group which has been split by traffic lights heavy traffic traffic delays etc then 36 stop and wait at the next suitable place traffic light next turn off etc to direct those following STAY ALERT Don t be lulled into tunnel vision or a sense of false security just because a number of riders are ahead of you and you think well if they got through so can l If any emergency develops it could be that it ta
19. ile thereby leaving more room in the curbside file to be filled by bikes carrying pillion passengers In case of an emergency riders closest to the curb have more chance of finding run off into soft sand or scrub RULES FOR THE GROUP RIDE STAGGERED FORMATION For reasons of improved forward vision increased braking distance and room to swerve around an obstacle in an emergency ride in a staggered formation not side by side This means first bike in the left file center side second bike slightly behind in the right file curbside third bike slightly behind in the left file etc Try to maintain a so called 2 second gap between you and the bike ahead to ensure a minimum stopping distance The gap is measured by visually selecting an object at the side of the road and then as soon as the bike ahead of you passes that object start counting Adjust your speed and distance so that you pass the object 2 seconds later On winding narrow roads or where considered 32 desirable for reasons of increased safety e g narrow traffic circles in rural areas the Lead Road Captain may use his discretion to encourage the use of two lanes MAINTAIN EYE CONTACT When on the move never ride in another riders blind spot Maintain eye contact with the rider in front of you via the riders side mirrors Chances are if you can see his eyes he or she can see yours This visual contact helps communication and cohesiveness within the
20. ing over your right shoulder to ensure you do not cut too close in front of the slower vehicle 40 After a Ride USE THE CUT OFF SWITCH At the end of the ride instead of reaching for the ignition key use your cut off switch to shut down the engine By doing so you keep both hands securely on the handlebars By making a habit of switching off in this way you also build muscle memory which will help you if you have to quickly switch off in an emergency TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF If you do not turn the ignition off obviously the bike s lights are still on and the battery will be discharging It is good routine to use your left hand if possible to do this as it means you can keep your front brake still engaged FUEL VALVE TO THE OFF POSITION Make it a habit to turn your fuel valve to the off position at night especially if you intend to park your bike in a garage or indoors If you do not do this you run the 41 risk of a valve needle in the carburetor sticking and allowing some fuel to leak out onto the floor This can cost you your house and life in case of a fire By having to switch the valve onto the Run On position whenever you restart the bike you reduce the risk of forgetting the valve in the reserve position had it been there the night before and eventually running out of petrol SIDE STAND DOWN AND CONFIRM When parking the bike make sure you PUT THE SIDE ST
21. ke This formation allows each rider sufficient safety space and discourages vehicles from cutting in the line The last rider or Safety may ride on whichever side of the lane he prefers He will have to change sides during the ride as is necessary THE ROAD CAPTAIN The Road Captains bear tremendous responsibility to ensure that the ride gets to and from the designated destination safely smoothly and as a group This requires experience personal discipline and good communication between the Road Captains and the Group The Road Captain must be aware of length of the columns and must gauge the passing of merges highway entrances exits etc to allow for maximum safety and keeping the group together He must be sure that he leaves enough time and space for the formation to get into the appropriate lanes before exits etc All directions come from the Road Captain The Road Captain makes all decisions regarding lane changes stopping for breaks or fuel closing of gaps turning off at exits any concerns of what lies ahead accepting rejecting radioed messages from other individuals and so on No individual will assert himself independently without first receiving direction from the Road Captain ANNOUNCEMENTS BEFORE A RIDE The Road Captain or in his absence Safety Officer or Committee Member should call all members to gather into a group to hear the announcement regarding the ride Once everybody is listening clearly stat
22. ke then accelerate smoothly and pass the slower vehicle as smoothly and quickly as possible without excessive speed This should be initiated in small groups of 4 5 bikes Do not move out before your time as this creates a snake effect which blocks other road users and puts the convoy at risk Namely a convoy of bikes traveling at high speed in the fast lane with limited forward vision and no room to maneuver in case of a pile up 38 DON T BLOCK TRAFFIC If the driver of a vehicle wishes to pass the group let them do so Do not attempt to hold them back or delay their progress They have as much right to use the road as you do The experienced rider will let an aggressive driver get way ahead of the group instead of trying to hold a frustrated driver back DON T DAWDLE Don t dawdle along in the overtaking lane Accelerate to take you past the slower vehicle as quickly as possible Do not slow down until you AND THE BIKES BEHIND YOU are well clear of the slower vehicle Remember that when you decide to throttle back because you have cleared the vehicle it doesn t mean that the bikes behind you can do the same They will still be in various stages of acceleration towards you until they too are well past the slower vehicle Therefore do not throttle off too early and do not touch your brakes to reduce your speed unless for good reason Keep the time the convoy spends in the overtaking lane to an absolute minimum It is
23. ke slightly behind in the left file etc 4 Maintain a 2 second gap between you and the bike ahead 5 No overtaking 6 There should be only one bike in a corner at a time 7 Headlights should be switched on at all times 8 Please remember to use hand signals as part of keeping rides safe for all REMEMBER RIDE SAFE 12 Hand Signals Please remember to use hand signal as part of keeping rides safe for all 13 Poudle tila i Single tite 2 d 4 Siow gown Blinkers are on Speed up Camtart Stop Cut engines Laft turn Hazard in road Guide to Safer Riding Ensure your Motorcycle is more than just roadworthy By keeping your bike reliably serviced and safe to ride you will protect your investment and yourself CARRY WITH YOU Your motorcycle registration card Your motorcycle insurance policy card Your motorcycle driver s license Your BMC membership card Name and address of next of kin employer or friend to be contacted in an emergency REGULAR SERVICING Because of the hot and dusty conditions your oil and air filter should be changed more often than usually recommended e g after 3000 km Remember that the lubricating properties of engine oil deteriorate after 6 months Have your bike regularly serviced Familiarize yourself with the recommendations in the service manual regarding tire pressures oil fuel grades etc TIRES 15 Regularly check tire wa
24. kes effect from mid column only e g a person or animal suddenly steps into the road a car cuts through the group to reach an exit etc Each rider must be alert and ready to take evasive action if an emergency develops EMERGENCY ACTION In case of an impending pile up of bikes each rider will have to decide the best evasive action to take to reduce damages and protect lives If unable to brake in time center side bikes should scatter to the left if possible while curbside bikes should scatter to the right if possible Do not go down between the two columns unless clear NOT FEELING RIGHT Should you at any time feel uncomfortable about the way the ride is developing then wave others by and proceed to the destination on your own As a courtesy 37 let other riders know of your intentions to avoid undue concern if someone suddenly notices you missing from the group OVERTAKING AS A GROUP NIGHT RIDES Overtaking at night has a serious disadvantage to day rides The lights from a bike in the overtaking lane even with dipped headlight dazzle riders in front making a clear view to rear difficult The single headlight can be mistaken for that of a car with only one light Two lights from 2 bikes in the overtaking lane can be mistaken for a car Therefore stay in your lane NO SNAKE EFFECT Stay in your lane until you are closing on the slower vehicle check your mirrors to see if it is safe to overta
25. l stop with the problem bike The Road Captain will lead the group to a safe stopping place HAND SIGNALS Each rider and passenger should duplicate all hand signals given by the rider in front of him or her so that the signals get passed all the way to the back of the formation The following signals are used in addition to the standard right turn left turn slow stop hand signals GROUP LANE CHANGE The Road Captain raises his left arm straight up Each rider repeats this signal and then as the Road Captain lowers his arm to point to the lane into which he s moving he actually initiates the change All other riders lower their arms at the same time and change lanes too REAR FILL IN Blocking After having the Safety secure the lane and putting on his directional signal which is repeated by each rider the Road Captain raises his left hand to his shoulder and pushes his open hand toward the lane into which he wants to move This signal is repeated by all riders and each rider in turn rearmost first moves into space ahead of the riders behind him SINGLE UP When conditions warrant a single file narrow roads anticipated windblast from trucks obstructions pedestrians etc the Road Captain will raise his left hand 10 holding up only his index finger All other riders will repeat this and the two columns will merge into one STAGGERED FORMATION When single file is no longer necessary the Ro
26. lls and tread for cracks If cracks are visible have the tire replaced Change tires at least every 3 years especially if the bike is usually parked outside Minimum profile depth 3mm No bald tires Keep the valve clean by ensuring the valve cap is in place A tire blowout especially on the front makes steering impossible Check cold tire pressure every 2 weeks Carry your own tire gauge for this purpose LIGHTS Ensure that turn signals headlights hazard lights taillights and brake lights all function perfectly Remember that an inattentive driver coming up fast behind you at night can easily overlook the small rear light of a lone motorcycle Consider installing a larger more visible taillight BRAKES Ensure front and rear brakes are functioning perfectly For extra stopping power consider installing double caliper brakes on your bike If you intend to regularly carry a passenger you are well advised to invest in the best brake system BATTERY 16 Under local climatic conditions a bike battery can last for 12 36 months depending on type storage and usage Maintenance free batteries are readily available Have battery strength checked once a year WINDSCREEN A windscreen protects you from being struck by messy bugs flying sand stones tire debris from blow outs birds etc If you opt instead for the naked bike look then it would be wise to invest in a good set of goggles nose clip mask and helmet
27. oving the Road Capitan actually initiates the change All other riders lower their arms at the same time and change lanes as well This allows the entire formation to move from one lane to another as a single block REAR FILL IN Blocking This is sometimes necessary if a long enough gap cannot be maintained in the new lane for example when trying to move from the right lane to the center lane while vehicles from the left lane keep cutting into the opening The Road Captain will call for the group to fill in the space from the rear He puts on his directional signal as an indication that he is about to order a lane change As each rider sees the directional signal he also turns on his signal so that the riders following him get the order for a lane change The Road Captain then raises his hand to shoulder height and pushes out Each rider repeats this signal then he points to the lane into which he s moving The Safety will first secure the new lane the last bikes move into the space in the new lane ahead of the Safety The next bikes at the rear move in ahead of those behind them and so on until the Road Captain finally moves into the space ahead of the entire formation EMERGENCIES In the unlikely event of an emergency condition the Road Captain will make every attempt to move the formation to the shoulder in an orderly manner Ifa bike breaks down you must let the rider move off to the right DO NOT STOP The Safety wil
28. to leave the ride before arriving at the final destination This way others will not be concerned if you suddenly wave and depart the group In this case position yourself at the back so you don t inconvenience other riders by your change of direction 30 FORMING THE CONVOY DEPART ON TIME Getting a large group in or out of town can be very difficult You can make things easier from the start by being ready to go when told to form up FORMATION OF THE CONVOY The group will comprise of 2 files of riders in staggered formation THE CENTERSIDE FILE closest to the center of the road and THE CURBSIDE FILE The Lead Road Captain will take position at the head of the group Members should form up behind At least one Road Captain or designated rider will ride at the rear of the group as Sweep to ensure no one is left behind or to render assistance in case of a breakdown NEW MEMBERS New members and riders inexperienced with group riding are asked to join the rear of the convoy until they have gathered more experience Group riding 31 requires a degree of proficiency and skill on a motorcycle If you do not yet have the required level of experience if you have recently acquired your license or are still breaking in your new bike and will not be able to keep up then first ride with a buddy or ride in a small group before joining a large group SINGLE RIDERS Single riders should use the centerside f
29. umn who are trying to keep a constant distance between their bike and yours SPEED LIMIT The Lead Road Captain will at his discretion and in accordance with prevailing traffic and road conditions set the pace for the ride 34 STOPPING DISTANCE Always be aware of your braking distance to the bike in front On slippery roads in bad visibility or when carrying a pillion passenger make sure to factor these elements into the distance you require to stop in case of an emergency STAY IN THE SAME LANE AS THE ROAD CAPTAIN After assessing the current traffic and road conditions the Road Captain will decide which lane is the safest to use Remember frustrated drivers blocked by a group of bikes spread across several lanes are dangerous A possible exception is when in the interests of increased space between bikes e g at narrow roundabouts in rural areas and provided there is no other traffic near the group the Road Captain may permit the use of no more than two lanes NO SWAPPING BETWEEN FILES On commencing a ride select your file and stay in that file until the next stopping point DO NOT SWAP FILES If a gap appears e g because the rider in the same file ahead of you signals he is leaving the ride then move up in your file to fill the gap By all means let the rider in the column next to you know your intentions or assist by waving a rider forward if you see a gap Remember file swapping endangers all the rid
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