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It's great fun getting together with club mates and going on a ride out for an evening, a day or a weekend. Whether it's a short pub run or a day at the coast the enjoyment is the same - but are we always aware of how easily it can end in tears?

In the past few years there have been an increasing number of accidents (including fatal accidents) involving people riding in groups. Quite often the victim is either a newcomer to biking, or someone who has only recently joined the group. Sometimes the group itself is new or had only got together for one ride.

Whatever the cause, with a few simple precautions and some common sense rules, the run can not only be made safer but much more fun for all concerned. We have prepared the following to help club members, some of whom may be new to motorcycling in general and group riding in particular, to take part in ride ours with confidence and enjoyment.

THE RUNNING ORDER
Oakley MC always uses the Drop Off method. This is critical to get right if you want a safe and successful run for the whole gang so this point is worth spending some time on. There are two very important positions:

At the front we have a LEADER / NAVIGATOR.  This rider should have studied and be familiar with the route and should have the riding skills and the bike to make reasonable progress.

At the back we have TAIL END CHARLIE, wearing a yellow reflective jacket. This should be an experienced member of the team on a big, reliable bike – with a turn of speed if required.

The rider should, like the leader, also be familiar with the route to be taken and should, if possible, have a mobile phone.

The job of Tail End Charlie is to look out for stragglers or break-downs and to make sure no-one gets left behind or has an accident without being noticed.

Between the Leader and Tail End Charlie is the rest of the group which is usually a mixture of experience and newer riders with varying levels of confidence and speed ranges. The more experienced riders should always consider and protect their less experienced companions.

HOW DOES THE DROP OFF SYSTEM WORK?
The Leader sets off at a speed that ensures the rider immediately behind (Number 2) can keep up without stress (called riding to the speed of the bike behind). The rest of the group can straggle along at their own varying speeds, spread out over quite a long distance – they won’t get lost IF everyone follows this system.

When the leader comes to a junction, the rider behind him (Number 2) stops by that junction to indicate to each subsequent rider which way to turn.

When Tail End Charlie finally appears (and that may take several minutes for a large group) the rider at the junction pulls away in front of Tail End Charlie, thereby being relegated from the front of the main group to the back. At the next junction, the new number 2 drops off to point the way, and in turn is relegated to the back.

IT IS CRUCIAL that at EVERY junction, roundabout or turn – the current Number 2 rider drops off – NO EXCEPTIONS!!!

On a recent ride out, the drop offs had been a bit erratic. On the way home the group turned into McDonalds for a coffee break shortly after a roundabout but the Number 2 didn’t drop off. The turn seemed obvious to him but not to the rest of the group. However, Tail End Charlie had the relevant mobile numbers and a quick call confirmed that the rider were together and OK, and as experienced riders, were happy to make their own way home. It shouldn’t have happened though.

ROUTE PLANNING
Whether we're looking for a quick A-road route or a more challenging ride through the countryside we need to think about where we are going to make stops.

When making these plans we need to consider the comfortable range of all the bikes on the trip as well as the ability of the rider to ride for long distances.

Generally, one-hour stints are about long enough for most riders.

To avoid a mishap it is a good idea to make sure you know:

- the route to be taken (list of roads and/or route map)
- stopping places / rv points
- mobile phone numbers – especially those of Leader and Tail End Charlie.

If you do go astray you are less likely to get worried or do stupid things to catch up if you know where you are supposed to be heading and how to make contact with the rest of the group.

RULES OF THE ROAD
When out on the road there are three golden rules for a successful group run and if you can’t agree these before the start, then you won’t be welcome on the ride out.

1. ALWAYS drops off if you are the current Number 2.
2. ONLY go as fast as YOU feel comfortable with
3. NEVER hassle a slower rider in front of you nor overtake unless that rider specifically signals you to.

One of the main causes of accidents is when the riders in the group play “follow my leader” and constantly try to keep up with the bike in front. But there’s no need to! The Drop Off system means that even if you lose sight of the bike in front of you, there should always be a bike waiting for you at the next junction. If you still feel a bit lost, just slow down and soon enough, another rider or Tail End Charlie will ease up behind you.

The Drop Off system constantly rotates so everybody get a chance to go as fast as they want every now and then, and the less experienced rider need not worry that they are holding anyone up.

We sometimes see riders towards the back of a group doing stupid things like overtaking on double white lines, flying into blind bends, speeding in the most inappropriate places and even jumping red lights in an effort to catch up. It is not necessary, it is dangerous and it gives us a bad name – remember the Tail End Charlie is probably wearing a yellow Oakley MC waistcoat – other road users will know exactly who we represent.

MOTORWAYS AND DUAL CARRIAGEWAYS

Staying together, or at least in sight of one another is quite important on motorways, dual carriageways and long straight main roads. This is especially true if you are in unfamiliar territory. Remember, stopping on the hard shoulder near a turn off to let the rest of your group catch up is illegal and can get you booked or worse.

The group can compress by riding in staggered formation – if the bike in front of you is to the right of the carriageway, you move to the left a short distance behind.

If for some reason the bike in front of you swaps to the left, you move out to the right. You should see in your mirrors the rest of the group swapping sides behind you – strangely entertaining!

However, if you are the lead bike, try and take up a constant position to minimize the amount of to-ing and fro-ing behind you!

AND FINALLY …

There is a wealth of motorcycling experience in the club. We have motorcycle instructors, top class ex-police motorcyclists and highly experienced trip organizers.

Nowhere else can you get access to so much knowledge and experience so easily.

It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been riding, or what bike you currently use, please grab that knowledge and experience – you will become a much better road rider.

And that means a safer, relaxed but by no means, slower rider.

Just have a quiet chat with any of the committee members, or perhaps the Leader or Tail End Charlie on a ride-out, to sort out a spot of private tuition for a nominal cost.

SO, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? 
Get your bike ready, get your kit on, get on a ride out and enjoy yourself – no stress!

© Oakley Motorcycle Club 2007
Reproduced with permission.