Riding with our mates is so much fun as we compete with each other. Riding faster than them gives you a sense of elation and victory plus it gives you bragging rights at the pub for a month. It makes you more sociable and you are sheltered from the wind by your fellow mates. This makes group riding much better than riding solo. But there are certain issues which riders face when they are riding in a group. Maintaining communication is a must to avoid crashes. If everyone is going to the same place and at the same time then it should not be a problem but if all are not on the same page then we have a problem. These group rides maybe with friends or even strangers.
In a group ride you are not only responsible for yourself but for the entire group and so it is important for you not to get caught up in the moment. You should follow the traffic rules and need not think yourselves above the laws when you are with your gang. All of you must know the pace at which you will be riding. None should get left behind even if there is some problem with his bike. Often riders tend to forego such niceties and leave the one who gets a flat tire on his own. Some ground rules should be set before the ride. Should there be a leader or it’s about finishing first? Ideally, the meeting point should be a petrol station so that everyone starts with a full tank.
Riding behind some bikes isn’t easy as you are always under pressure to play catch up. Moreover, your vision is obscure. If you are in a straight line and too close to each other then even if a rider seven bikes in front of you apply brakes suddenly it may cause mayhem. It’s important not to overestimate your abilities and accept that the guy in front of you is faster. It is alright to be behind him and learn instead of trying to ride beyond your ability. The very fundamental of group riding is you cannot ride flat out. You will never be able to stay with your group if you try to ride as fast as you can. Group riding is often tricky as people tend to stretch beyond their abilities and as they find themselves falling behind they lose their mind and continue to accelerate. Ultimately they often fly into corners without any control and eventually crash. At least somebody in the group must be familiar with the road or at least know where they are going. Though even if the leader knows the way if he goes fast the group will split up and cause chaos. Thus it is important to go out with fellow riders who have similar abilities and experience.
Everyone must ensure that he sees the rider behind him in the mirrors and waits for him if he is not there. An even better method is the marker system. In such a system the leader who knows the way is always in front while the one behind him immediately stops when the leader takes a turn. He waits there to show other bikes the right direction. When the last rider is visible the one who was behind the leader sets off. It is an excellent system as no one needs to ride out of his skin and can also overtake through the success depends on the leader and if he is able to ride slower than his normal pace.
Overtaking other vehicles can be extremely dangerous. You may like to follow the rider in front when he is overtaking but you must first realize if it is safe. Even if one bike manages to overtake a car it may be risky for the following one. Instead, you should try to have one car between you and the bike in front. In large groups particularly the ones lagging behind are under pressure to overtake. Bikes overtaking the ones in the group shouldn’t be that big a problem. Before the ride, some ground rules should be set up though as to whether overtaking should be allowed. Even if they are they should be executed with utmost safety.
The biggest problem is when some riders want to show off that they are the best and fastest. He will perform the most dangerous overtakes putting everyone’s lives at risk. It is important to let such riders go past even if it means slowing down a little and talking to them at stops. It is important to realize that in a group there will be someone faster than you and thus not become too egocentric. Group riding is about enjoying the ride while being disciplined. Team spirit is the key here. A large group of bikes can be intimidating for other vehicles and pedestrians so be courteous to them.
