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Copyright American Thunder 1994-2010

THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE AMERICAN THUNDER RIDERS' JOURNAL IN JUNE 1994 AND AGAIN IN 1998. IT CONTAINS THE RULES WE SHOULD ALL ABIDE BY WHEN RIDING IN AN AMERICAN THUNDER GROUP.

1. ALWAYS ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY, AND FOR THE SAFETY OF THE GROUP.
2. DO NOT BREAK LAWS (I.E., SPEEDING) OR DO THINGS YOU WOULD NOT ORDINARILY DO (I.E. ABRUPT LANE CHANGES) FOR THE SAKE OF STAYING WITH THE GROUP.
3. RIDE IN STAGGERED FORMATION AT 3-4 SECOND INTERVALS. NO SIDE-BY-SIDE RIDING. ALWAYS MAKE SURE THE RIDER IN FRONT OF YOU CAN SEE YOU IN HIS OR HER REAR-VIEW MIRROR.
4. IF THE STAGGERED FORMATION CHANGES, DUE TO BIKES MOVING IN OR OUT OF THE GROUP, RE-FORM THE STAGGERED FORMATION BY "SLIDING FORWARD" TO FILL THE GAP. DO NOT "CROSS" THE STAGGER TO FILL THE OPENING.
5. KNOW YOUR OWN LIMITATIONS, (REACTION TIMES, STOPPING DISTANCES, ATTENTION SPAN AND AWARENESS), AND DO NOT RIDE "OVER YOUR HEAD" SIMPLY TO STAY WITH THE PACK.
6. BE AWARE OF THE CAPABILITIES AND LIMITATIONS OF OTHER RIDERS IN THE GROUP, AND BE PREPARED TO COMPENSATE FOR THEM IN YOUR OWN RIDING.
7. ALWAYS USE HAND OR TURN SIGNALS TO LET OTHERS KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. ALSO, SIGNAL OTHERS IF THE ROAD CONDITIONS CHANGE. DO NOT ASSUME THAT RIDERS BEHIND YOU SEE WHAT YOU SEE.
8. REMEMBER THAT GROUP RIDING MEANS FOLLOWING A LEADER. KEEPING IN MIND LAWS, SAFETY AND PERSONAL LIMITATIONS, TRY TO STAY IN THE SAME LANE AS THE LEADER. RIDING IN ANOTHER LANE WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO IRRITATES OTHER DRIVERS AND COMPROMISES THE SAFETY OF THE GROUP.
9. RIDE DEFENSIVELY AT ALL TIMES. ASSUME THAT OTHER VEHICLES ARE HEAT-SEEKING MISSILES AIMED AT YOU.

RIDING WITH A GROUP

Leaving the Group

If you plan to leave the group, make sure you let one of the Road Captains know ahead of time. The best way to leave is to pull out from the group, drop back to one of the trailing Road Captains, and give him or her the "thumbs up" sign before departing.

Emergency Stops

Signal your intention and pull as far off the road as possible. Try not to slow down too quickly as this could endanger riders behind you. If you see someone else pull off, do not stop unless you are the next rider, or you have special knowledge, skill or equipment that can help the situation. A bunch of bikes at the side of the road creates a dangerous hazard and distraction for traffic. The last Road Captain will bring news of the ailing bike to the rest of the group at the next scheduled stop.

New Riders

The best place to learn about riding in groups is at the rear of the group. If you have a problem at the front of the group, you might take out some other bikes, and this is not a good way to introduce yourself to the group. Also, the trailing Road Captain is in a better position than the group leader to look out for you and deal with your special needs.

Showing Off

A group ride is not the place to impress the rest of us with high speed passes, riding with no hands, standing on your seat, or doing wheelies. These things are best left for when you're the only one on the road. That way, when you go down, you won't take a friend with you.

Hand Signals Used While On The Road