Last May I wrote an article about TEAM RIDING. Among the topics discussed were riding position within a formation and spacing between riders within formations. Since then, I have observed and heard about some bad habits occurring on our team rides. So this month I’m going to review those two topics.

     I will start with positioning: in the GWRRA’s TEAM RIDING MANUAL, GWRRA’s TEAM RIDING SEMINAR and the MSF’s Guide to MOTORCYCLING EXCELLENCE, all teach to divide the travel lane into three tracks referred to as Left Track, Center Track, and Right Track. When traveling in Single File formation, each rider should be in the Center Track which provides the entire width of the lane for a rider to react.

     When travelling in a Staggered Formation, the first bike is in the Left Track, the second bike is in the Right Track, etc, etc, leaving the Center Track open. However, sidecar rigs and trikes are wider and therefore are going to be using part of the center track regardless of the formation. This does not mean that the front tire is in the center of the Center Track regardless of the formation. If you are the first rider in the TEAM, your RIGHT REAR tire will be just inside the Center Track and the Front Tire will be on or beside the imaginary line dividing the Left Track and the Center Track. If you are the second rider in the TEAM, your LEFT REAR tire will be just inside the Center Track and the Front Tire will be on or beside the imaginary line dividing the Right Track and Center Track.

     Another point of concern is the drifting back and forth across all tracks, and this applies to everyone to one degree or another; it is extremely important to maintain travel in your track as determined by your position in a staggered formation. This is vital to the safety of all Team Members as well as the enjoyment for everyone on the ride. When a Team Member drifts from track to track the Team Members behind that rider are then forced to change tracks and the Team goes from riding in a formation to imitating a Chinese New Year Dragon in a parade. This doesn’t mean that you can’t move to a different track to avoid road hazards or rough patches, just make sure you return to your track, which brings me to my next topic.

     Spacing or intervals between riders in the group is based upon the "Seconds’ Rule". In a single file formation there should be 2 seconds between riders. In a staggered formation, 2 seconds between you and the bike in your track and 1 second between you and the bike in the offset track. The way I was taught to determine if I am following at the correct distance is: as the bike in front of me passes a stationary object, such as a painted line on the road or a sign on the side of the road, I count, one-one-thousand , two-one-thousand and so on until the front of my bike reaches the stationary object. Each count being one second. I then adjust my speed to maintain correct spacing in the formation. I will do this type of check frequently during the ride to ensure I am maintaining correct spacing. At night or during wet weather the distances can be increased by one or two seconds based upon conditions for safety. Maintaining the proper spacing is another extremely important function of the Team Members; if you allow too much space between you and the rider ahead, that gap is an invitation to an aggressive car driver to cut into the Team and tailgate the rider ahead of you. Conversely, crowding the rider ahead of you by not giving the proper space invites you to become personally acquainted with their tailpipe in a manner you would rather not.

     I am sure that we can all think of someone who has done these things and say "Allen is talking about so-and-so". Well, I’m not talking about so-and-so, I am talking to you, and I’m talking to me as well. In other words I’m not pointing fingers at anyone, and I would hope that no one else will either. I am asking each rider in our chapter family to think about the things that I have said here and ask yourself if you have these bad habits, and please make the effort to correct them. This is for your safety, your co-rider’s safety and your chapter family’s safety.

     A request from your Chapter Educators: Mac and I are wanting to ensure all Chapter Y participants‟ information is up to date in the National Database. I will have a printout of the current information and forms to update the database. We request that you bring copies or originals of any current ERC, ARC, Medic First Aid, CPR, PLP or any other Riders Education acronym as well as your current mileage for safe miles and high miles.