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Revised Feb, 2006

The Woodlands HOG Chapter #1420Riders Briefing

2006

Before leaving on a ride, the Director, Assistant Director, Head Road Captain, SafetyOfficer or ride sponsor will hold a brief riders meeting. These standard operatingprocedures should be voiced during the riders briefing to all riders immediately beforethe start of a ride. Even if most of the riders are known to us, we should still reviewthese procedures out loud. At the end of the briefing, be sure and ask if there are anyquestions. During this briefing the following points should be covered as a minimum:

a) Groups should be split up to have 5 or 6 bikes maximum.b) Everyone will ride in a staggered formation. Side by side is illegal and

dangerous. A staggered formation allows for maximum visibility and safety for

each rider. Try to stay in your staggered position and dont wander from side toside. However, on curves, a rider does own the entire width of the lane, ifneeded, to maneuver. This is different from wandering.

c) Riders should not pass other riders within their group. Maintain the sameposition relative to the other riders. If a rider wants to change positions in thegroup, do it at the next rest break.

d) Allow a minimum of 2 seconds between you and the rider directly in front of you,and 1 second between you and the staggered rider in front of you. This spacecushion gives each rider room to maneuver and still maintains the ridingformation.

e) If the bike in front of a rider is a trike (3 wheeler), allow 2 seconds followingdistance. The trike owns the whole width of the lane.

f) During heavy traffic, a tight formation works best to keep other traffic from cuttinginto your group, although keep in mind that safety comes before the integrity ofthe group. On open roads, the group can loosen up.

g) In the event the group gets separated while going through a town, the lead groupshould pull over at a safe location and wait for the remainder of their group. Forthe group that got separated, dont do anything dangerous to catch up. The leadgroup will wait for you.

h) If a rider has to pull over during a ride, they should do so safely and try to signalthe rider in front of them and behind them to let them know they are pulling over.The Sweeper will pull over and remain with the rider who has stopped and isresponsible for coordinating the situation with the Road Captain. The RoadCaptain, and the remaining group, will continue riding to a safe location, such asa parking lot or service station. The Road Captain will either call the Sweeper, orsend a rider back to assess the situation.

i) It is important for each rider to ride his own ride. Just because the bike in front ofyou crosses an intersection doesnt mean that the intersection will be clear foryou. You are responsible for your own safety and for obeying all traffic signalsand signs.

j) Alcohol consumption is prohibited until the ride is over.

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Riders Briefing Revised Feb, 2006

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k) If there are any really new riders or someone who hasnt done much group riding,suggest that they ride directly behind the Road Captain in one group. Thisposition in the group reduces the amount of constant speed adjustment which willreduce the yo-yo effect which requires a rider to speed up to catch up.

l) Explain the basic hand signals that the Road Captains will use. Encourage

everyone to use these signals.m) Introduce the Road Captains and go over the route. Hand out maps of the routeto the Road Captains and whoever wants them. Suggest places for rest stopsalong the route.

n) Discuss any special conditions to be encountered on this route: Roadconstruction, rain, gravel, toll booths, etc.

o) Ensure that the specific ending location of the ride is defined and understood bythe riders. This determines the cessation of insurance and liability coverage bythe Chapter.

p) If anyone in the group observes any other rider riding in an unsafe manner, theyshould inform the Road Captain, Sweeper or Chapter Officer at the first

opportunity.q) Let all riders know that cruise controls or throttle locks are not to be used duringa group ride. The dynamics of group riding demand our highest level ofconcentration and preparedness for emergency maneuvers. We must always beat our best and prepared to react instantaneously to events during the ride. Theuse of cruise controls or throttle locks endangers the riders in front, should theyneed to stop or decelerate quickly.

r) Explain the lane change procedure. The Road Captain puts on his turn signal,which is echoed by all the riders in the group. The group does not start changinglanes yet. The Sweeper will secure the new lane, and then the bikes will move tothe new lane, starting with the last bike before the Sweeper, then the next to lastbike, etc. until finally the Road Captain is the last bike to change lanes.