Part of the motorcycle experience is the freedom of the open road and the sense of unencumbered travel. In planning group rides, there is often a tendency to micro-manage the ride in terms of way points, stop times, depart and arrival times, etc. We have laid out these trips in a free format so as to include a wide spectrum of riders from those preferring less structure to those who appreciate knowing when and where to be. This said, please feel free to interpret any schedule as a general guideline rather than a “this is how it is” program. However, from experience, it is always best to travel with at least one other rider. For the most part, you will meet or come across some or all of the group at the prescribed meal, fuel, lodging, or way point stops. The most important item to participate in is the pre-ride meeting, as any last minute changes to the outline will be made then. We will also include a safety briefing and a prayer for safety that will start our trip off on the right foot peg.
All full day trips and longer will include a short Church service on Sundays scheduled at some point in the trip. Overnight trips will include a chase vehicle to accompany riders so as not to require travel luggage weighing down your bike. We will also be pulling a trailer should there be a breakdown along the way. Fuel and incidentals for this chase vehicle will be paid for by the participating riders prior to departure. Expense estimates for longer rides will be included in that ride’s itinerary on the church's website.
If you decide to ride with other riders...
Do:
I came across this website while researching motorcycle safety www.msf-usa.org. There’s no point in me reiterating all that is mentioned here, but I will highlight a couple things at that site to check out:
QUICK TIPS - General Guidelines for Riding a Motorcycle Safely
QUICK TIPS - MSF’s Guide to Group Riding
Recommended hand signals do truly work well when riding as a group and I can personally attest to following a leader who has used these signaling techniques, particularly the one for alerting other riders of hazards ahead on the roadway, be it wildlife, pot holes, oil slicks, loose sand/gravel, etc.
Also check out the Group Riding Guidelines for Street Bikes at www.msgroup.org/GroupRidingGuide.aspx.
On the following rides Frank Tomlin will be available to assist with small problems like a flat tire or loose muffler etc. We are also planning to have a support vehicle towing a trailer to carry a bike to the nearest shop or bring it home (first come, first serve basis). For more information, contact Frank Tomlin at 335-8184.