When to join a group ride?

[Grey Thumper]

Is there a rule of thumb for how much experience you should have before riding with a group?

I've been riding for around two months, mainly on the freeways to/from work. I'll give it maybe another month before I try a bit of canyon carving. I'm perfectly happy to ride alone, at my own pace. But I figure at some point, the advantage of having more experienced riders give tips on your technique might outweigh the added unpredicable variables of riding with a group. So roughly when should that point be?

[big_ry_ry]

My experience is wait untill you are comfortable, I was riding at a benefit ride last summer and the guy next to me was a new rider and could not control his bike, he was always swaying left and right and almost hit me more than once so make sure you are able to control your bike and you are comfortable to be close to another bike it is a weird experience at first.

[scan]

The only comment I can make is to be cautious of who you ride with on a group ride. Some people are knowledgable of group rides and have experience and other's don't. If you get in with a group that spends no time explaining the group rules, and setting up guidelines for everyone, I'd consider not going. As a new rider in a group the last thing you need is to have poor communications and sloppy signals. What I found on one of my first rides with a group was a bunch of guys who wanted to go fast and all of them seemed to know each other somewhat well, but they didn't know me. They knew to signal (by pointing with their feet) at gravel in the road, and used hand signals for turning, but they also passed in no passing zones, and rode way over my head for being a new guy. It was also the first time I got to see someone wreck a motorcycle. It turned out one of the other guys in the group was new too, but never said so, and rode over his own head, and ended up going wide in a corner. So I will re-iterate - only ride in a group that has a pre-ride meeting, and sets up the ground rules. They should also establish a ride order based on experience, so there is a tail rider with experience, and the lead riders can go faster if they want, without the ones in the back feeling the need to keep up. Feeling the need to keep up is the recipe for disaster. A tail rider who knows the route and will keep the slower riders from getting lost is a key element to a good ride.

[scan]

My experience is wait untill you are comfortable, I was riding at a benefit ride last summer and the guy next to me was a new rider and could not control his bike, he was always swaying left and right and almost hit me more than once so make sure you are able to control your bike and you are comfortable to be close to another bike it is a weird experience at first.

This was a great post too. Don't ride with any group that thinks riding side by side is the way to ride. Staggered, or single-file is the only way to ride in a group safely, with the exception being in a parade or display riding. Side by side is one way to make a huge disaster when one new guy can't control, and everyone else is too close to each other to get out.

[NightNurse]

Ack! I would be terrified to ride side by side. The bf and I go on poker runs, sometimes 100 bikes are involved. Everyone rides staggered. They are a lot of fun, but NO WAY would I ride my own bike in one! Maybe next summer....
This weekend I will ride in a small group, bf, and a few good friends. They all have been riding for years, and understand I may be a bit slow, need a break...etc and are cool with it!

[Scoutmedic]

+1 to what Scan and Ry said. Find a group you're interested in (preferrably a small group to start with of 4 to 8 riders), chat with them, let them know you're new, be sure they go over hand/foot signals and any general rules, always ride staggered or single file. And, most importantly, DO drop out of the ride if you get uncomfortable. If they're travelling too fast for you or doing things you don't like, slow down and ride your own ride. They'll stop or send someone back to check on you. Tell that person what's going on. Just don't decide to go home or leave the intended path without letting someone know. You don't want them calling out a search party to look for you when you disappear.

Groups can be a lot of fun. I started riding with a local group after about two months of riding as well. They've always been great with me. I was extremely nervous the first couple times. They made sure to encourage my riding and also gave corrective feedback when needed or when I asked. We also review the route and the signals before EVERY ride. Even if it's the same 4 or 5 guys.

Stay Safe Out There!

[big_ry_ry]

before my first time I went with a buddy (a few times) and we would practice staggered riding and signals, and we even did some side by side which was good experience becasue at the benefit ride we did that a couple of times when we started and finished the benefit ride.

[halouis]

great post and replies here. being a noob myself, i was asked to join a group ride for charity this coming Sunday. I'm feeling very comfortable riding solo now, but I don't think i'm ready for a big group ride at all yet. I think maybe riding with 1 bud I could do. but I'll wait a while for the big group ride.

[Dragonhawk]

Is there a rule of thumb for how much experience you should have before riding with a group?

Depends on the group. Some groups suck. Some are good.

If you find a mature, cautious, safe group of riders who are "newbie friendly" then I say go right now.

I've organized a lot of group rides and we always look out for new riders and keep things safe and encourage them. None of the rides I've organized have ever had a single crash among any of the riders ... yet. Knock on wood.

As for people who have replied to this thread and ridden in groups where people ride side-by-side all I can say is WOW those ride-organizers are MORONS. You should only ride side-by-side where EVERYONE in the group is experienced and KNOWS each other and is comfortable with riding together. Lots of motorcycle clubs ride that way - but they KNOW each other. Taking complete strangers of varying experience-levels and having them ride side-by-side is asking for disaster.

Heck, most of the riders I ride with on group rides all know each other now, and we STILL ride staggered. It's just a lot safer.

The last group-ride I did was a few months ago. Had 40 people show up on that one (39 bikes). Here is a video:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 3802106311

[Scott58]

i don't ride in groups. To many people who think they can ride that really can't.