Does the leader switch tire tracks in a group ride on multi lane roads?

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Most group rides I have lead on major highways don't go as planned.
Usually there are a bunch of guys who do not switch lanes when the leader does. Some do.
This makes the original order get mixed up.
So what does it matter if I choose to block or not?
 
went on one GTAM ride 2 years ago through Toronto and the leader kept switching lane positions...you should have seen it, for the next 30 seconds its leg dangles and weaving....

screw that noise...
 
Red_Liner740 said:
went on one GTAM ride 2 years ago through Toronto and the leader kept switching lane positions...you should have seen it, for the next 30 seconds its leg dangles and weaving....

screw that noise...
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:lol: no kidding, what a circus
 
I've seen two ways to mitigate track swapping risk:

1. For a lane change, riders 1,3,5 make the short change and evens change from outer track to outer after they see the riders behind and in front of them are stable.
2. Without a lane change, riders who find themselves in the right hand track with nobody in the left ahead of them back off a smidge and wave the next person forward into the empty left track slot.

If the concern is noobs and/or maintaining some exact order, avoiding lane changes entirely might well be a valid strategy. If the front two riders are comfortable enough with each other, they can either stay closer together and ignore 'proper' blocking position or the second can simply back off a bit when in the same track as the leader let the rest of the group stay in their current formation.

Personally, I'm comfortable with any of the above happening, or even all of the above in the same day.
 
Aslan said:
I've seen two ways to mitigate track swapping risk:

1. For a lane change, riders 1,3,5 make the short change and evens change from outer track to outer after they see the riders behind and in front of them are stable.
2. Without a lane change, riders who find themselves in the right hand track with nobody in the left ahead of them back off a smidge and wave the next person forward into the empty left track slot.

If the concern is noobs and/or maintaining some exact order, avoiding lane changes entirely might well be a valid strategy. If the front two riders are comfortable enough with each other, they can either stay closer together and ignore 'proper' blocking position or the second can simply back off a bit when in the same track as the leader let the rest of the group stay in their current formation.

Personally, I'm comfortable with any of the above happening, or even all of the above in the same day.
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And anything beyond that, where the track switching becomes an issue, is a parade not a group ride.

Yeah, I've been on a few of those.

I'm not a fan of same lane passing though.
 
Lol....

you guys really need to come on a group ride with "the assassin". He'll make your head spin, break every rule in the group ride book, and send you back to GTAM with your tail between your legs, whining that he doesn't know how to lead a group properly............ but damn will you have the ride of your life.

diffrnt strokes for dffrnt folks. :)
 
Senshi said:
I just went for some rides with friends and ran into a question that is driving me crazy. In my 5 years of riding I have not been on that many group rides with strangers, so I just ran into this situation now. On our ride the leader maintained blocking position in multi lane roads which meant that when we switched lanes every bike would have to switch tire tracks to maintain staggered formation. With the people I ride with when I am leading I always stay in the left tire track as leader even if I move to the left lane.

I was always under the assumption that the leader stays in the left tire track when in a group, which is normal on a single lane road, but then on a multi lane road when the leader goes to the left lane do they stay in the left tire track or go to the right one and force all others behind them to reform the staggered formation so now the second rider is now in the left tire track. This would mean bikes are crossing over whenever lane changes on multi lane roads are made. (I am also not talking about changing into the lane to pass, I mean to ride in the other lane)

What does the actual motorcycle drivers handbook say to do in the situation. I lent mine out but the Saskatchewan drivers hand book says: "When group riding with multiple lanes, always maintain a staggered position with the lead bike in the left front corner of the lane."

I just want a definite answer so I can correct myself if I have been wrong. If someone can let me know what it says in the drivers handbook that would be great.
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Does the Saskatachwan Driver's Handbook mention if every rider in the parade needs to extend their leg in a kicking motion in the direction of the lane change prior to initiating said lane change?:)
 
You are switching lanes anyway.
What does it matter if you have to aim for a diffetent spot in the next lane?
 
Well, there's no special rule on that, finally, I guess. The first question is safety.

If my opinion, I think that riders behind have to follow the leader (or step out of the group). If the leader follows the blocking position - than everyone has to get appropriate position. If not - then not.
The worst thing is when half of the group is riding in blocking position, the other half not - this brings to a confusion, kinda...
 
I don't do group rides, but occasionally I ride with other people I like and trust.

The three things that matters to me are
1. staggered formation, so that there's room in my lane, directly ahead of me, for my emergency braking / maneouvers.
2. Do not pass in the same lane.
3. Single file in twisties.
 
SunnY S said:
Lol....

you guys really need to come on a group ride with "the assassin". He'll make your head spin, break every rule in the group ride book, and send you back to GTAM with your tail between your legs, whining that he doesn't know how to lead a group properly............ but damn will you have the ride of your life.

diffrnt strokes for dffrnt folks. :)
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There are group rides, then there are rides where a bunch of riders are just hitting a common destination. Completely different things.
 
If I'm leading a group, and I switch lanes. I really don't care if the guy behind me is in the correct following position.
On regular, single lane roads, I expect him to be in the correct postion.
But on the highway. Who cares.
I don't regularly lead on 400 series highways.
So If I was leading a group, it would be just on the way home from a local ride.
And it would be a short trip of a few guys.

If I had a large group on a 400 series highway, I would lead completely differently.
I wouldn't change lanes very often and then, only if I really really needed to.
 
oomis said:
The three things that matters to me are
1. staggered formation, so that there's room in my lane, directly ahead of me, for my emergency braking / maneouvers.
2. Do not pass in the same lane.
3. Single file in twisties.
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I agree with this, but even in a group ride, I do my own thing. If the leader switches lanes, I look around and switch when I feel safe. I ride staggered because that's smart. If I am leading I expect others to mind their own affairs and follow when and how they feel comfortable to do so.

You can be lead, or you can lead, your still the only one running that motorcycle, think for yourself, its not complicated, if it is to you, reconsider your travelling options. If I pass a car, I expect everyone to figure out for them selves if it is a safe move to make, and catch up later if they want to.
 
N3WMAN said:
I rarely switch(bigger groups especially). Too much of a pain for everyone behind to re-arrange themselves. If somebody can't see 12 bikes, blocking position isn't going to make much difference imo.
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Lol, true true :)

Apr18th2010_ForksOfTheCredit021copy.jpg


If they can't see ^^ that, blocking position ain't gonna help :D

-Jamie M.
 
Usually my approach would be:

A Group Leader would always take and maintain the blocking position unless road conditions or road activity force them to relocate, and they should lead the ride operating to keep the weakest rider within their comfort zone, avoiding any 'get-off's'....... The smaller the group ride, the safer and simpler it is for all involved. WORK OF ART!

RIDE SAFE / RIDE WELL / ENJOY!
 
Someone invented sticking your leg out to make a lane change for a reason, everyone should be switching back and forth to give our legs a workout or else we all might get fat.

I was recording an video with a rather large group and after reviewing the video and watching the sea of legs flailing back and forth i decided to just delete the video all together. - i was actually surprised that there was no accidents with bikes criss-crossing back and forth.

Seriously, if your riding in a group more than 3-4 bikes just stay in your track, you'll probably reduce the risk of something likely to happen.

/end rant/
 
Cardine said:
Seriously, if your riding in a group more than 3-4 bikes just stay in your track, you'll probably reduce the risk of something likely to happen.
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Tru dat!

-Jamie M.
 
Brian P pretty much said it best.

I use to lead a ton of group rides. However, usually they were smaller groups and even more often they were with peeps that I had ridden with A LOT. It was pretty simple... I did what I had to do, and everyone else followed my lead... usually. It went like this:
backroad = riding on left track, Highway = riding on the right track... try to minimize shifts, but they had to happen now and then.

That's it simplified. However, we rode together so much that we knew exactly what everyone was doing, so we'd take it a few steps further. Sometimes (not very often) there would be a situation where it was hard for the entire group to shift over safely. So either the sweeper or the lead would block a lane. If lead (usually me) was doing the blocking, then after the blocking either #2 would become lead (knew where we were going), and I'd keep it to sweep, or he'd signal for me to come up. If I couldn't undertake on the right lane, then they'd move over and I'd swing past on the left track all the way to the front.

However, you can't do that kind of stuff with a random group... so if we had a bigger group of peeps we didn't know, then we kept it simple. A group of 4 - 5 guys who all know what they are doing, makes group riding a breeze. Keep your distance (there should be plenty for a staggered rider to slip into single file to avoid something or whatever), Pay attention, Know where you are going, Get to know the other riders well, Understand hand signals, Be respectful to other riders and road users .... and it's all good.
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