Hand Signals

Following motorcycle saftey guidelines, we ride in a staggered formation." The following distance to safely use within the formation is based on the 2 second rule of thumb. You should be 2 seconds back from the motorcycle directly ahead of you and 1 second back from the motorcycle either ahead left or ahead right in stagger from you, within the lane.

This following distance is to provide a space cushion around each rider that gives each one in the formation enough time and distance to brake and/or swerve in case of a sudden, unexpected hazard that requires evasive action by any part or all of the group. If this doesn't seem to make any sense to you, watch what the other riders are doing and follow their example for following distance and space cushioning. A good point to remember as well is too much following distance can be just as bad as, and frequently can be worse  than too little following distance. If the formation lacks uniformity in what we appear to be doing, then we don't look like we are together as group. Then we become regarded as random individual vehicles in the traffic pattern, and not like a group or unit trying to function as one vehicle. Too much following distance invites cars into the formation, splitting it up in traffic. If we don't control our lane space the cars will take it away from us. Be prepared! Non-motorcycling car drivers really do not understand what we do when we ride as a group or why. So, if a car starts to blindly move into or through the group LET HIM IN. We can always re-form a little later down the road. If you are new to group riding or are uncomfortable riding in a group, please let Lead or Sweep riders know. Excessive following distance defeats the purpose of maintaining an equally spaced stagger formation. It is much better for your safety and the safety of the group that you ride individually 1/4 mile behind the group. And we want to encourage you to be comfortable about making that choice.