I thought this month I would do something different. Instead of telling you how to be safe and avoid dumping your bike, I thought I’d give you some pointers on how to dump your bike. Maybe if you know how, you’ll think to avoid these things when they creep up. So here they are, 25 ways on how to dump your bike!!! Now, let me keep you informed. I stole these from an article of 128 ways to dump you bike but I don’t think we need that much education. Take a look, some of these are funny.

Putting your foot into a hole when stopping 2 Putting your foot down on something slippery when stopping. 3 Locking the front wheel during overenthusiastic braking. 4 Missing the driveway and sliding on the grass. 5 Not putting the kickstand down when getting off. 6 Make a turn from stop in gravel or sand at high throttle. 7 Not putting a board (‘foot’)under the kickstand on asphalt on a hot day. 8 Letting overenthusiastic people sit on your bike who have never been on a bike. 9 Forgetting the bike’s in gear when you jump on the kickstarter. 10 Revving the engine, releasing clutch, and putting feet on pegs when the light turns green, but the bike’s in neutral. 11 Not putting your foot down when stopping at red light. 12 Losing balance when putting it on the centerstand. 13 Take an hour ride in 30 degree weather with no gloves, stop at a stop sign and pop the clutch when you start because you’ve lost feeling in your hands. 14 Putting your foot down at a toll booth on the thick layer of grease that builds up when cars stop. 15 Using too much power when you pull out of a greasy toll booth. 16 Ignoring the sand that builds up in the spring at the side of the road (in places where roads are sanded and salted in inter.) 17 Kicking your kickstand in a cool fashion and having it bounce back up instead of staying down. 18 Getting off your bike while it is running and forgetting that is in gear. 19 Trying to kick start your first bike over and over because you didn’t realize that it was really out of fuel, and getting the goofy metal ring on the side of your boot caught in the kickstarter, causing you (and the bike) to go over on the right side. 20 Starting your brand-new electric-start trail-bike, riding around an ornamental shrub on full left lock, throwing it to the right and accelerating to wheelie over the curb onto the street and _then_ discovering that you hadn’t unlocked the steering-lock… 21 On same bike, getting the dual-range lever caught inside your jeans as you come to a stop… 22 Having your boot/jeans catch the gear-lever and putting your running bike into first gear whilst reaching for the side-stand (which is why I now automatically pull in the clutch whenever deploying or retracting the stand.) 23 Having “green” racing linings which have much higher coefficient of friction on the slight rust that forms on the polished drum when you’ve not ridden for a few hours, and lose the front-end holding the brakes on against the throttle to wear off the rust. 24 Having a three-cylinder two-stroke that’s so smooth you think you’re in second when you’re actually in first, so you spin out when the undercarriage touches down in a tight corner passing a car and you think, “just a bit more throttle will help here…” 25 Revving bike in impressive squidly fashion at red light, thinking it’s in neutral; dropping clutch and standing in place while bike wheelies and backflips into intersection.

Don’t forget, the hot weather is just around the corner. Take plenty of water and sports drinks to keep well hydrated. Plan on a quart for every hour you’re out riding. A note here, beer actually forces your body to expel water (like we didn’t know that already!!!)

As always, ride safe and ride often…

Dave Fisher, Safety Officer

It’s simple…it’s called “Preventive Maintenance.” We all know by now that every time the time changes here in California, we should change the batteries in our smoke detectors. I do because invariably, the battery goes out at 3am and starts chirping. To make matters worse, it’s always the smoke detector in the living room on the 14’ ceiling!!!

I’ve decided to take this concept over to the preventive maintenance I do on my Harley. I have a second job and payday for that job is on the 15th of each month. Since this is my “fun money” job, I’m usually looking forward to the 15th because there’s always something I want to buy!

Since the 15th is easily remembered for me, I’m going to make it a point to take an hour or two and go over all those little details on the bike that make life much easier when they work. Here’s some of the things I will be looking for…

Tire Pressure: With all the temperature changes, it’s a good idea to watch that tire pressure. This is one of those items that need constant checking to ensure your safety while on the bike.

Oil Level: You really should get in the habit of checking this every other time you fill your gas tank. If you’re like me, I know I don’t burn oil but I check it anyways cuz it’s pretty important.

Radiator Fluid: Oops…wrong vehicle!!! Just making sure you’re paying attention!

Brake Fluid: Probably don’t need to check it too often but keep an eye on it. Remember, you have two cylinders with fluid. Make sure you use the proper fluid as noted in your maintenance manual.

Miscellaneous nuts and bolts: You don’t need me to tell you but these things vibrate a lot. Carry some common sizes of wrenches (7/16, 1/2, 9/16, ect.) as you crawl around your ride and give a check to all those little nuts and bolts that keep it together. You’d be surprised how some of them loosen up!!!

Cables: Some new bikes don’t have as many but it’s always a good idea to lube the clutch and throttle cables if you have them. I loosen the clutch (opposite of tightening it) and spray some good quality lubricant and let it run down the cable. Do the same with the throttle cables and they will last a lot longer.

While you’re doing this, keep your eyes open for anything that “just doesn’t look right.” If you have a question, take your ride to our Sponsors, Bakersfield Harley Davidson and check with the Service Manager, Rob. Rob has been around a few bikes and knows what “looks right” and what “looks wrong.” At least you will become more familiar with your motorcycle or you’ll avert a potential problem before it leaves you stranded on the road.

One last thing before I close…it’s going to get hot pretty soon. Don’t rely on someone else to bring you some water on your ventures out into the country. Make sure you bring plenty of water and even a snack or two on those treks to the coast or up into the mountains. I learned a long time ago to pack for the worst case scenario so it won’t happen!

See you at the next HOG event…Don’t forget, Casa De Fruta is coming up soon. Check out the flyer in this newsletter and rest up for the first weekend in June. Flyers are also available at Bakersfield Harley Davidson. Hope to see you there.

AS ALWAYS…RIDE SAFE…

DAVE FISHER

SAFETY OFFICER

http://www.msf-usa.org/riderperception/

We all ride throughout the year here so “winterizing” our rides consists of dusting them off and putting on some leather and a heavy jacket before we ride.  We are fortunate to be able to ride all year round but we often forget those little winter hazards that can crop up at a moment’s notice.  Here’s a little reminder for us all in regards to those nasty little road hazards…

CROSSWALKS AND OTHER PAINTED LINES

ANY painted surface on a roadway can be extremely slick during the winter.  A small amount of moisture can turn these lines into an experience you won’t soon forget!  Be very cautious when it’s foggy as the moisture collects on the painted surfaces and is not visible to the rider.  Watch those lines on the curvy roads because you won’t have time to react if you happen to cut a corner a little and get that front wheel on the wet line!

RAILROAD TRACK

It’s not like you haven’t seen these before.  These can catch you front wheel and dump your bike.  Pay attention to the angle the tracks cross the road.  Use as much of the road as necessary to get a safe attack angle.  Be aware that occasionally tracks cross roads at a weird angle (Highway 43 near Poso) and this can ruin an otherwise great day of riding.  Also watch the crossing areas as some have metal or wood instead of asphalt between the tracks.  If you’re crossing one of these in a turn, you’re in for a surprise.

CATTLE GUARDS

We have a few of these in our area.  Always try to cross these at a 90 degree angle and be very cautious if they might be wet.

OIL, ANTI-FREEZE, GREASE, DIESEL FUEL

If you encounter any of these on the road, chances are you’ll have an issue before you can react.  Always scan the road ahead for spots that look wet or different from the rest of the pavement.  I once hit diesel fuel as I was approaching a stop sign.  The bike slid through the stop sign and across 2 lanes of traffic onto road side.  This happened at Lerdo Hwy and Porterville Hwy.  Yeah, I know, it wasn’t my time.

RAIN AFTER A LONG DRY SPELL

This can turn the roads into a skating rink.  Let the rain wash the roads clear before you ride them.  A half hour can make a huge difference.

GRAVEL ON PAVEMENT

This can be deadly.  Gravel is more common as the road becomes twisties.  It seems cars have a hard time staying on the pavement when there are corners.  Gravel problems tend to be worse in spring due to winter rains.  A little bit of gravel should be avoidable if you’re not riding too fast.  Unavoidable gravel covering the entire corner can be taken in stride if there is plenty of asphalt showing and you are prepared to let the bike slide around a bit. The key is to relax, don’t over-react and keep steering towards the exit line. Bikes are surprisingly stable and will usually ride it out. The real problem is a heavy gravel patch in a corner. Surviving that is mainly luck given you were already going too fast to stop or go around it…my best advice is to treat it like light gravel and hope the bike rides it out. If the back-end washes out, steer like a dirt bike and hope the rear tire doesn’t suddenly get traction!

Having said all that, most “gravel crashes” were unnecessary. Usually the rider is lacking in fundamental skills. Common physical errors are not looking far enough into a corner so not picking up the gravel soon enough, not being able to brake at the bike’s capabilities, not being able to turn at the bike’s capabilities and over-reacting when hitting the gravel (a one inch slide feels like a mile so people panic). Common mental errors are missing signs of probable gravel (tight corners, earlier history, gravel shoulders or embankments, hills that might have been washed out etc) and riding without regard for suitable error margins.

LEAVES

They look innocent but are worse than gravel…ESPECIALLY IF WET!

STANDING WATER

Don’t just charge through water like you would in a car.  Depending on tires you can hydroplane which will make the bike feel like it’s on ice.  If you are unlucky enough to experience this, make no steering inputs and ride straight through.

REMEMBER, WHEN YOU EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED, THE UNEXPECTED IS EXPECTED SO IT’S NOT A BIG DEAL!!!

RIDE SAFE…

DAVE FISHER
SAFETY OFFICER

Contemplating traveling 1,000 miles in 24 hours on a motorcycle causes the reader to have one of two reactions. How would I do that? Or, the second title comes to mind. One has no trouble grasping the idea of climbing into a cylindrical object, much like a roll of toilet paper, sitting down and being hurled through the atmosphere to travel 1,000 miles, but the idea of going outside to your driveway, sitting down on a magical chair and spending the day observing the sunrise, smells, sights and experiences that will be remembered the rest of one’s life is foreign to most.

As with all great things the trigger that causes success in any endeavor is curiosity. I salute you for reading this far because once you become curious the wheels start turning and the question gnaws in your mind until the answer unfolds. Also required in the success of any mission is planning. Hopefully this article will arouse your curiosity and provide a blueprint for your magic carpet ride.

Thorough planning for this ride will leave one with a joyous expectation of the ride with successful results. Poor planning will yield frustration, anger, and quite possibly death. Now that we have covered the disclaimers, let’s get on with eating the elephant.

Let’s break down the ride a little; the first part is going 500 miles. The second part is coming back. Let’s look at the first half. Assuming one’s tank has a range of at least 170-miles, one starts with a full tank and burns that off. They stop, fuel, and burn that tank off. Then they fuel again and burn that tank off. Presto you have just completed your five hundred miles! So the question is can you ride 170 Miles? Can you do it three times? If your tank has a range of 125-miles you would fill it three times after you start.

There will never be any external pressure from any one else to make you succeed. So travel the first tank, see how you feel, fill it up and burn off the second tank. If you are feeling good, fill it up and continue on. With victory in sight, this decision to continue after filling here will be the critical one. Knowing that you will succeed after burning off the third tank is gratifying. Some may say; but what about the other 500 miles? Well, you made it here didn’t you? This is the Iron Butt, not the Delano taco run. Quit your belly-aching and go home.

That is the entire psychology of eating this elephant. Leave with a full tank, fill up twice more, and then go home. That is all there is to it. Can you do that?

Sounds simple doesn’t it? But there are a few other things we need to consider. The first is time. Let’s look at how time affects the ride. Assuming one was to average 65 mph one would have seat time of 15.38 hours. (1,000 / 65 mph = 15.38 hours) If one averages 75 mph one will have seat time of 13.33 hours. If one averages 80 mph they will have seat time of 12.5 hours.

We will be leaving at 5:00 A.M. Add your choice of the above times and that theoretically will be the time you get home. This does not include any time for fueling, eating, or potty breaks. It is better to travel constantly at your comfortable speed and minimize the time spent on stops rather than go like the devil and have poor stop management. This increases fuel usage which causes one to stop more often, wasting more time. One has to balance the needs of the bike with the needs of the rider. Ideally it would be most efficient to fuel, intake nourishment and liquids while relieving themselves, all at the same time. Hopefully your planning will not demand such desperation.

Since we know the bike will need to stop at certain intervals, it will be most efficient if the rider can time their needs to correspond with the needs of the bike. The primary way to do this is through fluid intake management. Unless you have a catheter installed, you will need to stay hydrated while yet being able to wait until the next fuel stop to relieve yourself. Remember every second that is not spent moving is a second longer it will take to get home. Careless attention to stop management will destroy your ride.

Next we should consider fatigue. Early in the ride is the greatest opportunity to make time. While in no way advocating one break the speed limit, early in the morning is an opportune time to eat up the miles. There probably will be a slight tailwind heading east and a headwind on the return run. The head wind will cause additional fatigue as well as decrease your mileage. Expect it and adjust accordingly. Expect it to take longer on the return. As you travel east note fuel stations that are not your designated stops. You may need them on your return run. Remember the sun will be in your face both ways and it is brutal combined with the wind from punching a hole through 1,000 miles of air. Travel at your comfortable cruising speed.

Although we will be leaving at the same time it is imperative that we do not have 40 bikes traveling and stopping together. If we were all to stop for gas at the same time and location it would take an hour for all of us to fuel and use the restroom. Because of tank and bladder differences, we may have 40 riders traveling the same direction but we will each have our own ride plan. As the day progresses there will be times when we pass each other and perhaps there will be times when we are traveling alone. Enjoy the freedom of being able to choose how you execute your plan. Some riders will spend an hour for lunch. Join them if that is in your plan as well. Some may be planning on making it a two-day trip. You do not want to be riding with them if you are planning to do this in one day. Some may be trying to do 1,500 miles in 24-hours. Do not be intimidated or influenced by the behavior of others. Remember the tortoise and the hare. Stick to your plan.

If you are planning on having your ride certified by the IRON BUTT ASSOCIATION please go to http://www.ironbutt.com/ridecerts/getdocument.cfm?DocID=1 Here you will find the rules and requirements to qualify for the Saddle Sore 1,000. The gas receipt showing the time, date and address of your first gas purchase is the official starting time and address from which your ride will be measured. The official starting point address for those certifying their ride is the Chevron Station east of BHD at 35326 7th Standard Rd, Bakersfield, CA, 93308. Our route will be 58 east to Barstow, Interstate 40 to Needles, 95 south to Blythe and Interstate 10 east to Phoenix. The 511.1 mile turn-around point is the Chevron Station at 1615 N 99th Ave, Phoenix, AZ, 85037-4314. For more information on the IRON BUTT ASSOCIATION please go to http://www.ironbutt.com/about/default.cfm

The most important thing you can do to insure this will be an enjoyable adventure is to develop a plan, in writing, that allows for contingencies. Start by determining what the range of the tank on your bike is and go from there. In your plan include a realistic time schedule for the entire day including stops. This will help keep you on track. If you see you are falling behind schedule relax and adjust your schedule. This trip is not worth your life. Go to the Harley Davidson ride planner website to develop your plan. http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/Content/Pages/Ride_Planner/Ride_Planner.jsp?locale=en_US&request_key=-2099334245&bmLocale=en_US Once you are at the map hit the fuel symbol at the top of the page and the Shell stations will be displayed on the map. To find Chevron station locations go to http://www.chevron.com/products/ourStations/stationfinder/

Expect your plan to change as the day wears on and prepare for contingencies such as a flat, mechanical trouble and a motel should you decide to call it a day. DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS TRIP UNLESS YOU HAVE SOME TYPE OF ROAD SERVICE PLAN. Have emergency contact numbers with you and carry a cell phone. Take at least a gallon of water. Eat a hearty dinner on Thursday and eat a light dinner on Friday. For additional tips go to http://www.ironbutt.com/tech/aowprintout.cfm I look forward to seeing you on the adventure. Who knows, maybe we will do it again on Million Mile Monday. This is going to be fun!!!

Charlie Klint

The handbook explains the responsibilities and the guidelines of the Road Captains. It contains some information that all riders should know about group riding.

Bakersfield HOG Road Captain Handbook

Other important information:

• Hand Signals are important and need to be known and understood by all riders. They can be seen here.

• The staggered formation we use on our rides, the distance between you and the other riders can be read about on our Safety Page.

File: FatigueAndMotorcycleTouringByDonArthur.pdf

Good safety tips are always welcome. If you have a good safety tip and want to share it, send it to safety@bakersfieldhog.org or director@bakersfieldhog.org.

Note: The files above are in Portable Document Format. They require you to have a program like Acrobat Reader on your computer to view the files. If you do not have Acrobat Reader, you can download it from the Adobe website for free.

http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readermain.html

The recent virus outbreak on Facebook really wasn’t on Facebook but rather the makers of the virus used Facebook to funnel people to a malicious website. It used Facebook members’ friends list to email users about a factious video. The fake video was not on Facebook but rather on a ‘bad’ website. Once the user went to this other website the user would get a message that they needed to update their computer’s software to see the video. Clicking on the update button put the virus on the user’s computer. Facebook quickly shut down the messaging process of the virus and posted instructions on how to remove the virus if a user’s computer was infected.

This is only one example how easy it is to get into trouble on the internet. To help let’s compare using the internet to riding. As we all know, it is wise to put on protective gear, glasses and a DOT helmet before we ride. There are more items that could be on that list, but for this example I will keep the list short. If you jump on your Harley without checking a few things or gearing up properly you are more likely to get into trouble. Without protective gear a little something could become a big something. Without the glasses you would have trouble seeing your way. And without a helmet a ticket from a nice police officer is the least that could happen. The same types of precautions need to be taken when using the internet. A minimum list would include an up-to-date antivirus program, a recent backup of your documents (pictures, settings, and personal documents) in case bad things happen, if you are using Windows make sure it has the latest security patches and use safe internet practices. Just like watching that car next to you and expecting him to move into your lane, always look at where you go and what you receive from others while on the internet. Most viruses are sent through emails or installed by clicking OK while on a bad website.

With the Facebook incident there were a few hints that users can learn from. The message took the user to an unknown website. Always be careful when going to unknown websites. The Facebook example sent a message to friends stating ‘I found this funny video of you’. This might be a neat idea, you on the internet, but think for a minute, what are the chances of a video of you being funny showing up on the internet on some website you have never heard of. I joke, but a little thinking goes a long way while having fun chatting with friends, searching for the latest food recipe or watching something silly on YouTube. There are bad people out there that want nothing more than to ruin your day.

Just like evaluating a turn you should also evaluate where and what you do on the Net. Another hint with the Facebook example was the unknown site required the user to download software to watch the video. This is where the real virus got permission to infect the user’s computer. Clicking the OK button told the user’s computer it was OK to install the virus. When we surf we have to be very careful with what we download. It is always recommended to use the software vendor’s site when downloading or updating software online. Most reputable sites use common software that can be verified easily.

Some might think it is a stretch to compare ‘surfing the internet’ to riding a Harley, but there are some similarities and everyone should take precautions with both. Being prepared and protected is always more reliable than being lucky.

Road Captains should strive to help maintain a safe riding environment by encouraging HOG members in the following areas:

IMPORTANT:

YOU, THE RIDER, ARE ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY AND THAT OF YOUR PASSENGER.  WE IMPLORE YOU TO RIDE WITHIN YOUR CAPABILITIES AND THOSE OF YOUR MOTORCYCLE.  ENCOURAGE MEMBERS TO RIDE THEIR RIDE IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY

GENERAL GROUP RIDER RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Safety First
   1. All riders are asked to observe these time-proven practices in order to assure the safety and welfare of every person within the group, surrounding motorists, and pedestrians.
   2. Follow the suggestions of the Road Captains in all situations, unless, in your opinion, those instruction place the rider or any other individual in an unsafe condition.
   3. Maintain your motorcycle and equipment in a safe riding condition
2. Meeting Places and departure Times
   1. Departure times will be reviewed at the Chapter meeting, in the HOGLOG and posted at Bakersfield Harley-Davidson.
   2. ALL MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ARRIVE WITH A FULL TANK OF GAS.
3. Rider Briefing
   1. Advise riders of intended route
   2. Inform riders of any gas or rest stops
   3. Provide information concerning lead riders and sweeps of each group
   4. Review group riding practices, formations, and procedures
4. Riding formations and individual positions
   1. Preferred Formation: The Staggered formation is the preferred formation for group riding under good road conditions, traffic, and weather.  This will be a double row, staggered, in one traffic lane.  The interval will be no less than one second between staggered riders.  (See attached diagram.)
   2. New members, guests, and any riders with little experience: NEW MEMBERS, GUESTS AND ANY RIDERS WITH LITTLE EXPERIENCE IN GROUP RIDING ARE ASKED TO MEET WITH A SENIOR OR HEAD ROAD CAPTAIN TO EVALUATE THEIR RIDING EXPERIENCE.  THE ROAD CAPTAIN WILL PLACE THE NEW RIDER INTO THE GROUP IN THE MOST APPROPRITATE POSITION CONSIDERING THE EXPERIENCE OF THE RIDER.
   3. Maintain position: We ask each rider to maintain his/her starting lineup position in the group until arrival at the destination.  Should a rider drop out, other riders in the group should maintain their same starting position.
   4. Change in Road Conditions: Under certain conditions the lead Road Captain will signal the group to form a single file formation.  The signal for this is the left arm held overhead with the index finger extended skyward.  Other riders in the group should give the same signal and begin to form a single file line increasing the space between the riders.
   5. Smaller groups:  Safety may dictate we form smaller groups due to the large number of riders.  ANY ROAD CAPTAIN WHO OBSERVES A SITUATION DICTATING HIS/HER GROUP SHOULD SPLIT UP WILL MAKE THE NECESSARY NOTIFICATION TO OTHER RIDERS TO SPLIT THE GROUP UNTIL THE SITUATION PASSES.
5. SPEED, INTERVALS AND DISTANCES
   1. Safe Speed: Road Captains will establish and maintain a uniform, safe speed consistent with state law and the ability of the least experienced rider, surrounding road conditions, and safe riding practices based on his/her best judgment.
   2. Inexperienced Riders: In the interest of skill development and safety, Road Captains may choose to separate the group of inexperienced riders into a group of their own.  Any Road Captain who feels this may be necessary should make his/her concerns know to a Head or Senior Road Captain before the departure time of the scheduled ride.
   3. Speed Management:  All riders are asked to make an effort to maintain the same speed to minimize the effect of irregular speeds on riders at the rear of the group.
   4. Rider Separation:  All riders are asked to maintain a safe distance and lane position between themselves and the rider directly ahead; to be consistent with existing road conditions, traffic, and weather conditions.
      • Generally accepted Safe Following Distance
      • 1. Position Within the Lane Lines: A safe lane position is generally accepted as riding immediately to the right or left of lane center.  This will keep the riders just off the center oil stain, while maintaining the staggered formation, distance between riders and other obstacles, and providing necessary lane protection.
6. TRAFFIC LANES
   1. Lane Selection: The front Road Captain will attempt to guide the group in a single lane; where the traffic flow appears to be most consistent with the speed of the group; using lane changes only when necessary to pass slower traffic or to avoid a hazardous condition and avoid blocking faster surrounding traffic.
   2. Two Lane Highways:  On two lane highways in each direction, the group will generally travel in the number two lane (aka: Slow lane) allowing faster traffic to pass to the left; except when passing slower traffic in the right lane.
   3. Three Lane Highways: Highways with three or more lanes in each direction, the group will normally travel in the number two lane keeping the right lane open for other vehicles entering and exiting the highway and the left lane open for faster traffic to pass.
7. LANE CHANGES AND PASSING
   1. Lane Management: On a multi-lane highway, the double row staggered formation will generally be maintained.
   2. Lane Change: The lead Road Captain will communicate to the sweep the need for a lane change and in which direction using the CB radio.   The sweep will then, when safe, complete a lane change and notify the lead Road Captain when the lane is clear for the group.  The lead Road Captain will then signal his lane change and move into the appropriate lane after visually checking to ensure the lane is clear.
   3. Individual Lane Changes: There may be a time when a rider within a group may need to make a lane change for safety.  That rider should signal his turn with a turn indicator, make a visual check to ensure the lane is clear, and make the lane change.  When the safety issue no longer exists, that rider can reenter the formation when safe.
8. EMERGENCY STOPS
   1. Emergency Stops: If a rider must pull over immediately, or has an accident:
      • ONLY the rear Second Sweep Road Captain will accompany that rider to a stop.
      • The front Road Captain should be informed if he/she is not aware of the situation.
      • Once the front Road Captain is informed, he/she will pull the remainder of the group over as soon as it is safe to do so.
      • PLEASE RESIST THE URGE TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY TO ASSIST.  IT CAN BE VERY HAZARDOUS AND INCREASE THE CHANCE OF ACCIDENTS IF WE BLOCK THE ROAD WITH ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT AND PEOPLE.
   2. EXCEPTIONS: The only exception to the above would be that trained medical personnel would be expected to pull over and render assistance if there is an accident.  Personnel stopping to render assistance should follow safe riding practices when doing so.
   3. Bike Problems: Any rider who observes a problem with another rider?s motorcycle or equipment should inform that rider as quickly and as safely as possible.
9. HAND SIGNALS
   1. Standard Signals: At all times, we urge that standard hand signals be used for changing the formation to a single row and back to staggered formation, all turns, lane changes, slowing and stopping.  Turn signals should be used at all times also.
   2. Pass them Back: All hand signals should be relayed to the rear of the group to allow all riders to take appropriate precautionary measures and be aware of changes in speed and direction.
   3. Standard Hand Signals: Bakersfield HOG will use standard hand signals whenever a hand signal is used.

FINAL THOUGHTS

ALL ROAD CAPTAINS ARE ASKED TO ABIDE BY AND ENCOURAGE OTHER HOG MEMBERS TO ABIDE BY THE FOLLOWING:

If you, for any reason, are uncomfortable riding as we request, riding without a valid California driver?s license with a ?MI? motorcycle endorsement, proper insurance coverage, or are under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, we respect your wishes, but ask that you not ride in our group.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT YOU HAVE THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR SAFETY, AND ALWAYS RIDE WITHIN YOUR CAPABILITIES AND THAT OF YOUR MACHINE?S.

Your Bakersfield HOG chapter holds at least three group rides each month.  We have the Fun Run, the Dinner (Breakfast) Ride, and the Ladies of Harley ride.  For all of these group rides the dynamics are the same.

Bakersfield HOG uses the dealership as the meeting point for most group rides.  We do this because of the large, long alley just east of the shop that allows us to line up before we leave.  HOG wants all general membership riders to utilize the right (south) side of the alley to line up 2 by 2.  The Ride Leader will line up in the front along with the Chapter Officer attending to the group.  Road Captains will use the left side of the alley (the north side) to position themselves within the group and to position the sweeps at the point of the group where the separation, if any, will occur.  ONCE THE GROUPS ARE SEPARATED, PLEASE DO NOT PASS THE ROAD CAPTAIN/OFFICER MAKING THE SEPARATION TO GET INTO THE FIRST GROUP. The group is separated for safety reasons and we need to keep the numbers about the same in each group.  In other words, we don’t want 30 riders in group 1 and 10 riders in group 2.

Unless otherwise stated in the Rider’s Meeting, all group rides will start our in the staggered formation.  The staggered formation is used for safety reasons.  By riding 2 seconds behind the rider directly in front of you and 1 second behind the rider just to your right/left, the group is readily seen by approaching vehicles from all directions.  This doesn’t guarantee that a driver will not turn into the group but it sure helps.  IF A MEMBER IS NOT COMFORTABLE WITH GROUP RIDING, INFORM A SENIOR/HEAD ROAD CAPTAIN OR CHAPTER OFFICER BEFORE THE RIDE.  HOG WILL MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE THAT RIDER FOLLOW THE GROUP WITH A ROAD CAPTAIN TO ENSURE A SAFE ARRIVAL. Group rides must maintain their formation for the safety of the entire group.

Let’s say you’re riding along in a group and a member pulls out.  What do we do with that empty space???  Answer: NOTHING.  Continue riding in the same formation as long as the group is moving.  When the group stops at the next stop sign or traffic signal, line up 2 by 2 and fill the vacant position then.  IF A RIDER FILLS A VACANT POSITON WHILE THE GROUP IS MOVING, ALL RIDERS BEHIND HIM WILL BE MOVING ABOUT CREATING A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION.

Whenever a group leaves from a standing start, the lead rider on the left has the right of way to move first.  Anytime a group is being led, the lead rider should use the left side of the traffic lane to lead the group.  So, when you’re lined up 2 by 2, remember, the rider on the left leaves first to establish the staggered riding formation.

Another question recently asked was…How does a group enter a freeway via an on-ramp?  Remember, the on-ramp is designed to gain speed to enter the freeway AT THE SAME SPEED OF THE VEHICLE MOVING ON THE FREEWAY. We don’t want to be traveling 45mph when entering traffic traveling 65mph.  This will create a very unsafe situation.  Our bikes will accelerate up to freeway speed rather quickly so make sure we enter the freeway at a speed consistent with traffic.  Also, ANYTIME A GROUP RIDING IN STAGGERED FORMATION ENTERS A FREEWAY, THE GROUP SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY REVERT TO SINGLE FILE TO ENTER THE FREEWAY AND THEN RE-ESTABLISH THE STAGGERED FORMATION ONCE SAFELY ON THE FREEWAY. No hand signals are necessary…this should be done automatically.

What about lane changes on a freeway???  When a lane change is to be made on a freeway, the lead rider will notify his sweep and ask  the sweep to access the lane desired.  When safe, the sweep will move to the desired lane and notify the ride leader of the change and the vehicle description of the car currently using the lane.  As riders in the group see the lane change, they will begin moving into the desired lane ONLY AFTER CHECKING TO ENSURE THE LANE CHANGE IS SAFE. The group will make the lane change only when vehicles have passed their position and they are changing lanes in front of their trailing rider  to ensure group integrity.  Group riders should not make a lane change, unless necessary to avoid a collision or road hazard, during a group ride unless and until the lane change is directed by the group leader.  Although this sounds confusing, it’s much simpler when observed during a group ride.

These are a few of the questions that came up for discussion at the last Road Captain’s meeting.  If any member has a question concerning any aspect of riding with HOG, please e-mail it to Director@bakersfieldhog.org.  We’ll get your question answered and let you know what the correct answer is.

Remember, our HOG motto is to “RIDE AND HAVE FUN.”  These guidelines are so we can ride and have fun as a group.  There is nothing better than riding with your friends and ending up somewhere to have some fun and friendship.

RIDE SAFE AND RIDE WITH HOG