Livermre Harley Owners Grup RIDING WITH LIVERMORE HOG 2010
Riding with Livermre HOG Table f Cntents Page 1 Welcme Page 2 Ride Planning Page 2 Rad Captains Page 2 Grup Ride Basics Page 3 Grup Riding Prcedures Page 4 Staggered frmatin Page 4 Stp signs Page 3 Highway entrances and exits Page 4 Lane changes and head checks Page 4 Single file prcedure Page 5 Split grup prcedure Page 5 Tllbths Page 5 Lane splitting Page 6 Adjusting staggered frmatins Page 6 Hand signals Page 6-9 Disabled bike and accident prcedures Page 9 Leaving the grup Page 10 Staging Page 10 Radi Cmmunicatin Page 10 Cnclusin Page 10 3
Welcme Welcme t Livermre Harley Owner s Grup (HOG). One f the reasns peple jin Livermre HOG is t meet thers wh share the enjyment f riding. Livermre Hg spnsrs and plans ver 90 rides a year. It is imprtant t learn and understand the dynamics and safety challenges f grup riding. This guide was created t prvide riders with infrmatin regarding grup riding with Livermre HOG. Livermre HOG cnducts a Grup Orientatin Ride n the last Sunday f each mnth and we encurage new riders t participate. Orientatin rides include a cmprehensive ride briefing and prvides riders with an pprtunity t learn ur hand signals, prcedures fr lane changes, highway entrances and exits, staggered and single file frmatins, and the excitement f grup riding. Grup Rides: Livermre HOG ride schedules are available n the Livermre HOG website and at the dealership. We publish the ride schedule befre the end f the previus mnth and annunce it at mnthly Chapter Meetings. G t www.livermrehg.cm t access the ride schedules and t view additinal infrmatin regarding Livermre HOG. All riders shuld arrive at the dealership at the ride time with a full tank f gas. Each ride includes a standard briefing by the Lead Rad Captain (RC) and a descriptin f the day s itinerary. Riders are encuraged t ask questins after the briefing cncludes. Ride briefings are an imprtant cmpnent f each ride t ensure riders and passengers are prepared t participate in the grup riding experience. The safety f ur members and guests is a pririty with Livermre HOG. Rad Captains: We are frtunate t have a dedicated, well-trained grup f RCs. We ffer an extensive frmal training prgram fr ur RCs and strive t ffer members an extensive ride schedule t exciting lcatins. Each RC receives classrm training, First Aid Certificatin, and experience planning and participating in grup riding with the RCs f Livermre HOG. Livermre HOG RCs: Select rutes and destinatins t a variety f lcatins Pre-ride each destinatin t ensure the safety f ur riders Select the restaurants we use Prvide a Sweep RC wh rides at the rear f the grup t ensure cmmunicatin with the Head RC, t secure lanes fr the grup, and t assist riders as needed. Grup Ride Basics: 4
As a standard, mst f ur rides start and end at the dealership. Destinatin Rides usually invlves the grup traveling t anther lcatin r event. When the ride ends at an event, riders are On Yur Own (OYO) t ride hme. We recmmend that riders arrange a rute hme with fellw riders in the grup fr OYO rides. RCs plan rest stps and gas stp requirements based n the fuel capacity f bikes such as Sprtsters and VRds. If the grup stps fr gas and a cmfrt break, take advantage f the time t hydrate, use the restrms, r adjust yur riding gear. We typically stp fr a 20- minute break every 60 90 minutes. On ccasin, we may ride up t tw hurs withut a break; hwever, this is an exceptin. We typically stp fr gas a maximum f 120 miles. If yu d nt gas up, we may ride fr 100 miles fr the first prtin f the ride and an additinal 100 miles with n gas statins in between. Livermre HOG has a n alchl plicy. If yu drink alchl while n a ride, the Head RC will ask yu nt t cntinue t ride with the grup. Please be cnsiderate while riding in residential areas with nise levels. Grup Riding Prcedures Staggered Frmatin: The grup rides in staggered frmatin at a safe distance f tw secnds t the bike in frnt f yu and ne secnd t the bike t the side f yu (diagram A). When riding in staggered frmatin, each bike ccupies ½ the lane. D nt crss the center f the lane yu ccupy at any time When riding in staggered frmatin, be aware f yur psitin at all times. D nt pass bikes in frnt f yu t yur right r left 5
Stp Signs: Diagram A When yu arrive at a stp sign be alert f the bike in frnt f yu. Califrnia Law states that all traffic must stp at a stp sign. The Lead RC will stp at stp signs and will ensure the grup is tgether. Yu may find that sme riders in the grup d nt cme t a cmplete stp, and sme d. Pull up side-by-side at stp signs and allw the bike n yur left t leave the stp sign first. This prvides riders with space t turn in frnt f yu in a safe manner. Always be alert t the actins f ther riders in the grup and resume yur psitin in the stagger as safely as pssible. Highway Entrances and Exits: When the grup enters r exits highways, the Head RC will typically use the On Yur Own (OYO) hand signal t enable riders t safely enter and exit highways. Lane Changes and Head Checks: Lane changes are a very imprtant maneuver in grup riding. We cver lane changes in ur ride briefings s all riders understand hw t perfrm lane changes as a grup. Always use a head check when changing lanes t ensure yur safety. Lane Change Prcedure: 6
The Lead RC cmmunicates t the Sweep t secure a lane and initiates the apprpriate hand and turn signals (diagram B) All riders remain in their psitin and initiate arm and turn signals The Sweep mves ver and secures the lane when it is safe and ntifies the RC The Lead RC signals a lane change again and mves int the desired lane One-by-ne, frnt t back, each rider fllws the rider in frnt f them in a serpentine fashin. a. This prcedure enables the Head RC t see the psitin f all riders in the grup, including the Sweep. D nt blck the view f the Head RC r remain in the lane the grup ccupied previusly. The grup ccupies the new lane and each rider resumes their staggered psitin in the grup Single File Prcedure (tw-secnd rule): Riding in single file is necessary depending n the rads we ride n: Winding rads Narrw rads, n shulder High wind cnditins n the highway When single file is necessary, the Lead RC will use the apprpriate hand signal. D nt ride directly behind the rider in frm f yu. Allw tw secnds between yu and the bike in frnt f yu, which allws yu the whle width f yur lane fr maneuvering. Allw yurself rm t safely maneuver and react t the rad cnditins, and the bike in frnt f yu. Split Grup Prcedure (vehicles within the grup and splits at stp signs): Vehicles ccasinally enter the grup n highways and city streets. If a vehicle enters the grup, allw adequate space t allw them int the grup. The RC will make the necessary changes t pull the grup tgether. At times, a RC within the grup will mve t the lead psitin f the split grup and will maneuver the grup arund the vehicle. D nt accelerate arund vehicle t keep the grup tgether. Once the vehicle leaves the grup, resume yur psitin in the grup. Tllbths (single lane ging thrugh tllbth): The grup ges thrugh tllbths n sme f ur rides. The Sweep will cllect the tll frm each rider prir t the ride briefing t ensure the Head RC is able t prvide the funds at the tllbth. We apprach tllbths in staggered frmatin; hwever, we exit thrugh tllbths in single file t enable an accurate cunt f each bike. Lane Splitting: 7
We d nt split lanes r blck intersectins when riding as a grup at any time. If we are exiting a parking lt, the Sweep(s) prceeds dwn the rad t slw traffic s the grup can exit nt the rad safely. Adjusting the Staggered Frmatin: Occasinally, a rider leaves the grup and waves ff, creating a gap in the staggered frmatin. The grup may als leave a stp sign r staging area and we are n lnger in staggered frmatin. T resume a staggered frmatin, each rider shuld fill the gap in frnt f him r her in a zigzag fashin. Fr example, the secnd rider waves ff. Nw the third rider is directly behind the Lead RC. The third bike mves t the secnd psitin, filling the gap. T fill a gap and adjust the stagger: Signal yu are ging t mve and prceed frm the left ½ f the lane t the right ½ One-by-ne in a zigzag fashin, signal and mve t new a psitin D nt mve until the rider in frnt f yu mves If yu chse nt t fill the gap, remain in yur current psitin Stp signs are an easy lcatin t adjust the stagger Hand Signals: It is imprtant t use the crrect hand signals t cmmunicate t riders in the grup. Hand signals are initiated by the Lead RC and must be dne by each rider, ne-by-ne, frm the frnt f the grup t the rear f the grup. The entire grup shuld use hand signals t clearly cmmunicate t ther riders in the grup. When the grup is large and spread ut n the rad, hand signals can becme unclear if nt executed crrectly. Riders at the rear f the grup may nt receive hand signals s it is imprtant t hld hand signals lng enugh t be visible by riders behind yu. Left turn arm straight ut with fist Right turn bent arm with fist 8
Slw dwnward wave On Yur Own bent arm, finger extended, wave frearm back and frth Use this signal when making a lane change r exiting the highway. Fr example, the lane is t crwded fr the grup t make the lane change tgether. 9 The Lead RC will signal the lane change r turn. The Lead RC will use the OYO signal. This indicates yu are ging t perfrm the maneuver the Lead RC signaled n yur wn. Perfrm a head check and make the maneuver when safe. The Lead RC will get the grup back tgether when it is safe t d s Staggered frmatin - arm straight up with 2 fingers extended
Single file psitin - Arm straight up with 1 finger extended Tighten up (maintain a clser staggered frmatin) - arm bent with fist, pumping mtin Use this signal when ging thrugh twns with stp signs r n highways befre a lane change. The gal is t bring the grup clser tgether s we can all make the maneuver tgether, r get thrugh the stp signs mre effectively. 10 Rad hazards Use yur hands r feet t carefully pint t rad hazards. If yu see a rider pinting, lk arund yu t identify the hazard. If there is a bicycle r a car n the side f the rad that culd be a hazard and enter ur riding space, the
signal is a bent arm, ne finger pinting ver yur head t the side f the rad. Yu may als use ne f yur feet t pint ut the hazard. Cmfrt Stp Take advantage f rest breaks when we take them. The RCs plan rest breaks every 60 90 minutes. If yu need t make a special stp, cup yur hand like a C and signal. The RCs will pull ver at a rest area when it is safe Disabled bike r accident prcedures: If yur bike has mechanical issues and yu need t stp, pint t the engine, signal, and pull ut f the grup. The Sweep will stp with yu. Only the Sweep will pull ver with a rider requiring assistance. All riders shuld prceed with the grup and shuld refrain frm pulling ver if the rider requiring assistance is yur friend r spuse. It is the Sweep s respnsibility t assist riders as needed. The grup will prceed until the Lead RC finds a safe spt t pull the grup ver. If yu stp with a rider wh requires assistance, yu may be creating a hazard fr the grup. In the event f an accident, the Sweep will stp t assist. Sweeps are trained hw t handle an accident scene during RC training. The grup will prceed until the Lead RC finds a safe spt t pull the grup ver. If yu stp with a rider, yu may be creating a hazard fr the grup in mving traffic. The Sweep manages accident scenes that ccur in the grup. Fllw the Sweep s guidance if yu are near r invlved in an accident scene. The Sweep will call 911 r designate smene t call. Riders shuld nt call 911 as it will tie up the circuits and may cause cnfusin fr respnders. 11
Leaving a grup ride: If yu need t leave the grup during a ride, ntify the Sweep in advance. Wave ff t the Sweep when yu leave the grup s he/she knws yu are n yur wn and d nt require assistance. If yu have nt ntified the Sweep and need t leave the grup, signal and pull ut f the grup. Wave t the Sweep and let him/her knw yu are n yur wn and d nt require assistance. It is the Sweep s respnsibility t make sure all riders are kay. If yu leave the grup withut letting the Sweep knw yu are kay, the Sweep will fllw yu hme t make sure yu are kay. If the Sweep cannt keep up with yu, he/she will g t the dealership and call yu until he/she verifies yu are kay. Staging: We stage at the beginning f each ride and at each stp befre we depart which gives the Sweep the pprtunity t cunt riders/bikes t make sure we have nt lst anyne. Please stage at the lcatin the Lead RC requests at the time he/she indicates. Staging means we line up tw-by-tw ready t g. At the dealership, we line up in the parking lt. When yu restage at a new lcatin yu can change yur psitin in the grup. If yu are new t the grup, r grup riding we recmmend riders t ride in the frnt f the grup, specifically in psitins 3 6. With larger grups, a rubber band effect ccurs where the back f the grup is spaced mre than tw secnds apart. When yu are clser t the frnt, yu can see what the Lead RC is ding. Radi Cmmunicatin: The majrity f ur RCs have installed a CB system. Livermre HOG used Channel 12 fr ride management cmmunicatin nly. If yu want t listen t Channel 12 yu may d s, hwever please keep unnecessary chatter t a minimum. If yu are using Channel 12 fr persnal discussins, the RCs are nt able t use the channel fr ride management. We appreciate yur supprt! Cnclusin The members f Livermre HOG share yur passin fr riding and hpe yu have fund this guide useful. If yu have questins abut the infrmatin included in this guide, please cntact a RC fr assistance. 12