I rode from Portland to Seattle the other night and encountered two other solo riders along the way. One was on a brand new Triumph ST and pulled up to me at a rest stop and chatted me up, then continued on. When I caught up to him, he was riding in the middle of the lane and I assume that means, hey I'm solo. So I didn't ride up next to him, I also assumed it was cause he had a brand new very expensive bike, I definitely understood that.
When I ride solo (as I often do) and see another biker coming up behind me, I take the right side of the lane position, basically telling the rider, hey I see you and it's cool if you ride near me.
After the Triumph guy went ahead a few miles later a sport bike came up behind me. I did the same movement (move right) and he followed me for about 30 miles, then he pulled up ahead, rode in the middle of the lane, then moved over to the right hand side, I caught up (was not far behind) and followed a car length behind in the left side of the lane. We rode like this for about an hour, then he started to switch lanes here and there and I assumed it was "OK buddy, we had fun, now I'm going on my own" so I trailed off and let him go his way.
I guess being solo I always wonder how to interact with other riders, I always wave to the other rides no matter what they're riding, cruiser or sport bike. It's rare I don't get a wave back and most of the times I just assume they didn't see me, I do this too and feel bad when I catch a wave but don't have time to reciprocate.
Anyone have some words of wisdom here? Thanks in advance!
I think its best to give riders you dont know plenty of space, you can never be sure how they will react or if they have the kind of skills that they can deal with another rider close by. Too many unknowns to consider to ride close to an unknown rider. I was leading a group of riders to the st.n meet here in colorado and 4 of them were all bunched up, I took a tight curve and it was a decreasing radius turn, I made it fine but all 4 of them went off into the ditch and one of them had broken his back. Bunching up with anybody is not a good idea anyway.
Two of the guys were father and son and the father is the guy that got hurt. I felt like it was my fault riding too fast for people I dont know, I did not feel like I was pushing it too hard - and talking to them before hand everybody in the group had been riding for 10 years or more - but they just got too close and they could not react to get out of each others way. All I can say is its best not to ride too close until you are comfortable, and even if you know the other rider, you need room to react.
Ouch!!!
Sad story there Miguel. And a good lesson for the rest of us.
Thanks HS, I should have been more specific, I just meant riding on the freeway and trying to decipher what other riders are telling me by their movements, etc.
The other day a rider in the next lane looked at me and tapped his head twice and pointed ahead. I browsed through some posts here that said it meant a cop was up ahead, don't know if that's true but I was clueless to what he was trying to tell me.
I read through other group riding horror stories and I'm just specific to freeway riding. I completely agree with you, I'm unknown and so are they. Thanks for the reply!
I believe that proper group riding etiquette is to be staggered in the lane and two seconds apart so if I end up "joining" someone it would be at that interval and position, personally I would expect others to follow the same practice if they were to join me. If/when we come to a stop, I will typically pull over to the left part of the lane so they can pull up next to me on my right, but so far no one has ever done so. Not sure if it's me or if they just aren't interested in saying hello.
I treat other bikes on the road travelling my direction the same as I do cars. I give them space and watch what they are doing. I am highly suspicious of anyone who rides down the center of a lane and tend to give them a LOT of space - usually tells me that they don't understand road positioning.
If another rider is traveling my pace and not doing anything excessively stupid I will ride with them for a while, but I keep a safe distance. However one thing I have noticed is that when two or more bikes are riding together, even if the riders do not know one another they tend to get competitive. I can see how HS's example of the four bikes getting sucked into riding above their heads could easily happen.
It really comes down to this: ALWAYS Ride Your Own Ride.
As for groups vs. solo, it has never bothered me to ride solo. Often I prefer it because I can set the pace and stop for pictures where and when I want to.
I see waving at other bikes as basic courtesy. Most wave back. Some seem incapable of doing so - the harley riders wearing tank tops and dot approved salad bowls usually ignore sport bike riders. I always assume that it is because they are terrified of letting go of the handlebar for even a brief moment. :laugh:
[image: View Post]Olive, on 31 July 2012 - 11:58 PM, said:
I always assume that it is because they are terrified of letting go of the handlebar for even a brief moment. :laugh:
Hilarious! I really appreciate all the comments, I'm glad to read what's being said!
Duc, I hope I run into you near Labor Day, heading down to meet up with Family. I'd ride up and say hello!
I also agree on the person riding in the center of the lane.
What really got me worked up a few months ago (and not worked up mad but worked up worried) was the 4 motorcycle cops riding down I5, I know they have special training and some even compete in riding contests, but I saw 4 of them STACKED one upon another in a box pattern, maybe, and I mean maybe there was 2 inches separating the front riders rear tire to the rear riders front tire, any sudden movement and they would all be toast, yet I've never seen any accidents involving multiple police motorcycles. But let me say, they all moved as one unit, freaky I tell you!
Thanks again for all the replies!!!
I'm a basic communication kind of guy. Ask or be asked.
I've given up trying to fathom what people are thinking , based on their actions, because I've been wrong an overwhelming number of times.
Like Olive, I am happy to ride alone, but if someone wants to join me, and they ask, then there is no problem with that.
Usually I take up all of the lane width, trying to find the best line, so I like having it all to myself, and if I do come close to another rider, I will use whatever side of the lane the other rider is not using, but about a second behind. If he/she is all over the place, then like mentioned above, I just get to hell away.
Tom
Just today I was in the HOV lane going to work and in the left hand side of the lane during rush (to give myself time to react) and this other sportbike rider came flying by my right. I was pretty pissed, if he had given me a few seconds I would have waved him passed if he wanted to get by, but to do it without any notice was dangerous IMO. I could have had to use my whole lane to dodge tire debris or something, argh!!!!
Is it me or was I right to be pissed, I am curious what the group thinks?
+eb0
[image: View Post]pluseb0, on 01 August 2012 - 12:53 AM, said:
Just today I was in the HOV lane going to work and in the left hand side of the lane during rush (to give myself time to react) and this other sportbike rider came flying by my right. I was pretty pissed, if he had given me a few seconds I would have waved him passed if he wanted to get by, but to do it without any notice was dangerous IMO. I could have had to use my whole lane to dodge tire debris or something, argh!!!!
Is it me or was I right to be pissed, I am curious what the group thinks?
+eb0
I agree that he was wrong about taking part of your lane, no matter which side he choose to encroach.
I agree even on the freeway 2 sec. rule, even if it's a friend I ride with. And skilled riders like CHP's should stagger on public roads (what happens if the lead blows a tyre?).
I think we're all on the same page. When I encounter unknown riders on the road, I try to be friendly but give them a lot of space. Too many unknowns, as HS said. If people pull up alongside at lights, I'm okay with that, but I'm not much of a conversationalist with a helmet and earplugs in place.
As to riding with friends, like Monk I follow the staggered, 2-sec. rule. I do this mostly because that's the way I was trained to ride years ago, but the wisdom of it was proven to me a several years ago. I was riding with a friend: he was in the lead on a big Yamaha cruiser with his teenage daughter on the back, I was riding my DR. The DR has highway pegs and we had been on the road (a nice, two-lane secondary highway) for a couple of hours so I had my feet up to stretch out my legs. Suddenly I see that he's braking hard to avoid running into a pickup that had slammed on its brakes to make a last-minute left turn. I had to recognize the situation, get my feet on to the controls, shift position and get on the brakes--the DR's brakes are better than KLR brakes, but still not great. That all happened in seconds, but by the time I managed a complete stop, I was right beside them. In other words, had I been closer and/or in the same part of the lane I would have run into them (unless I was able to swerve at the last minute). By the time my friend shoulder-checked to see where I was, I was sitting there calmly :cool: and, unbeknownst to him, evaluating whether I needed to change my shorts ... :ohmy:
I try to wave to other bikers too, but when the scooters wave I helmet-palm.
I always try to stay to the left of the lane - better visibility for cage driver in front and oncoming traffic. It shows I "own" the lane. Being in the right invites riders (even cars) to pass, and who hasn't had a cager try to pass in your lane?
If in a group, in front I stay to left. If second, I go right side. If not riding with but come up on another rider, I stay left until I pass or decide to ride with, then stay right. Second rider to right gives the front rider best dual visibility: me in right mirror, rear traffic in left.
If another rider comes up on me, I won't allow them in my space. Not blocking, but speed up or brake 'til they get the message.
Even at lights, I prefer not to be side-to side unless I need to talk. "Gas next left" or something.
And I wave at scooters, too. I wave at Harleys, so why not other sorta-motorcyclists? J/K. I met some hard-core long-range cruisers and adventure (BMW 1150) riders this week on my Van Isle trip. All good.
My motto: Wave to 'em all, let God sort them out.
LOL
I used to wave at most. but lately:
If sports/touring bike, I wave always and 95% will wave back.
if cruiser/Harley, I wait for them to wave and then I wave.
when in doubt, I wave.
if scooter, I kick them... kidding. but seriously, I tend to ignore scooters.
I think I am in agreement with the majority of people responding. I never ride close to anyone. I leave at least 2 seconds (or couple hundred feet) between riders. I only trust a handful of riders to be around me and I have known these people for 40 years. I am very apprehensive of any unfamiliar rider and I would expect them to be very apprehensive of me. On expressway, I do not want anyone near me at all, especially side by side.
I usually ride the right side of the lane. Someone mentioned that might be considered an invitation to pass in your lane. I have not had that happen yet, but I will be more aware of it from now on.
I'll usually ride up alongside a strange rider for the first time, as close as humanly possible on their right side, then slap their kill switch to the OFF position, then whack the throttle wide open and roar off laughing maniacally!
J/K. :goofy:
[image: View Post]gwcrim, on 01 August 2012 - 01:17 PM, said:
My motto: Wave to 'em all, let God sort them out.
LOL
Me too.
Waving is only a matter of courtesy. As far as I am concerned Scooter riders are also bikers - you don't see many of them and it doesn't hurt to wave. Last I checked even the notorious HispanicSlammer has one of that type of beastie in his garage. I have significantly more respect for many scooter riders who are in full gear than bikers - sport or cruiser - who are kitted out in a wife-beater-of-magical-protection and dot-approved-salad-bowl riding like total idiots. (/end rant)
As for lights - if the other rider is at their own side of the lane I will stagger myself. Depending on how I feel and how they have been riding I may ride up beside them to nod and say hello. Odds are much higher of that if they are riding a VFR. I usually wonder if I know them. I think it is safer for two bikes to stop side by side in terms of visibility by the car coming up behind. If I choose to stop short I am staggered because this provides a bit of extra room to scoot forwards if the car behind me appears to have conceptual difficulty with the idea of brakes.
Staggered with room.
I choose the side of my lane that is safe for the occasion. Usually I like to see the the mirror of the car in front.
I have ridden in the center when conditions require it.
I don't like to surprise other riders. I treat 'em like horses. You don't want to be next to one on the freeway when you spook them.
I like coming up on riders and then riding with them. You kind of get to know them without talking to them. I'll hang back and if I join their group I treat the situation like I'm a guest at a party.
Taking a coffee break from riding.
Olive replied with the only hard and fast rule-ride your own ride.
All of you are faster riders than me,so what.
As far as lane position goes ,if you only ride in one of the three bike lanes in your lane you should rethink that. Conditions and traffic dictate where you should be and it changes ALL the time.Stay flexible in your thinking-street riding is a three dimension chess game.
One example, you are in light traffic rural two lane road traveling at normal speed (remember all the big mammals that live in most rural areas) and you are following a big pickup truck, let the truck get far enough ahead of you so that you can see oncoming traffic and they can see you. OK , with no oncoming traffic you might be in the left hand side of your lane. When you see oncoming traffic you might move to the center or right hand side of your lane. WHY... because if you stay in the left hand side of your lane a car following the first car that you see who is trying to pass the first car will not see you if you stay in the left hand portion of your lane. You will not see them either. Try it - see how much easier it is to see and be seen if you move over to the right side of your lane. Never stay in one position in your lane.
As far as bikes go-to me they are just another moving object that can kill me- GET AWAY FROM ME or I WILL GET AWAY FROM YOU.
When I ride with buds they know that I am going to be a hundred yards from them one way or another. I ride my own ride.
On freeways I ride out of one blind spot to riding out of another blind spot.I stay in the fast lane and pass traffic on my right by a few miles an hour-I never look at the speedometer-I could care less. The times that I have been pulled over I have explained what and why I was doing that. I always ask them to confer with their motor officers,that is how they ride and they know it.
+1 on riding "echelon" (staggered) style, when you come up to a rider you do not really know. It respects his riding space and at the same time, you can have enough room to react if the other rider does a maneuver you are not familair to and can threaten both your safety. I only ride close and next to riders I know and have ridden extensivly with before.
It's good to have extra staggering room. :goofy: :beer:
[image: View Post]RED RUNNER, on 01 August 2012 - 03:53 PM, said:
Staggered with room.
I choose the side of my lane that is safe for the occasion. Usually I like to see the the mirror of the car in front.
I have ridden in the center when conditions require it.
I don't like to surprise other riders. I treat 'em like horses. You don't want to be next to one on the freeway when you spook them.
I like coming up on riders and then riding with them. You kind of get to know them without talking to them. I'll hang back and if I join their group I treat the situation like I'm a guest at a party.
I came up on a bike dropping off a Mt.(Evans) back road to Burgen Park, and he started watching me instead of the road and ran off, I felt bad about it(he was ok). It does say something for spooking other riders ..... 2 sec. rules .................
BTW I do know how fast my bikes will go.[image: SDC11225.JPG]
Seems like everyone is pretty much saying the same things, however, Olive said it best, Ride your own ride. I pretty much respect all other riders. When I come up on someone, freeway or not, I always take the other side of the lane no matter which side they are on, and I'm usually about 3-5 seconds behind them. When I ride solo, I mainly ride in the left side of the lane so the drivers I'm following can see me. Everytime I have ridden with a group, no matter who I was riding with, we staggered, with time in between. Point is, ride your ride, ride your own pace, and be safe. And, from what I have read on several forums, tapping the helmet usually means cops ahead. Usually it isn't someone coming up beside you, but someone does it as they are passing you insead of waving.
End of thread · 26 posts recovered Wayback Machine snapshot 6 Aug 2012