JANUARY 2006 TALES FROM THE TRAILS

SAFETY RELATED QUESTIONS WITH RESPONSES

Many of our Chapter members are asking safety questions relating to their own riding experiences and situations out on the pavement “trails”. So we have decided to get some of our resident riding coaches and road captains thoughts in conjunction with mine. Collectively, a response will be presented in our monthly newsletter.

If any chapter member has a safety related question, please e-mail your question(s) with specifics to (dmesard@teamconst.com) or to any chapter officer. Your question(s) will be answered personally and confidentially prior to printing in the newsletter.

One Chapter member asks:

“On a recent group ride, I noticed a rider in the group not staying in a staggered formation sometimes, following much less than the 1 second rule behind me in the adjacent lane and passing another rider in the group while in the staggered formation. How is a situation like this addressed by the Chapter and what can I do as a rider in the group if a situation like this develops?”

Our response:

If the offending rider is infringing on your lane space, we suggest that you signal the unsafe rider to back off by waving your hand and point for them to move back. This will increase your safety space margin. The riders behind the offending rider should increase their safety space margin by dropping back a bit until the situation is addressed. If a rider in the group feels unsafe during the ride, then let the road captains know at the next scheduled stop.

Usually the sweep rider will notify the lead rider, if radio communications are available, that there is a group riding problem that will need to be addressed. As soon as safely possible, the lead road captain will either pull the group off the road or will wait until the next scheduled break stop.

At this point, at least (2) road captains (or two of the group riders if no road captains are on the ride) should have a private constructive discussion concerning the riding problem with the unsafe rider. The road captains will coach the rider of the problem and make sure the rider fully understands the group safety aspects of the discussion. When the ride resumes, this rider will be moved toward the rear of the group ride. The rider may be asked to take or repeat the TCHOG Group Riding Skills Course.

The ride leader, in consultation with the other assigned road captains, is empowered by the Chapter to remove any unsafe rider from the group ride if that rider refuses to adhere the Treasure Coast-HOG Group Riding Practices, or continues to present a danger to the group after the coaching from the (2) road captains.

Ride smart and have safe fun,

David Mesard