Passes & Canyons Blog

A group of bikes enters Yellowstone National Park.

We’ve all faced this situation I’m sure: When you’re riding with a group, what extremes do you really need to go to to keep the group together?

In the few days I was with the RMMRC California trip group I had several opportunities to consider this question.

I, for one, am of the school that it really doesn’t matter all that much. If everyone knows where you’re going to wind up at the end of the day what does it matter if someone separates or gets separated from the group? Of course, that assumes the separation is voluntary: you don’t want to lose sight of someone behind you and keep going, only to find out later that they had mechanical trouble and could have used your assistance. I have been that guy who got left behind and I did not appreciate it.

In the old days it was a different story. Before cell phones. Back then, getting separated could be a real problem. But that day is long gone.

But I’m really not even talking about that kind of separation. What I’m talking about here is keeping all bikes in one group with no other vehicles in between. That means passing, for instance. If you have six bikes–which we did–and you go to pass someone it is not a surprise when one or more bikes are not able to get around immediately. Does it really matter? I think not but I’ve seen people make risky passes just to stay with the guy ahead. Why? Why not wait until it’s really safe and then pass?

The flip side of that is the guy in the lead. If you’re going to pass someone, don’t get by, pull in, and then ride sedately. You need to maintain some speed so that you open up space for the guy behind you to pull in ahead of the car you just passed. And then for the guy after him and the guy after him. On this trip I saw both of these things happening.

And yes, sometimes the leader passes but cannot keep putting distance between themselves and the car they passed because there is another car in front of them now. That should be visible to the guy behind and he should respond accordingly. But I didn’t think that was much at issue on this trip. Maybe it was and I just didn’t notice.

Bottom line is, don’t do risky stuff just to keep the bikes together. Problem is, some people seem to do exactly that.

Biker Quote for Today

I ride motorcycles because punching people is frowned upon.

In Utah on the second day of the ride.

When you start riding with a new bunch of guys it is incumbent on you to become acquainted with the ways of the group. For instance, the RMMRC is very focused on safe riding and thus, if you wish to ride with this group you need to wear a helmet and don’t plan to make any stops that include drinking.

Another thing the RMMRC is pretty serious about is that a time is set for kickstands up (KSU) and when that time comes you are expected to be geared up, on your bike, and ready to roll. On a day ride, if KSU is at 9 a.m. and you arrive at 9:05 you will probably arrive to find an empty parking lot.

On longer rides, however, such as this recent California trip, if you are signed up to come and you’re not there we’ll generally wait for you, but a late arrival will not be appreciated at all unless you have a really good reason.

So it was that KSU was set for 10 a.m. on this trip and the rest of us were ready at 10 a.m. but one guy–I won’t name names but will refer to him as HE–was not there. Alan called him and HE was at Hampden and University, which was still 20 minutes away from where we were. Not a good way to start off.

So we waited and HE finally showed up. But HE needed gas. Fine. We waited. When HE was done at the pump we hit our starter buttons but HE pulled over behind me, parked, and got off his bike, and started wandering around. That was too much, so we pulled away from our parking places and lined up ready to pull onto the road. HE was digging through one of his bags. We left. Later when we stopped in Idaho Springs, Alan called him again and HE was in Evergreen. Fine. We’ll see you in Eagle.

We regrouped in Eagle and rode on to Fruita, our stop for the night. We all gathered for dinner but HE did not join us. Your choice, but not particularly social. Nor did HE join us for breakfast but at least HE was there ready to go at the appointed hour the next morning.

HE did not join us for dinner in Loa, either, that night, and while HE did not have breakfast with the group the next morning, HE was there at the spot for KSU. Except as we all sat astride our bikes ready to roll, HE announced that he needed to go get gas. And off HE went.

This was when sickness engulfed me and I had to tell the guys to go on without me. The last thing I heard on my Cardo as I rode back to the motel was Dave telling the others that “I’m going to the gas station and glare at him while he gets gas.”

OK, he’s new to the group. If I had stayed with the group I’m sure I would have had a word with him about the significance of KSU. And perhaps Dave did later. Dave’s the sort of guy who would make a point to have that talk, perhaps in sterner terms than I might use.

But you owe it to yourself and to the others to learn the ways of the group if you want to fit in. And really, making everyone else wait is never a courteous thing to do in any circumstance. Just practice common courtesy, OK? What’s so hard about that?

Biker Quote for Today

As I turn off the pavement and onto the long stretch of dirt ahead, the rear tire spins and kicks up rocks through first and second gear. I click it into third, and that’s when she really opens up to breathe.

Leaders gotta lead. Followers gotta follow. Others . . .

Having taken many trips on the road with my biker buddies I’ve had a lot of time to observe and think. That happens when you’re out burning up mile after mile, alone in your own head.

One of the things I had a lot of time to ponder is how different members of the group fall into different categories as riders. I started thinking up names and characteristics for types and saw how each person falls into several of the types, and how they will sometimes switch from one extreme to the other, and then back.

Here then are the types I identified.

The Leader
The Leader is the guy who knows where he’s going. He may be the guy who planned out the route or he may just know the area and how to get from Point A to Point B. The Leader likes knowing that there is a plan and enjoys taking the responsibility of herding the rest of the group along.

The Follower
If you’re going to have a leader you also need followers. The Follower is not concerned with where the route is taking him, he’s just content letting someone else handle the organizational aspects of the trip. The Follower is just out to relax and enjoy the ride, wherever it goes.

The Explorer
While the Leader may have a specific route in mind, the Explorer may be inclined to try something different. If the Leader is inflexible he may come into conflict with the Explorer. If the Leader is flexible he may at times step aside and let the Explorer take over as Leader. If the two can’t reach agreement the Explorer may go off on his own, or with others who wish to, and rejoin the group at the day’s destination.

The Loner
The Loner and the Explorer may often be the same person. The Loner isn’t necessarily sold on the idea of traveling in a group, and at times may wish to go his separate way until meeting up with the rest later.

The Family Man
The Family Man is the polar opposite of the Loner. He’s likely to say, “I can ride alone anytime I want to. I go on this trip to ride with my buddies.” The Family Man is generally opposed to breaking the group up, even if interests diverge. He would rather someone give in and keep the group together.

The Dawdler
The Dawdler is the guy everyone waits for every time you’re ready to roll. When everyone else is mounted up and ready to push the Starter button, the Dawdler is still standing next to his bike with his helmet off. Alternatively, many of the others will keep an eye on the Dawdler until he has his helmet on and is ready to mount his bike before they put their own helmets on and mount.

The Straggler
The Straggler is the guy who likes to be at the rear of the group and doesn’t care if he gets a long way back. When he’s in the middle of the group he may still lag far behind the rider ahead of him, causing the riders behind him to get frustrated and pass, eventually putting him in the rear. When passing through towns, rather than closing up ranks, he continues to lag and often will get stopped at a red light that the others got through on the green, necessitating that the group pull off to let him catch up.

The Tailgater
The opposite of the Straggler, the Tailgater seemingly gets target fixation on the rear of the rider in front of him and stays right behind, closely, no matter the speed. The Tailgater has no conception of riding in a staggered formation and makes the guy in front of him very nervous.

The Old Dog
The Old Dog has been riding for a long time, and while his riding habits may not adhere to safe riding protocols, he has no interest in learning new tricks.

The Safety Maven
The Safety Maven believes strongly in formal practices such as riding in staggered formation and using hand signals. He despairs at the failure of the Tailgater and the Old Dog to change their ways. He tries to lead by example but doubts that anyone else is even paying attention.

The Easy Rider
The Easy Rider is the one who is ready to go when everyone else is, keeps up with the group, follows safe riding practices, and is alert to the issues that arise on the ride. He doesn’t annoy anyone and he’s a welcome companion on the road. Significantly, every rider is a part of him, and no rider is entirely him.

Riding with a group means dealing with all these types and more, and accepting that we’re all human and no one is perfect. We all just share a passion for riding motorcycles.

Biker Quote for Today

It’s amazing the number of great people in my life who I wouldn’t have ever met if it wasn’t for motorcycles.