Page 136 - 2022-08-01 RiDE

BRITAIN’S BEST RIDE-OUTS
BECAUSE BIKING’S

BETTER SHARED…

Riding with your mates is one of the best

parts of biking — and these expert tips

can make ride-outs even more enjoyable

Words Simon Hargreaves Pictures Chippy Wood

’VE CLOCKED UP more than 100,000 miles in the
company of other bikers, from super-skilled
road-tester-racers, to nervous new riders and one
I or two of those special riders we all have to be
VERY wary of... Over that period, I’ve learned much
about riding in big and small groups – and human
nature. You might have already figured some of this out,
but these are the group-riding rules I live by…

Find your order
Many want the steadiest rider to lead, even if it’s
1 just two of you out for a ride – so quicker riders
don’t ‘drag’ anyone along, drawing them outside their
comfort zone.
But having the steadiest rider at the front isn’t always
the best – slower riders might be the least confident or
intimidated by a faster rider behind. What they might
want is to ride behind someone, but for the person
they’re following to show consideration.
Responsibility falls on the lead rider to keep an eye on
the mirrors and set an appropriate pace. Some riders find
it a problem – riding outside a comfort zone isn’t always
about too fast – it can also be too slow, losing
concentration and stumbling over previously automatic,
subconscious routines.
Next time you’re in a group, try putting the steadiest Riding with
mates multiplies
rider at the front, then the second-steadiest next, etc. If
the fun to be had
faster riders aren’t comfortable riding at the back, let
them clear off and ride the way they want to ride away
from the rest of the group. The bottom line is that the quiet word next time you stop. Sometimes the third rider
riding order shouldn’t be dictated by speed alone, it can ride in the ‘gap’ between the lead and second riders
should be set by a combination of confidence, personal – still getting optimal vision – in a kind of diamond
preference and pace. formation. The important thing in terms of group road
position, is to always give yourself space, and the same
Vision is everything clear view ahead as the lead rider.
This is simple in theory: when riding in a straight
2 line, be offset from the rider in front so you have Don’t be one of the herd
the clearest line-of-sight view ahead, and if the lead It’s easy for riders in a big group to lose focus, a
rider suddenly brakes or swerves it has less impact on 3 herd mentality takes over and riders surrender
you. And don’t ride too close – maintain a decent some of their individual responsibility for staying safe.
stopping/swerving-distance gap. Riding behind someone for an extended length of time
In practice it’s less easy – the lead rider might be a can also be less stimulating than riding in front, and lead
‘fidgeter’ constantly moving from one side of the lane to to loss of concentration or even drowsiness.
the other — and then the second rider will also be Group riding can also introduce dynamics not always
swapping about, and the third rider etc. There’s not considered – the chain reaction of one rider slowing at
much you can do about a fidgeter; either drop back so the front can quickly concertina. I’ve seen a long train of
your position relative to them is irrelevant, or have a riders on a motorway crash like this – the rider at the

28 | BRITAIN’S BEST RIDE-OUTS