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Arrive at the departure site fueled, fed, and ready to
ride.
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Be
early, there will be a riders meeting 10 minutes before departure
time.
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If
a map is provided, study it, or have your own map to read and mark up
the route.
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Assume
responsibility to work with all others in the group for the safety and
protection of all.
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Travel
in a staggered formation within a lane with the Road Captain taking
the position on the left side of the lane. The next rider will follow
at a safe distance on the opposite side of the lane. Other riders
follow the same pattern. Riders should position themselves so they can
see the face of the rider to their front/opposite in that rider's
mirror.
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Maintain
a steady speed and spacing. Do not speed up and slow down or shift
your position from side to side, this disrupts the efforts of others
to regulate their speed and destroys the main purpose of riding as a
group.
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Maintain
a minimum but safe riding distance, depending on conditions.
"Holes" in the pack invite motorists driving at faster
speeds to cut in and tailgate the bike in front. However, if a car
must cut through the pack either from the left or right, be courteous,
signal to the riders behind you to slow down, then wave the driver
through. Close the hole as quickly as possible.
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Stay
alert. The lives of other people are in the hands of each pack member.
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When
entering traffic from a parking lot, gas station, or leaving a traffic
signal, each rider should move out quickly and get in position in
formation.
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When passing a vehicle on a two-lane,
two-way road, each rider should pass in order, preferably in single
file. Obviously this only applies when riding in small groups. One of
the most dangerous situations I have observed occurs when one or more
riders tries to force the issue of keeping up and passes blind or
without allowing a safe margin regarding oncoming traffic. The Road
Captain will slow the pack down and wait for you to pass safely.
Never sacrifice safety to the ideal of
keeping the pack together.
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When
stopping at a signal or stop sign, pull up to two abreast. Maintain
this formation if you will be going through a series of closely spaced
stops.
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When
turning at an intersection maintain your position in the formation.
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When
entering a parking area or gas station enter in single file. The Road
Captain should "loop" the area to allow all riders to get
out of traffic.
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When
riding on narrow, twisting roads, move into single file, while
maintaining a safe distance between bikes. The Road Captain will
signal this formation by holding up a single finger. Each rider will
pass the signal back, as they must with all signals.
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Trikes and bikes
w/sidecars should ride in the back of the group just ahead of the Tail
gunner.
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Anyone
not wishing to ride with the pack should inform both the Road Captain
and the Tail gunner before departing. If this is not possible, fall
back behind the last bike and inform the Tail gunner that you are OK.
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Be
sure to inform the Road Captain and Tail gunner if you will be
breaking off from the pack along the way. Otherwise, any bike that
pulls over or exits the highway will be considered to be in trouble.
The Tail gunner will follow to help.
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