Club Ride - 2018-07-21

Saturday, July 21st

Start time: 10:00 am (arrive before this departure time - be prepared - see below)

Depart from: Tom Hortons, Bedford Common - 36 Verdi Dr.

Destination: To Be Determined by those that attend (prior to 10 am)

Please remember to be respectful of everyone. That means:

At the Start

• Kickstands up at the designated start/departure time - show up before to respect everyone's time
  
• Full tank of gas
  
• Bike ready to ride
  

During the ride

• Be careful - we'll all be a bit rusty after the winter layoff
  
• Ride in a safe formation
  
• Staggered formation (Lead bike just left of center of lane, 2nd bike just right, etc.) when the road is good, single when it is not - See Group Riding Etiquette for details - https://bmwons.forumpro.fr/t1744-safe-riding-etiquette-group-riding
  
• Do not be constantly weaving in your lane. It is not only distracting but also dangerous for other riders around you having an unpredictable/distracting rider amongst them.
  
• Ride aware
  
• Don't leave riders behind
  

Group Riding requires some common courtesies for everyone to have an enjoyable ride. That means you should follow standard protocols for considerate group riding such as:

• Each rider must be aware of their own surrounding and ride accordingly - You are responsible for your own safety
  
• Maintain a safe distance between bikes - that changes with speed
  - too close is unsafe (less than 1-2 seconds in staggered formation)
  - too far destroys the safety of the group formation (more than 3 seconds) and each riders ability to properly monitor the rider directly in front and behind them.
  
• You have a responsibility to your fellow riders
  
• Watching the rider in front will warn you of possible issues or changes
  
• Watching the rider behind will alert you quickly if they have a problem and are no longer there
  

If the rider behind you stops, then you stop.
Following this protocol ensures two things:

1. Ensures that the rider with a problem isn't abandoned and left to their own devices (part of why it is a Group Ride) and
   
2. If each person is properly monitoring the rider directly behind them and stops if that rider does, then very quickly the entire group comes to a stop and is able to assist the rider in need.
   

Most importantly, ride at your own speed and comfort level, and have fun.

A few shots from today's ride.



Yes, it was wet, but none of us minded, it was a nice ride.




I think/hope Miriam enjoyed her first official BMWONS Ride (sorry for the low quality - best my "tech limited" self can do from video captures):