Club Ride 2019 #1 - 2019-03-31

1st 2019 Club Ride - 2019-03-31

Sunday, March 31st

Start time: 10:30 am (arrive before this departure time - be prepared - see below)

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

Destination: Valley - may do a loop through Chester

Sorry, that's all I have at this point, Amedee and Bill are putting this ride together, contact them if you wish further details.


Please remember to be respectful of everyone. That means:

At the Start

• Arrive at the departure point well prior to the scheduled departure time
  
• Bike ready to ride (good working order)
  
• Your tank full of gas
  
• Your stomach full these rides are not breakfast meets. Please do that prior to departure time
  
• Your bladder empty ;-)
  
  Departure:
  
• Kickstands up at the designated start/departure time - to respect everyone's time
  
• If you want to get food/drink, use the washroom, etc., then please show up well before so you can be ready to ride at the specified time
  

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 2 seconds in staggered formation)
  - too far destroys the safety of the group formation (more than 3-4 seconds max) 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 bit of a ride report...
On this ride we were: John Engweiler, Charlie Aracklian, Paul MacIsaac and Myself. We went the cross country route 101 to Mt Uniacke via #1 to Lakeland. Turned north onto 202 to a left at #14 and on to Brooklyn. Stayed on 14 to Wentworth rd as there was slow traffic ahead. we got back on the 101 by the exhibition grounds only to skip to the next ramp and an exit to a java stop at Tims on Water St.
After a break we saddled up and went through Bog Rd., to get to Hantsport and go around that via Rand Rd, and back on the Evangeline trail to Avonport. We criss-crossed at Avonport and rode the gaspereau rd. to White Rock under still sunny and warming skies.
At the White Rock intersection we turned into Deep Hollow Rd for some twisty fun.
Still not knowing what condition the road was in the turns were taken at a reasonable pace. Back on the evangeline trail and turned back east to pick up the Port Williams access road.
We continued to the Lookoff and our usual turning point.
After some scenic views we saddled up again and retraced our tracks back to the #1 and a gas stop at the Irving across from Blomidon gardens. Nothing in bloom yet folks.
We headed back through Wolfville and up Gaspereau Ave and back down to Gaspereau.
Back to Hantsport through Avonport but through the town this time and through Mount Denson this time.
Something different.
Back for a bit of Hwy 101 to exit 5, back onto the #14 towards Sweets Corner and to Brooklyn and following number 215 to #1 we headed back towards Mount Uniacke and a break outside a Tims. We saw several bikes ride by including one lone RT who I found out later was Bruce Kennedy.
We bid each other goodbye and headed off one more time. Charlie and Paul towards Lucasville rd. and John and I towards our Waverley/Dartmouth destinations.
It was a good ride and I had ridden 270kms by the time I got back home.
Good ride - good company.