01
Our standard
Safety over schedule
Never sacrifice positioning, visibility, spacing or judgment just to keep the group together.
Predictability over aggression
Smooth, early communication beats chasing the group or forcing a maneuver.
Ride your own ride
Every rider is responsible for their own bike, line, spacing, passing and limits.
No pressure, ever
No one is expected to make a maneuver just because the Ride Lead or another rider did.
02
Ride roles
- Ride Lead
- Plans the route, runs the pre-ride briefing and controls pace and formation. Smooth, visible, decisive and conservative. Never outruns the group.
- Sweep / Tail
- Rides last, watches the group, helps separated or disabled riders, and gives the Ride Lead a thumbs-up at every stop once everyone is accounted for.
- Blocker / Road Guard
- When briefed, temporarily holds a position so the group can follow the route, then rotates back toward the front predictably.
- Every Rider
- Holds spacing, relays signals, follows the route, rides within their ability and watches out for the rider behind.
03
Ride levels
Every ride is published at exactly one level that covers tempo, road complexity, passing behavior, regrouping and experience. Pick the one that fits you.
Noob
Newly licensed, up to ~1 year
Introductory and highly predictable. Simple roads, patient transitions, generous spacing and frequent regrouping.
All street-legal bikes
Casual
~1–2 years
A relaxed social ride on smooth backroads with regular regrouping. You should be comfortable holding formation through normal traffic, turns and stops.
All street-legal bikes
Moderate
2+ years
Higher energy: stronger acceleration, more dynamic backroads, longer stretches between regroups. Riders self-manage separation and passing.
All street-legal bikes, subject to route
Experienced
3+ years, advanced skill
Sustained high-intensity sections, technical roads and rapid transitions. Regroups happen at planned points, not after every separation.
Sport bikes; well-equipped ADV; highly skilled cruiser/bagger riders
Spirited
Exceptional skill & judgment
Our highest-intensity ride. Demanding roads, rapid pace changes and minimal tolerance for poor group discipline. Group size and rider suitability are tightly controlled.
Sport bikes; others only with Road Captain approval
A ride level never authorizes breaking traffic law. Experienced and Spirited rides carry elevated risk; participation is always voluntary and you can leave any ride at any time.
04
Meetup time vs. KSU
Meetup
When you arrive: fuel up, say hello, check your bike, and attend the pre-ride meeting.
Kickstands Up (KSU)
When we leave. Be mounted, geared and ready before this time. KSU means moving.
We typically allow 30–45 minutes between meetup and KSU. Arrive fueled, and know your bike's range.
05
The pre-ride briefing
Mandatory before every ride, before helmets go on. The same core topics, every time:
- 1Route, mileage, stops and any difficult sections
- 2Who is Ride Lead, Sweep and any blockers
- 3The ride level: pace, road character, spacing and regrouping
- 4Formation: staggered where appropriate, single file when signaled
- 5Hand signals, relayed all the way to the back
- 6Passing expectations for today's route
- 7Stop signs and lights: proceed in sequence, regroup later
- 8Separation and lost-rider plan
- 9Emergencies: never create a second incident
- 10Final check: questions, fuel, and time to KSU
06
Formation & spacing
Staggered
On suitable straight roads, the lead rider takes the left track, the next rider the right, alternating back through the group. Keep enough time and distance to react to the rider directly ahead in your track.
Single file
For tight or technical curves, narrow roads, poor pavement, construction, low visibility, or whenever signaled. Increase following distance as you merge.
Never side-by-side
Always preserve an escape path. Look through the group and through the turn, not at the bike in front of you.
07
Hand signals
The Ride Lead signals early; every rider who safely can relays it back to the Sweep. Your bike's turn signals are still the primary turn indicator.
| Signal | How to give it |
|---|---|
| Left turn | Left arm straight out horizontally. |
| Right turn | Left arm bent upward at about 90°, or a clear point to the right. |
| Slow down | Left arm extended down, palm facing back, moving downward. |
| Stop | Left arm extended down, palm facing back, held still. |
| Single file | Left index finger raised overhead. |
| Staggered formation | Left hand raised with index and middle fingers extended. |
| Hazard: left | Extend the left foot or leg toward the hazard. |
| Hazard: right | Extend the right foot or leg toward the hazard. |
| Move right / blocker return | Left arm extended back, pointing across toward the right. Everyone moves to the right of the lane so blockers can return up the left. |
| Tighten spacing | Left hand raised, palm open, repeated upward motion. |
| Increase spacing | Left hand low, palm back, repeated pushing-back motion. |
| Fuel needed | Point to the fuel tank. |
| Comfort stop | Thumb toward mouth, or a club signal announced at the briefing. |
| Follow me / move out | Left arm up, palm forward, then motion forward. |
| Clear ahead (advisory) | After passing, left arm fully extended with a thumbs-up, held only while a continuing passing opportunity is visible. There is no "not clear" signal. |
08
Passing other traffic
- The group never passes as a single unit just because the leader had an opening.
- Every rider makes an independent decision based on sight distance, space, their bike and their skill.
- Never pressure anyone to pass. Riders who don't pass stay on the route, and the group re-forms later.
- After passing, keep moving efficiently and leave room for riders behind you.
- The “clear ahead” thumbs-up is advisory only. No thumbs-up simply means no positive indication. Make your own call.
09
Regrouping & getting separated
The goal isn't to keep every bike physically connected at every light. It's to keep every rider on the route and re-form safely afterward.
- At stop signs and lights, proceed in sequence. Don't run a light to stay with the group.
- If you're separated, stay on the published route at a pace you're comfortable with. No desperate moves.
- Missed a turn? Skip the risky U-turn. Continue to a safe place, stop and contact leadership.
- The group regroups only in safe spots like lots, wide shoulders and pull-offs, never in a travel lane.
- At each stop, the Ride Lead waits for the Sweep's thumbs-up before anyone rolls out.
10
Breakdowns & emergencies
Mechanical problem
- Signal and move fully out of the travel lane.
- The Sweep stops if there's a safe area; everyone else continues to the regroup point.
- Don't crowd a disabled bike on a narrow shoulder. Leave room for traffic and emergency vehicles.
Crash or medical emergency
- Prevent a second collision first. Never stop bikes in a travel lane or a blind approach.
- Call 911 when help is needed and give the most exact location you can.
- Don't move an injured rider unless they're in immediate danger or responders direct you to.
- One person talks to responders; one person manages the rest of the group.
- Never post crash photos or personal details on social media without permission.