Normal practice for Boxertrix rideouts, don’t recall any dramas and it caters for all the various capabilities of the group.
Al.
Al.
Just keep it simple and even large groups (including within it, some with an intellect only marginally above plant life) can manage it. Adding lots of additional rules just confuses people needlessly and, more than anything else, bores everyone to death when they should be listening to just a very simple briefing before setting off.
Simplicity is the key; it was after all apparently invented by the Pan Clan….. and they are hardly a gathering of Nobel laureates
Never needed to keep folks in view. The whole point was that you could ride at your own pace, as fast/slow as you wanted. Some folks even stop for pics. Just carry on straight ahead unless marked, that way you’ll all end up in the same place (ish!) any problems get picked up be the following bike/TEC
Where it can and often does go wrong is where folks don’t know each other, and a random bike appears in the middle often causing the next machine to follow when they turn off route.
Our solution was to put some tape on each number plate.m making it easy to confirm.
This^^^^
I used to lead loads of rides. It’s worth taking time to brief and brief again on the drop off system to at least try and make sure everyone understands.
The OP missed a few important points:
1. that each rider should be trying to keep the rider behind in view in their mirrors. If not then slow down and possibly stop and wait until a rider comes into view. This applies to the leader too. The lack of a rider behind means there is either a problem and everyone else is stopped or you’ve accidentally managed to go the wrong way. If everyone in the group does this then eventually the leader won’t see anyone in their mirrors too and should stop and wait. At this point a phone call to the tec should reveal the problem.
2. If as a rider in the group you’ve spotted someone going the wrong way stop and wait for the tec and tell them which junction the dopey rider took. The TEC should wait there.
3. If you are the dope and managed to go the wrong way, have stopped but no one is turning up then go back to the last turn where a #2 directed you which way to go. The TEC should be there and off you go.
4. As a leader you must also point out when and where you expect #2 to stop. If #2 doesn’t stop then you should stop asap and do the job they should have done. If there’s no #2 in sight them you’ve fucked up as leader and should wait.
5. As a leader you should take the opportunity to slow right down from time to time and regroup. Long stretches of straight road or dual carriageway are best for this. Wait until the tec is visible to you and then off you go.
6. TEC needs to be a fast rider as the further back you are the faster the ride will appear to be simply as a result of the stringing out caused by junctions, lights or whatever.
The only way I will ride in groups though is as leader.
We had about 30 folk on my Baltic States tour in 2005. No drop-off system, but a road book detailing where your bed was that night.
One particular prevaricating slightly Oriental UKGSer (who shall remain nameless Tom) who thought he was getting left behind as we left the hotel early one morning not knowing i was waiting behind him and was crying out "don't leave me, don't leave me" as everyone rode off.
And where the term "tour dad" originated, Wapping was usually volunteered by everyone for the job And he is still Tour Dad.
Oh, and another example of trying to herd cats.. . I get everyone to pull into the first petrol station in France and asked them to fill up so we all get low on fuel at approx the same time, keeping fuel stops to a minimum and the group all together.
30 miles after "everyone" filling up, i find a rider alongside me pointing to his fuel tank saying he needs to fill up. Oh how we all laughed.
Those were the days.
Must be fun to ride with you guys