Ride Out Advice?

[Mr Tuscan]

Ive thrown up a Ride Out on my local facebook page.
It’s turning out to be quite popular.
Ive not advertised it on here yet.........

Where do we stand with numbers on a ride with current regulations.

I have put in the post about abiding by social distancing and upon arrival for T&P break that if above 6 people to split the groups while still maintaining distance.

Views?

[billinom8s]

First 6 on the ride.

Have you posted a route?

Do you know anyone else that's agreed to turn up? If so get them to set off on the route 10 minutes after your group does.

Groups of no more than 6 remember.

Each rider to make a note of the Bike Behind them, if they disappear from they, slow down, if still not visible stop and wait, then contact lead rider (they should have also noted that the Bike Behind them has gone.)

Remind them it's not a race etc as if anyone behaves like a dick and gets reported it'll come back on you as the organiser.

[Mr Tuscan]

Posted yes indeed
I only thought a few would show interest, into double figures already

[Ming]

A group that size can be difficult to manage, especially if those coming have little or no experience of group riding and the etiquette involved so you don't all end up in different locations or worse, in a heap of bikes.

I'd advise to split into 2 groups and ask someone you trust, if possible, to lead the second wave. Give everyone details of the next planned stop in case they lose contact with the group. Give everyone the numbers of the lead riders so at least they can text or ring you if they bail out during the ride.

Try to concentrate on keeping everyone together rather than going for iffy overtakes, because if the rest of the pack get held up you'll spend more time waiting for them than enjoying the ride.

Keep your speed well down in 30 and 40 limits - it gives those in the group chance to pass slower cars through towns and villages and catch you up. If you fly through the restricted areas they'll never catch sight of you and can lead to them over riding.

[Mr Tuscan]

This was a small post initially, the next thing there was 19 potential attendees...

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[billinom8s]

Also, be careful posting the route on an open forum as there's nothing better for the police if they're looking to up their revenue numbers.

Posting on an open platform like fb does open yourself up to every twat with two Wheels turning up so I would either cap your numbers quickly or be ready to enforce with a big stick.

We've had issues in the past with folk treating a rideout like a chance to show off their speed/wheelie ability/speed/skill at riding or passing other at close range. Everyone was very impressed

Just make sure they know YOUR rules as it's YOUR run. If they don't like them they can always organise their own ride.

[Kata]

Don't worry I expect only couple will actually turn up.

[Mr Tuscan]

If it’s anything like car clubs you’d be right

[Streetmann]

Shame your over an hour from me .I'm not new to riding but definitely out of touch with it and need to get some miles in on some friendly ride outs but dont really want to ride an hour there and am hour home,good luck with the ride tho sure it will go to plan

[Mr Tuscan]

I’ve cancelled the event as that’s what it was becoming, back to basics


Hi Folks

The Somerset Bimble on Sunday has been cancelled due to growing pressure from various sources.

It was too soon and I did not anticipate having nearly 50 people wanting to join in less that 12 hours.

As the organiser I would have been responsible for any bad outcomes, this includes the breaking of the rules regarding no more than 6 people and no multiple groups.

It’s long winded and I’m not going to waste your time with it, So I won’t be debating my decision online, most of you know the rules.
Being in the position of responsibility I’ve had no option but to cancel the event.

Anyone still wishing to go for a small ride on Sunday still, I will accept 6 people by accepting requests via PM ONLY.

Please respect the decision made and hopefully in time we can do something positive for everyone.

I won’t get into debate over this online.

Please remember the lockdown is still in operation, be safe and look after your friends and family.

Above all Ride Safe

See you all soon

[ptolemyx]

Wise decision Simon. I'm not out until my ride out Sunday 21st. Hope to see you soon, on a less crowded ride than yours would have been

[Jug]

50 (random) people would have been like trying to herd cats, it would have been really stressful, I think you've made the right decision.
Too many bikes can actually spoil a ride as it takes so long to get the group going & then to keep it moving.

Kudos for organising a run so soon though after only recently getting your license.

[Scotty]

Fair dos for the OP’s ambition to organise a ride-out, especially when relatively new to riding, but possibly the biggest lesson to learn from the exercise is not to announce it on Facebook - in that environment the organiser has no control over the event once it’s announced. As was the case, the world and his dog can announce their participation and the organiser won’t know them from Adam. Any number of idiots could turn up and wreak havoc, even without causing crashes. It wouldn’t take Sherlock Holmes to figure out who was behind the event, especially if a route and timetable had been posted on-line beforehand, and it could end up with the unfortunate originator being held liable for the misdeeds of total strangers.
It’s always better to keep it within a known community (such as SWB) and limit comms to the forum and numbers to the first five to sign up. There’s plenty of knowledge and advice available here, and it might help to go on a few ride outs before trying to run one.
Back in the old days (2010-11) I went on a few of the monthly Official Ride-Outs with Wiltshire Bikers and they were just too unwieldy because of a) the numbers of participants, and b) the vast disparities in riding abilities and machinery present. They were conducted in good spirit and were drama-free, but marking a junction could mean sitting there for what felt like hours before the backmarker appeared. I know it wasn’t in the “communal” spirit of things but I’d ask the ride leader the destination, check their map and then see them there. We had one where 30-odd bikes departed from the usual RVP (Trowbridge McDonalds, aka centre of the known universe) and then everyone pulled into Beckington Services - all of about four miles away FFS First rule of Ride-Outs: EVERYONE STARTS WITH A FULL TANK, NO EXCEPTIONS!
2nd rule of Ride-Outs: Six bikes is the optimum number, max of ten when all are known to one another.

[Robbo87]

Good advice from all the above there Mr T.
I organised my first 'proper' SWB rideout (as opposed to just swanning about with a couple of mates) on 16th August 2015, and only after I'd experienced a coupla well put together group rides from someone else. Those previous organised rides were a valuable lesson. And so was the first one of mine where half the group got split up in the first two miles, due mostly to poor junction marking and my inexperience; thinking that the next rider behind the leader would always stay at the alloted junction until the TEC appeared.
Valuable lesson # 1 was never overestimate people's ability to always follow instructions.
Valuable lesson # 2 from that first rideout - don't try and take 15 or so riders through a busy town (Taunton in this case) immediately after setting off, get everyone into the swing of things first, preferably involving a few miles of open roads.
Basicaly, there's no substitute for experience, so organise a rideout by all means, but make sure you know what you're doing by taking advice from those that have done it.

[billinom8s]

and use your mirrors