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Riders at the NBR should make sure to stay
in formation while riding in groups for
safety.
Phil Wilson of Nashville is ready to impose a fine on any member of his motorcycle club who hotdogs it during the National Bikers Round Up in Atlanta, GA. scheduled for Aug. 4-9., at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.
The president says popping wheelies, excessive speeding and riding out of formation won’t be tolerated.
Like many of the leaders of motorcycle clubs heading to the largest African-American bike rally in the nation, safety for his riders is a major concern.
“Popping wheelies will be a fine,” says Wilson. “Too much is happening. I try to teach them not to do that, when we go out of town because you are going to cause yourself problems,” he says.
With more than 30,000 riders expected to embark upon the largest city in Georgia, it‘s no wonder riders are making some preparation.
“We had a safety briefing on the trip to Atlanta,” says Tobey Hamilton, road captain for the Prophecy Motorcycle Club out of Birmingham, Ala.
“We talked about riding in formation, speed, keeping the formation tight, so we are at a safe enough distance where if a rider needs to brake, he can without hitting a rider that’s beside him. We will be in staggered formation. Always in stag formation 100 percent of the time.”
While the Birmingham MC will be riding their motorcycles to Atlanta, the Nashville group will have theirs on trailers.
“Once we get there, we will stay as a group,” says Wilson, about riding their bikes in Atlanta.
“We don’t leave the pack. We don’t ride side by side. We ride staggered, so you have enough room to maneuver.”
The Nashville club also prays before and after riding.
Facing six lanes of traffic in an unfamiliar city, group riding for out of town riders could become a daunting task.
To make it a more safe journey, here are a few basic group riding guidelines outlined by the American Motorcycle Association that riders should follow.
Have a pre-ride discussion. Talk about the pace, signals, fuel and the routes. Once on the road, groups should ride in basic riding formation or staggered formation. The lead rider rides to the left of the lane, with the second rider to the right and a few lengths back. The third rider is a similar distance behind the second, and so on. This staggered formation leaves room for each bike to maneuver, without hitting another bike.
Also, riders should be sure to use hand signals liberally. It is again the responsibility of the lead rider to make his or her intentions known early, so as not to catch any of the riders behind him or her off guard.
Because many riders may be unfamiliar with Atlanta’s roadways, road captains themselves may get surprised too and have to make a quick decision, such as whether to turn abruptly or miss the turn and try to find a way to get everyone turned around safely down the road.
Eddie Alston, a member of the Georgia Ruff Ryders in Atlanta has some straightforward advice for the 30,000 plus out of town riders.
“Just follow the traffic laws and stay in formation,” says Alston. “If they stay in their group and keep their formation tight, so they don’t have to worry about people breaking in, they should be okay.”
Alston also warns against showboating and speeding.
“People in Atlanta really don’t respect bikes,” he says. So if (doing wheelies and speeding) do it at your own risk.
“If you venture out on the interstate, make sure you stay in formation. If you get scattered, you will have to dodge cars. If you‘re doing wheelies, you are on your own. No telling what‘s going to happen.”
By the way, in the state of Georgia, it has what’s known as the “Super Speeder” law.
Driving over 85 mph or more anywhere in Georgia and 75 mph or more on a two lane road will get you an additional $200 fine on top of the cost of the original ticket.
Sam Mayes, co-chair of the Georgia Biker Committee, hosting this year’s NBR, wants riders to have a good time, but to be careful while in Atlanta.
“The main thing is to be safe and to ride safe and to watch out for each other,” he says.
For more info: on group riding visit http://www.amadirectlink.com/roadride/Riderresc/groupRide.asp; http://www.msf-usa.org/downloads/Group_Ride.pdf; http://www.daytonamotorcycletraining.com/groupride/Group_Ride.htm;http://www.valueaccessories.net/Group%20Riding.htm
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