Planning for a ride, Prepare well !!!

Hi guyz,

I understand the thrill of planning a ride with friends and that too on bike. I have done some and have seen people overlooking safety measures. We call friends for ride, plan for stay, food, sites to be seen but often forget for the very basic need of any ride; the safety of you and your mates.

Don't go by some one's rules and practices, make your own riding rules but be aware of practices adopted by others while in ride and choose and absorb the best of them.

Here are some which I follow and advice to my friends...go through & take what you think is good and educate me with yours:

Going in groups ride is fun but it can be ruined in no time. Never forget to carry proper documents:
1. Driving license
2. Vehicle registration certificate
3. Pollution verification certificate
4. Bike insurance certificate (third party insurance in compulsory)
5. Helmet


Okay, papers are done, you got helmet too...no one is going to stop you now... But believe me for a successful fun group ride there are some more points you need to take care of. First of all feel the sense of responsibility, for the safety of yourself and your groups members. I am sure you would not like to see any of your friend in problem.

Be aware of what you doing and what it could result in; plan your ride well, see if time to travel destination is good. Along with these logistics I suggest some more points for the safety and fun ride of the group:

1.Pillion helmet: Insist on pillion helmet, regardless of your state rules. In some states pillion helmet is not compulsory but a helmet may save a priceless life, don't risk life of your buddy !

2.First-aid kit : Keep a first-aid kit for the group. Don't forget cotton, bandages, antiseptics, muscle relaxant, tablets for pain/fever, sticking plaster etc. This may not be required if you follow safety rules but it's safer to be prepared. In my last rider I had to use my first aid kit for the first time for one of my friend.

3. Safety Gears: It's not a bad idea to spend some on safety gears. A lot of safety gears in all wide price range are available from many companies. Take one which suits you. If don't have for this ride then get full sleeve T-shirt + full sleeve jacket, pants of thick denim, a good quality pair of shoes. Don't compromise with the quality of helmet, a pair of sun-glass.

4. Tool kit: Know your bike, at least have the basic idea. Keep a tool kit. Keep some bike items in spare like tyre tube, clutch and accelerator wire, clutch levers etc. Good, if you could keep a puncture repairing kit too.

5.Alone: Don't take long rides alone, go in group. If got no option then keep some one informed.

6.Strangers: Don't include unknown members in long rides, get to know them first in short rides.

7. City Traffic: Avoid city traffic, leave early in morning, don't prefer riding in night.

8.Discuss: Discuss the ride well in the group, don't let any one have any doubt.

9.No fight: In case of any doubt or altercation, try to resolve. If anyone in group does not agree on any point then call off the ride.

10. Formation: While on move, move in formation and make sure everyone sticks to it. This will cause less disturbance to others and good for safety too.

11. Riding Rules: Make your own move formation as per your group riding habits and size, try to maximize space within group and at the same time try to reduce your group size on the road.

12. Buddy Group: If there are more then four bikes, then make buddy group of two bikes. Both bikes moves together from beginning to the end, if one stops so does it's buddy bike.

13. Safety Rules: Make your riding rules to be followed for the safety of all, no one over takes others in group until essential, no one leaves it's buddy bike, if you are not able to see bike following you then you slow down your bike ( this will have a cascading effect till the bike leading the convoy), no one tries to race within group or with others in road.

14. Take a break: Make a strategy to take regular breaks, I prefer taking break at every one hour or after every 60-70 Km (depending on road) which ever comes first.

15. Don't fight with localities: Don't argue or fight with local guys in trip, If some one tries just ignore them and move on.

16.Braking distance: Most of time bikes within group hit each other, feel the oneness of group but keep the distance between bikes.

17. Be Vigilant: Be careful about riding behaviour of fellow riders on the road and at the same time let your riding be predictable to them, this will reduce the chances of confusion and hence collisions.

18. Water & Snacks: Keep water and snacks with you.

19. Ride safe: Never overtake any vehicle without having a look in your rear view mirror.

20.Be patient: If someone honks, don't react spontaneously, first observe the guy who is honking then take appropriate action. I have seen many times people honking and overtaking from wrong side.

21. Extra riders: Out number the bikes with guys in group, I mean always have some friends who can ride as pillions.

22. Don't test your health: Don't experiment with food in in trip, take hygienic veg food and clean packaged water only

Have a safe ride, have fun...