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Sunday Ride Protocols |
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Ride notes: This is an informal ride, and as always, remember that this is a social ride; your safety and the safety of your fellow riders is paramount. As a reminder here are some basic group ride protocols which you may also find useful for your own rides. Safe speed: The safe speed for road conditions will differ from rider to rider. You are responsible to pick a pace that is comfortable and within your ability. There will be plenty of opportunities to regroup. Never ride beyond your limits in an attempt to keep up with another rider! Safe distance: Do not follow closely; leave a safe distance between you and the next rider. It is especially important to avoid following closely on secondary roads where you can't see around the next corner and circumstances can change without warning. Passing: If you must ride faster than the rider in front of you, put your blinker on and pass. If you see a rider behind you preparing to pass, move over. There is little point to passing when riding in a group, however. We all get there about the same time... Lane discipline: Never cross the double yellow line! Always stay in your lane, and pick your line accordingly. Passing: If you are prepared to ride faster than the rider in front, put your blinker on and pass. If you see a rider behind you preparing to pass, move over and give plenty of room. Don't speed up! Stopping: If the group stops, pull off the road completely. When the group starts, be sure to look over your shoulder for approaching traffic before you pull out after the person in front of you. Don't assume it is clear just because they pulled out... Breakdowns: The sweeps and riding friends may stop and provide assistance. It is not safe for then entire group to stop for one rider unless there is plenty of room to pull off the road. Taking off early: It is fine to head home early, but it is appreciated if you let the others in the group or the sweeps know so we don't wait around or go looking for you. |
Welcome, friends, to the March shop ride.
This will be a ride suitable for intermediate and experienced riders, on paved roads only. Some of the roads are very tight but take it slow and you should have no problems. We will be riding right past the entrance to Clear Creek Dirt Riding Area, so we can go through the river ford if you want. (Not necessary) Also we can point out the Salinas Ramblers Club campground where we hold dirt riding clinics.
Our route will be down Hwy 101 to Hwy 25 (boring part) to Hollister for a mandatory gas stop, then 25 gets very interesting and is one of the nicest roads we ever ride each year. 25 finally joins 198 about 60 miles south and we take 198 into Coalinga for a brunch at Perko's, the happening spot in Coalinga! After a leisurely lunch we'll head back on on the Coalinga/San Benito Road that will take us back to Hollister via the back way. This is the road that goes past Clear Creek so you may want to check out the route for future exploration.
Departure time is 9:00 am from the shop (see website), coffee will be ready by 8:30. Be gassed up and ready to leave by 9:00 am sharp. We'll have a short rider/safety meeting at 8:50. I want to earnestly request that all riders ride within your comfort zones. Stay within the safe limits of your riding ability, and work on being the smoothest rider on the ride, not the fastest rider on the ride. True riding skill is built on a sense of smoothness, control and a sense of line, definitely not in trying to go fast. Practice performing the smoothest possible upshifts and downshifts by good throttle control and matching engine and road speed, and experiment with slight changes in body position and weight transfer to help control the bike in the corners. For this Sunday's ride we are going to set an easy pace, and anyone who exceeds that pace and passes the leader is on his or her own.
I hope you can join us. Have fun and be safe! E-mail or call (650.966.1183) me or if you have any questions or concerns.
(All brands are welcome.)
Kari Prager
California BMW Triumph
E-mail or call 650.966.1183
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