I started this topic to hear some different opinions about riding with other bikes. Not a group as in 6 or more bikes. I personally don't like riding in groups that number more than 4 as 5 or more bikes start taking up space that can be challenging to the group and to other drivers of the road. I'm hoping to hear responses about riding in smaller groups although all responses are welcome.
Came off a long trip with a good friend I've known for 60 years. We have different riding styles and different bikes. We covered 7000 miles in 3 weeks. We rode in the rain for about 1500 miles. Took turns leading and following. I did more following for 2 reasons. My bike's light set up was much better in bad weather than his and I felt it would be better being in the #2 slot for visibility from behind and to opposing traffic. I found it easier to be behind.
When I was in the #2 slot, it was in a staggered spot from his lane position. I tried to stay 1 second behind. If I could see his face by looking into his rear view mirrors, I was in good position. My friend was the leader, thus dictating the pace and direction. If he took a curve that led him to occupy my lane position, I would drop to 2 seconds behind but would not change the position in the lane. My reasoning for these dynamics was 1st safety. 2nd; road position. The safety these positions brought were better visibility to other traffic, better non-verbal communication between riders, better ability to pass slow moving vehicles and better awareness of each other. There were more benefits but these are enough to begin with. I made sure that my friend was not bothered by our closeness at speed, that he had a comfort level with my ability. The road position that we occupied made it difficult for other traffic to separate us. We were also looking at the same picture, thus both anticipating slow moving traffic, traffic signals, LEOs and animals.
My friend didn't behave as I did when he was the follower. I knew that traveling much over posted was not for him so that is where I stayed as the leader. But it only took a little time to let me know that he was not going to be the "wing" man. He would pull away slowly from stops so that we automatically became separated by 5 car lengths or more pretty quickly. He maintained a 5 second space between us at highway speed. Lane position had no meaning because of these dynamics. Instead of looking in my mirror to see my buddy was with me; I would ordinarily have to slow up so that I could make sure he was the vehicle behind me. We became separated by another vehicle (or 2) every time he was in the #2 slot. I went 2 miles once with another bike's lights in my mirror before I realized it wasn't my friend. He had been passed by cars and 2 other motorcyclists on the road grew impatient and passed him plus the other traffic to take positions behind me traveling at the posted 40MPH limit. Creating excess space between us put him in more unnecessary dangerous situations. I had to make sure he came out of a curve when we got into some twisties because I was taught that a leader is supposed keep the group together. Experience was teaching me that I wasn't the leader but more like breaking trail. And on certain sections of the road I was glad to take that mantle but it wasn't riding as a team which was the stated objective. His positioning in the #2 slot had the effect of making him the leader, not the follower.
Any thoughts? Other methods to ride as a team or small group?
Came off a long trip with a good friend I've known for 60 years. We have different riding styles and different bikes. We covered 7000 miles in 3 weeks. We rode in the rain for about 1500 miles. Took turns leading and following. I did more following for 2 reasons. My bike's light set up was much better in bad weather than his and I felt it would be better being in the #2 slot for visibility from behind and to opposing traffic. I found it easier to be behind.
When I was in the #2 slot, it was in a staggered spot from his lane position. I tried to stay 1 second behind. If I could see his face by looking into his rear view mirrors, I was in good position. My friend was the leader, thus dictating the pace and direction. If he took a curve that led him to occupy my lane position, I would drop to 2 seconds behind but would not change the position in the lane. My reasoning for these dynamics was 1st safety. 2nd; road position. The safety these positions brought were better visibility to other traffic, better non-verbal communication between riders, better ability to pass slow moving vehicles and better awareness of each other. There were more benefits but these are enough to begin with. I made sure that my friend was not bothered by our closeness at speed, that he had a comfort level with my ability. The road position that we occupied made it difficult for other traffic to separate us. We were also looking at the same picture, thus both anticipating slow moving traffic, traffic signals, LEOs and animals.
My friend didn't behave as I did when he was the follower. I knew that traveling much over posted was not for him so that is where I stayed as the leader. But it only took a little time to let me know that he was not going to be the "wing" man. He would pull away slowly from stops so that we automatically became separated by 5 car lengths or more pretty quickly. He maintained a 5 second space between us at highway speed. Lane position had no meaning because of these dynamics. Instead of looking in my mirror to see my buddy was with me; I would ordinarily have to slow up so that I could make sure he was the vehicle behind me. We became separated by another vehicle (or 2) every time he was in the #2 slot. I went 2 miles once with another bike's lights in my mirror before I realized it wasn't my friend. He had been passed by cars and 2 other motorcyclists on the road grew impatient and passed him plus the other traffic to take positions behind me traveling at the posted 40MPH limit. Creating excess space between us put him in more unnecessary dangerous situations. I had to make sure he came out of a curve when we got into some twisties because I was taught that a leader is supposed keep the group together. Experience was teaching me that I wasn't the leader but more like breaking trail. And on certain sections of the road I was glad to take that mantle but it wasn't riding as a team which was the stated objective. His positioning in the #2 slot had the effect of making him the leader, not the follower.
Any thoughts? Other methods to ride as a team or small group?