Riding question for all

Well, if the solo bikes can't keep up - they follow! Sometimes I wait at intersections for them to catch up! 🙂

Really - I guess it depends on the group - but mostly just interspersed.

Usually, if it is my ride and I am with visitors from out of the area, I will lead.

When with my usual riding group we take turns being "Road Captain".

If with a mixed group of 2 & 3 wheelers, usually the faster paced solo bikes will take the lead and the hackers will fit in where the pace is comfortable.

It's all good.

Gee, I've never ridden with any other sidehackers, but I'm always riding with 2 wheelers. I like to ride in the back most of the time, that way I can watch their mistakes and they can't see mine!!! Of course, they can just leave me in the dust when it comes to tight curves, but they usually let me catch up later.

Connie

In Beijing, the sidecars usually lead and the solos follow. No reason except the sidecars tend to ride a little faster than the solos (maybe because the sidecars get more "respect" from the other vehicles (mostly big trucks) on the road.
Regds,
Jim

I prefer following the pack. I tend to be heavy on the throttle and sometimes forget that others either cannot or will not keep up. I've also had problems with people thinking they can share the lane with me, not thinking that I can't always move over to accomodate them. I also spend a lot of time on the Interstate and tend to ride till my 5.5 gallon tank is on fumes, again irritating the "smell the roses" crowd. Not that I'm against stopping, I just forget to do it. 🙂

I prefer the back of the pack.
I like to use the whole lane esp. on the twisties(as per the yellow book).
The solo riders I ride with have faster bikes than my hack so it's
easier for my to be in the back.
Just like connie pointed out, I like to see how they are riding ahead of me so I can make the appropriate adjustments to the road.
In reference to the post from China; I guess it would not matter in China since the road conditions and speed you would be riding at would not be as fast as the roads in the US.

My experience is that either/or is okay as long as it is okay withthe group you are riding with. I like to ride in the rear if possible but it is no big deal either way.
In the rear you actually tend to go faster in a group than if you were up in second or third place.This is due to the 'train effect' of most groups.
If you are leading a group it is best to stay aware of how they are keeping up. You can sort of coax them to go faster with you rown speed but running off and leaving them is not a good thing.Starting off is probably the most critical tim efor a lead rider . He should let the group dictate his speed until they are all together.

I prefer to ride to the rear of groups when I've got the side car out. Several reasons for this chief among them is the rig I have is based on a 1955 thumper and getting up to 50MPH with it is an exercise. Also when in group some riders forget I've got a wider bike than they've got and tend to close the gap uncomfortably. Where as I can keep the distance needed for my two drum brakes to stop me if I need to stop quickly.

Riding location should be a matter of comfort level for the rider, based upon riding abilities, vehicle set up, and group riding patterns.

In our local H.O.G. chapter, the rule seems to be to put the hacks in the odd numbered positions (1, 3, 5, etc.). I guess they figure that this keeps the bike closer to the centerline. As for me, I prefer to ride at or near the rear.

I tend to lead. I'm new enough at this, and I have poor depth perception, so I'm worried about running over the group when I'm behind them, so I lag back, they slow down so I can 'keep up', I lag back, they slow down... In the front, I tend to run a little on the fast side, and we all have fun.

Hi Red,

You must ride with a more concerned group of bikers than I do! The only one who slows down for me is my husband and he's not real happy to do it. New Year's Day we went on our annual polar bear ride. Well, most years there are usually 8 to 10 bikes, but this time the weather was beautiful so we had a huge bunch of bikes to show up. I tried to stay in back like I'm expected to do, but we had a couple of non-CB riders who wanted to stay in back, so I had a hard time keeping the ducks in a row when part of the group lost sight of the leader and didn't know whether to take the interstate or stay on the "old" road. On the return home, I again attempted to stay in the rear, but had 3 bikes that insisted on staying behind. Well, they did that is until we hit the curves starting up the mountain that we had to cross. All three decided that was the time to pass me. I rounded a right hand curve just in time to see the first bike almost wipe out on the next left hand curve. I've seen it happen several times on that particular curve and I'm not sure if it has anything to do with them trying to show me how fast they can take a curve or if it's something else. But it always happens just after they blow by me. It doesn't offend me to stay in back or for them to pass me. I don't figure that I have anything to prove to anybody and I'm perfectly content to stay in the back.
Oh, and I find it easier to judge how fast I can handle a curve if I can watch how the bike in front of me takes it. That makes the ride much easier for me, especially if there are lots of tight curves.

Connie

I can see it's going to be an interesting summer. I love reading these posts in as much as I have been a solo biker for over 30 years and now in the later stage of life decided to get a complete outfit.

I have been diddling with the hack and bike for the better part of 6 months now. I took my sport bike (Triumph Bonneville-02) and had a Motorvation Spyder built for it. The bike and tub are in metro Detroit getting married along with some custom goodies. The cost is getting pretty outrageous, but, you only live once. Like my wife says "you can't take it with you"

Speaking of living, I am used to riding at a brisk pace, actually the Triumph lends itself to pretty spirited, peg scraping riding. I can see the married outfit will be just the opposite. Besides, I also see that I will have to re-learn or rethink my riding on a whole.

The guys I ride with aren't road racers, but they aren't slouches by any means. I can see I'll be in the back, way back. I can see doing a lunch run and they will be done eating before I get there. I can also see that I'll need a second bike for the "fun" rides. I think the second bike will be a new Norton 952 Roadster. Either that or a Triumph 955I Daytona.

When I take the outfit on a ride, I can also see where everyone will put their rainsuits and extra jackets.....in my tub.

Well you may be right for a while but you may also find as you get in some experience that you will have little trouble keeping up with the pack.
As far as the rain suits go? HEY, IF THEY RUN OFF AND LEAVE YOU AND IT BEGINS TO RAIN BE SURE TO STOP AND PUT YOUR OWN SUIT ON..They may be wet when you catch em..too bad 🙂
If you have not downloaded Hal Kendall's books be sure to do so. Go to the homepage here. They are free of charge. Hal, USCA Memebr #2 and co founder, has graciously offered them in this fashion in an effort to help new, and all, sidecarists. Check em out

Claude:

I am ahead of you in that respect. I always garner as much material as possible when getting into something new. To that end, I have purchased the CD as well as borrowed a Ural riding manual from a guy at work. Lots of reading on the CD. The "Flying the Chair" and the steering reversion part has me worried. My reflexes, especially to the unknown aren't nearly as good as when I was younger. My biggest fear is wrecking the outfit. I have a lot of time and money in it. My intent is actually to ride and show the bike and tub in British bike shows. I have a feeling that the Norton or the Daytona will become my general rider.