>> The "Flying the Chair" and the steering reversion part has me worried.<<
Don't even worry about this. Read the material on the CD and practice it. I am totally tired of seeing people getting too concerned about these issues when they should not be the focal point of sidcarring at all!! Read Hal's material, absorb it and practice.
Claude
When riding in a group, certain rules might apply. First, is this just a casual ride where everyone is doing their own thing, or is it organized? The greater the degree of organization the greater the degree of responsibility. This applies not only for the safety of those participating in the ride, but also of ALL other road users.
First - how long is the trip? If just down the road from breakie to the park a half mile away is vastly different to an overnight interstate journey. Same principles, but degree of complexity involved is increased. So lets focus on a moderate trip, and scale up/down as needed.
Plan the trip. Make SURE you know WHERE you are going. Not everyone needs to know. All should have good maps, but at least 5 to 10 percent should be intimately knowledeable in the precise route, and a backup route just in case you do get lost! Know where the rest stops are, the eating houses, gas stations. Never overextend. One of the persons with this expert knowledge of the way should lead the way.
The SLOWEST rider in the pack should be in the number TWO position. He/she must NEVER be left behind. He/she will set the pace for the group.
Sidecars will NEVER ride TWO abreast. Solos, if in the convoy, may be in any position acceptable to the group, and may ride two abreast, conditions permitting, if they so choose. Except for an emergency, to be defined later, there will be NO OVERTAKING once the convoy is underway.
There will be no more than 10 or 12 units in a convoy. If more than this, units will be broken up into separate convoys each with its own leader. This may be modified by the convoy leader.
The most experienced driver will be placed at the rear. It will be his/her responsibility to watch over those ahead. If any is in trouble, he will try to assist, then to send a message to the leader, by radio contact, if possible, otherwise by light signals to be passed forewards by those ahead, to get the convoy stopped if the trouble is serious.
Serious trouble might be mechanical, an accident or injury. Might be repairable, or might require others to attend or fix. Radio or phone highly desirable for leader and tailrunner.
The convoy will allow for others not in the convoy to enter, pass, and not annoy others in their legal use of the road.
The convoy will obey ALL legal road signs and traffic rules.
Have fun, and do not be a horses ass.
Hal
Being minimalist,
My bride and I hopped on/in our Nighthawk rig on New years day and went soloing to a neighboring town, saw a friend, looked in his shop at his latest project, went to a Pub, had one "Mike's Hard Lemonade" a pool game and lunch (no we didn't watch any "group sports" games), took a slow ride around a lake and the back roads home. 30 degrees, clear and crisp, home by dark. No cell phone, no radios, no rules, no convoy to lead or follow.
We laughed and had fun. It's all good.
Getting Left Behind: My Road King rig clips along between 70-75 on slab and properly banked curves. I'm having it remapped and an air upgrade to get my top end back. Yeah, there goes the gas mileage, but Hey! as long as there's cruiser bikes in the group we have to stop every 150 miles anyway.
Peg-scraping: Forget it. The trade off is the look om someone's face when you go through road construction, loose gravel, grated bridges, and grass without missing a lick.
There are also odd things that happen.
Other bikers with follow you. I went out for a side trip during Trail of Tears, just checking out the back roads around Waterloo Alabama. At one point there were 20 solos following me, and only 3 were relatives.
People who are afraid of motorcycling will ride with you.
And like Jimbosidecar pointed out, we're more visible and get more respect for getting through crowds and traffic.
Everyone wants to stop and talk to you.
I still show my bike, but I've been barred from competing in bike games. Something about trying to enter my rig in the slow ride contest. They should be more specific when they say 'your feet can't touch the ground.' I bet MY passenger would win the hotdog bite- the Cattle Dog is tall enough when she puts her paws on my shoulder and stands up in the tub.
