The material within this handbook supplements information distributed and/or endorsed by
STAR Touring and Rising Association in the past, including references to the Motorcycle Safety
Foundation (MSF) and its publications, which are available on the STAR Touring and Riding website
and available in hard copy upon request of any chapter member. Furthermore, STAR Touring
and Riding has recently distributed additional Group Riding Guidelines, all of which are
referenced at the end of this handbook. This is a reference resource for our chapter to use.
It is based on the most current information available to the Safety Committee. As riding
practices improve and better safety procedures become available, our intent is to update and
disseminate that information in a timely manner.

A side effect of a well organized group ride is that it produces additional safety for the
group itself. In the spirit of maintaining an organized group ride, and yet still allowing for
the individual differences each rider brings to the chapter, we humbly offer this handbook.
 

Your body needs liquids to survive. It is important to pay attention to your current physical
condition (allergies, illness, tiredness, too much caffeine, etc.) days before a ride. It is
recommended that you hydrate; drinking as much water as you comfortably can, two to
three days before a ride. That will decrease the chances of dehydration being a distraction,
and therefore a safety issue, to both you and those around you.

Proper clothing can actually enhance the enjoyment of a ride. We strongly recommend
layering your clothes, especially when the temperature may vary widely during a ride due
to weather and/or geography. Individuals differ in their tolerance to weather and in their
response to changes in the climate. With that in mind, it is safest to base what you wear on
your own tolerance to the elements. Keep in mind that if your clothing is right, you won't
be distracted by the heat or cold, which could affect your safety and the safety of those
around you.

Proper helmets, gloves, eye protection, and foot protection are part of a successful group
ride. Helmet laws vary throughout the many states that we ride through during the year. We
highly recommend wearing a DOT approved helmet while riding with the chapter.
Gloves, eye protection, and good foot protection are also part of an enjoyable ride. We
recommend, per the MSF Guidelines, that foot protection cover the ankles. This is for
protection against the occasional road hazard as well as fall protection.

In preparing your motorcycle for any ride, we recommend the TCLOCK method:

The groups will form in the parking lot just prior to leaving. This will allow time for
arranging the distribution of the members to ensure that our groups remain manageable in
size, and allow for specific placement of some riders.

If a group is too small, it may overtake the group in front of it. If it is too large, it will
become difficult to change lanes, get through traffic lights, and can be a nuisance to other
motorists. As motorcyclists, we want to be noticed. However, being noticed in a negative
way can actually be dangerous as motorists may respond to our presence in an aggressive
manner.

Entering the Freeway
Enter the freeway on ramps in a loosened staggered formation. Do not feel pressured to
maintain our grouping upon entering the freeway. There is usually sufficient time to
regroup after entering the freeway. Do not simply follow the bike(s) in front of you. Make
safe choices as to the speed and maneuvering of your bike, without regard to maintaining
our grouping.

Tracking
We recommend abiding by the MSF Guidelines, as well as other publications on safe
riding, to ride within the tracks of the wheels of four-wheeled vehicles. This is mainly for
two reasons: 1) there is less oil and debris within those tracks, 2) it allows the most room
within a lane for the other bikes to maneuver during an emergency situation. However,
regarding debris on our freeways, we've noticed that debris bounced around by cars
often settles between lanes. Occasionally there are potholes and road damaged areas that
require moving into the center of the lane for a short time. Be alert to abrupt movements of
bikes in front of you and foot/hand signals from riders in front signaling obstacles. Look
for any signals or clues that can forewarn of obstacles you cannot see and if you encounter
an imminent obstacle and have time to safely pass back a hazard signal (discussed below,
we recommend a foot signal to keep your hands on the bars for maneuvering), please signal
the obstacle.

While we all admire the orderly appearance of riding formations, safety is more important.
A staggered formation allows leeway for each rider to .track. throughout his/her riding
lane, providing a space cushion on all sides. In addition to front/back spacing, spacing
between lanes is also important. It is not necessary to track in a narrow part of the left or
right part of the riding lane, crowding adjacent lanes. Remember our bikes are wide and if
you track one foot away from the lane divider with a bike that is almost four feet wide, you
probably have one foot of handlebars and mirror encroaching the adjacent lane.
Furthermore, we encourage left/right tracking to improve your forward vision and a high
visual horizon to identify hazards well in advance of the rider in front of you.

When traveling through curves, the Road Captain may signal single file, depending upon
the speed, conditions and tightness of such curves. On curves, trying to hold a narrow
segment of the left or right side of the lane can be dangerous. In single or staggered
formation, use the entire lane to maintain your safety through curves. The staggered
formation is intended for this purpose. Do not crowd the bike in front of you, compromising
that bike's available use of the entire lane width.

Hand Signals
The importance of passing hand signals to the other riders in the group cannot be
overstated. It is the primary form of communication among ride participants. Passing back
signals ensures group uniformity in lane changes, directions, hazard avoidance, emergency
situations, and more. We review these hand signals regularly and for good reason. Please
make them as much a personal priority as we do a group priority.

The most common hand signals that we use are:

Single file - Left hand index finger pointed straight up and held above the top of the helmet.

Staggered formation - Index finger or thumb and baby finger rocking back and forth (like
the Hawaiian "hang loose" hand motion), also held above the top of the helmet.

Problem - This is used for mechanical difficulties, urgent potty stops, loss of an item, etc.
Pat the top of your helmet several times and safely move out of traffic. NOTE: This is the
only signal that is not passed back. A Tail Gunner will accompany a rider who signals this
to the side of the road, assist them, and return with them to the group or will stay with them
until they are at a mutually agreed upon safe destination.

When the above signal is given, the Road Captain may choose to find a suitably safe place
to pull the group over and discuss with the other Ride Crew the most appropriate manner of
response, or may elect to continue to the next scheduled stop location as the Tail Gunner
should know the preplanned route and also may have radio communication with the Ride
Captain. Keeping the group together is important to keep members from getting lost, so
please stay with the Road Captain until directed to do otherwise.

Road Hazards - This is a foot (and occasionally a hand) signal that can be given by any
member of a group. Point in the direction of the hazard with the appropriate foot or hand.
We recommend the foot because it keeps your hands on the bars.

Tighten Up - This signal is given by the Road Captain for various reasons to decrease the
spread of the group. He/she will hold their left hand up, palm facing forward and fingers
spread, and alternately open and close the hand several times. As you pass this signal back,
decrease the distance between yourself and the riders in front of you.

Move to Side of Lane - This signal is given by a raised open faced left hand simulating
pushing the group to one side of the lane. The purpose of this signal is to move the group
to the left side of the lane to allow more clearance past right side obstructions such as
bicyclists (moving the group to the left), or moving the group to the right to allow passing
motorcyclists to utilize the left side of the same lane. When given while riding in staggered
formation, this signal actually causes the group to behave in an almost single file formation
for a brief moment. Beware, when passed by other cyclists, that there may be additional
cyclists following them.

In a staggered formation, the proper spacing is about 2+ seconds from the bike directly
in front, and 1 second from the bike adjacent to you. This distance obviously varies with
the speed. At 70 mph, 2 seconds equals about 200 ft, or the equivalent of approximately
5 car lengths, end to end. As the group speed changes, the distance should be adjusted
appropriately, remaining as constant as possible. The accordion effect that groups
normally experience is reduced when everyone maintains as constant a distance as
possible.

Rapid traffic slow-downs are common and combined with a group accordion effect, they
can be disastrous. Don't be a follower. Maintain what the Highway Patrol calls high
visual horizon. This means to constantly scan for traffic and obstacles far ahead of you
and the bikes in front of you. Bikes are easier to see around and you should maneuver your
tracking to get the best view and the highest visual horizon. Don't just follow the bike in
front. Be alert for the clues that forewarn of a rapid traffic slow-down. This may include,
but is not limited to, the smell of tire smoke, abrupt movement of cars or bikes far in front
of you, a slow-down hand signal, erratic congestion and traffic speed. Increase your
spacing upon detecting such clues or even if your instincts make you feel it's the right thing
to do. While we try to avoid the accordion effect, it is far better to have a loose accordion
than a tight accordion. In any event, maintaining an adequate and safe space cushion is
paramount to individual and group safety.

Lane Numbering
You may hear ride briefing references to lane numbers. On any given freeway or multilane
highway, the fast lane is lane #1. Each subsequent lane towards the slow lane is
sequentially numbered. If a car pool lane(s) exists, it is not numbered and is referred to as a
car pool (or diamond) lane(s). The Ride Crew uses lane number references to choose ideal
lanes to navigate the group, usually identified during pre-rides.

Intervening Traffic
Intervening traffic is inevitable, especially on crowded freeways. We generally avoid
traveling in the fast lane (lane #1), which puts us between lanes and cars who want or need
to get through our riding group. In various states there is a Vehicle Code governing
caravans, which applies to our riding groups. It requires that we allow sufficient spacing
(100') to permit cars to overtake or get through our groups. Underway, outside of business
and residential areas (mostly highways and freeways) and at higher speeds, our 2+ second
rule will provide the necessary spacing.

Watch for cars (signaling or not) trying to get through the group, especially if they appear
erratic or aggressive. It does not matter whether they are needlessly lane weaving or
earnestly trying to catch an off ramp. They present a danger to you and the group. As a
matter of courtesy and safety, allow them to pass through the group, providing additional
space as you deem needed for your own safety and an adequate .space cushion. between
you and the intervening car. It they appear uncertain, you may elect to signal them through
the group. Do not challenge intervening cars.

Lane Changes
When making lane changes it is imperative that every rider pass the Road Captain's hand
signals to the riders behind him/her. It is common and acceptable for riders (and Road
Captains) to use their other hand signals during lane changes. The distinction of the Road
Captain's hand signal, which should be passed back, is that it will be a deliberate
strong-fisted signal. Other hand signals need not be passed back.

Our chapter rides may use any number of lane change techniques. The most common are
the rear fill, the front fill, and the secured front fills.

In the rear fill, the Road Captain will signal either a right or left turn (strong-fisted) and
hold it for a few seconds. Pass this signal back. The Tail Gunners will move into the
indicated lane, securing the lane from the rear. Safely scan your mirrors without fixating.
When you see the rider directly behind you turn his/her signal on and begin to move, 1)
turn your head and check the lane you are moving into, 2) turn your signal on, 3) change
lanes. Remember, your safety is primarily your responsibility. Do not move until you
believe it is safe. Be very careful checking your mirrors and your lane movement.
Remember, at freeway speeds, one second will propel you 100' further down the road and
towards impending obstacles. Motorists often will move into the lanes that we are trying to
move into without realizing what we are doing, or bikes in front of you may slow down.
Keep your eyes moving and scanning without lingering on any distraction longer than
needed.

In a secured front fill, the Road Captain radios back to the Tail Gunners to secure the
intended lane. The Tail Gunners will radio back that they have secured the lane, and the
Road Captain then signals a front fill and moves into the lane. Execute this lane change in
the same manner that you would a regular front fill. Always check your mirrors and the
lane throughout this maneuver.

If you are at the back of the group and see the Tail Gunners move over a lane and front fill
strong-fisted signal has not been passed back, do not change lanes in front of them. Wait
until the Road Captain initiates the lane change and fill in from the front. This is important
because traffic conditions may change at the front or back and the Tail Gunner or Road
Captain may radio an abort of the lane change, or the Tail Gunners may have been
instructed to secure a terminating lane.

Some motorists wave us through intersections as a courtesy, some do not. Some get
impatient and make abrupt movements. Be wary and do not feel pressured to get through
an intersection to maintain our grouping. Do not assume passing through an intersection is
safe just because of the presence of other bikes in the intersection.

FACT: Somewhere in the United States, every four seconds someone blows through an
intersection, endangering everyone near that intersection. Scan every intersection, no
matter where you are in the group formation. Also, when we are traveling through
residential areas, remember every driveway is an intersection.

Separation of the Group
Often on a ride, groups will become separated for one reason or another. Traffic lights,
turns at intersections, lane changes in traffic, can all split up a group. The Ride Crew (Road
Captain and Tail Gunners) have procedures in place to reform the group.
Road Captains usually know (those with radio communications are alerted by Tail
Gunners) if the group is separated and will find an opportunity to reform. If the group
becomes separated and you find yourself in the lead position and either don't know where
to go or have lost sight of the group, tap your helmet several times. The Tail Gunners will
recognize this signal and will take the lead until the group reforms. If you have the
separated group in sight or know where they're heading and feel comfortable leading the
group until it reforms, do so.

Normally the lead bike of a group rides on the left side of the lane, but during a temporary
segmented group situation, it is perfectly okay for the bike on the right side of the lane to
lead if this occurs (and will 50% of the time). Maintaining your bike position even when
separated will make re-joining the front group easier.

When a Group Pulls Over
Sometimes it is necessary for a group to pull over to the side of the road or a turn-out. This
happens often on rides through the mountains when we have been single file for a while
and there are cars behind us. As a polite gesture, we may pull over to let them pass. It is
imperative that the group pull off the side of the road as quickly and safely as possible.
When doing this, no matter where we are, make sure that all riders pull out quickly and
move as far forward as possible to allow the Tail Gunners to be able to pull over out of
traffic. If riders pull off too slowly, the members at the end of the group are exposed to
vehicles that are sometimes moving at a higher rate of speed. We can minimize their
exposure to danger by pulling over quickly and in an organized fashion.

Finally, the Ride Crew is always watching for anything that might affect the safety and
overall enjoyment of the ride. Tail Gunners in particular have a good view of the group
from their position in the back. If any of the Ride Crew makes an observation or suggestion
to you during or following a ride, please do not be offended. They are only trying to ensure
the safety and enjoyment of everyone on the ride.

motorcycle_operator_manual.pdf

msfgroup_ride.pdf

riding_tips.pdf

msfgroupridingguide.pdf