Know your board.
Stan Brein
May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. However, riding season begins early in Texas. Recall the weather we were having in February. Motorcyclists always need to be aware of their situations and circumstances. The open road is challenging, and riding on our increasingly crowded roads and highways requires skill, sharpness, and awareness.
Riding in a group has a unique set of challenges. Riding in tandem is quite different from the solo ride where you are in total control of road choices, destinations, stops, and cruising speed. This is why the Robson Ranch Motorcycle Club conducts an annual safety meeting in February, prior to prime riding season. Automobile drivers (which all of us also are) need to be more vigilant in the presence of motorcyclists. So, please take heed!
Each ride has a designated Ride Captain and Sweep. The Ride Captain typically has prepared the event by selecting the destination and planning the route. More often than not, they have also scouted the route by pre-riding to check for road conditions, traffic management devices (stop signs and traffic lights), hazards, construction, and any other factors that might affect the flow of 6 to 20 motorcycles traveling this route in formation. The number of lanes determines how the group will ride. Are there any challenging sweeps or curves? Intersections? All this is entered into a map application and distributed to all participating riders. That way, everyone knows where we start, the waypoints, and the destination(s).
Each ride begins with a safety briefing. Riders are encouraged to check fuel levels and tire pressure and do the other pre-ride walk-around checks. Communication during the ride is paramount. We use helmet-attached (or built-in) Bluetooth and mesh intercom technologies. The club’s choice is Sena 30K or Sena 50K units, but any compatible device will suffice.
It was good to see 20 members, including several newcomers, come out for the session conducted by Club President Mike Conley. We enjoyed reviewing the material and discussing the specifics of ride planning. Upcoming trips include a lunch ride to Rico’s Place in Muenster on March 27, the Bayou Adventure from April 7 through April 12, and a lunch Ride to Clark’s Outpost on April 16.
If you have any scenic drives or rides that you can share with the club, please do so. Also, we are always interested in finding new places for lunch or dinner. With so many new restaurants opening, we would like to hear about new finds that we can arrange a club ride to.
See you on the road!
Beware of cagers, and keep the rubber side down!