2012 Rides Calendar
The 2012 Club rides calendar is available for download! The calendar may be updated throughout the year, so please check in for the latest version. Thank you to the Rides Committee for their time and effort to make 2012 a great year full of trips and events! (updated 27 November 2011) 2011 Rides Calendar
 The 2011 Club rides calendar is available for download! The calendar will be updated throughout the year, so please check in for the latest version. Thank you to the Rides Committee for their time and effort to make 2011 a GREAT year full of trips to awesome places! (updated 12 December 2010) 
I've added the dates in the rides calendar document on the website calendar. Simply click on "View full calendar" in the calendar box to check it out! We'll update as we go along
 
admin wrote:
I've added the dates in the rides calendar document on the website calendar. Simply click on "View full calendar" in the calendar box to check it out! We'll update as we go along GR8 and thanks!  
stefanus wrote:
Is any planning information available regarding the trip to Vic Falls in either Sep or Oct 11? Hi Stefanus - have a look at this thread - I believe updates will be posted there: www.bmwclubs.co.za/forum/18-club-rides/8129-victoria-falle Rides Calendar
Club rides are planned in advance and takes into consideration a number of important biking events through the year. It occasionally happens that destinations have to be changed or dates moved, so please check in regularly to keep updated! Download the latest copy of the Rides Calendar below:
Riding in groups
How to Ride in a Groupby Brian Cannoo Updated 5 February 2005
Phew! Been riding for many years, got my license in 1981. Reading through this article, I found myself spellbound. Clear, concise and sensible hints (rules). This know-all learned a lot from this article. Thank you ever so much.
Why has Lord Admin brought this to out humble attention now?
Is it perhaps because of this part? "Of course, this means that the staggered formation rule applies to everyone, including the leader and sweep, who sometimes seem to think they're exempt. I have often ridden with the club and ended up behind a rider who thinks the rule doesn't apply to him, or doesn't understand it. This is very frustrating, as this rider is riding in MY SPACE. I usually either pass (on the right) or drop back to get away from this dangerous idiot." I rode recently and was very frustrated by this rule not being appled. Switching sides in a lane can be very frustrating, especially if you know that the person causing it is simply just not paying attention to what they are doing. (Says he that cannot keep his bike from mounting an ix35....)  
Bryan's wisdom lives on even after his death.
As someone who has led a ride or two over the years, I differ a little on his view on the Leader being in staggered formation. As a ride leader, your mind is constantly working on navigation, checking the group, reading the road, and riding your own ride. To safely do so, you need to have a little space from the peleton. I believe a ride leader needs to have at least double the distance between the other riders - at least 8 seconds. This allows them enough recovery time if they just miss a turn, etc. Also, riding up front can get very boring - so sometimes you ride left of lane and sometimes you ride right of lane. If I ride no 2 and the leader changes lane sides, I don't change. If you ride in the group and a rider overtakes, they leave a gap in the peleton. That doesn't mean that everyone now has to start changing sides like a military formation. It just means there is a missing rider position somewhere - ready to be filled by another overtaking rider? Lets use our heads on this issue. If you are 2 seconds or less behind the rider directly in front of you, you need to be in staggered formation to ride safely.. If you are 4 seconds or more behind the rider directly in front of you, you need not be in staggered formation - unless you want to be. The sweep has similar concentration and boredom issues. When I ride sweep, I tend to drop back ten seconds or more behind the next rider. That gives me ample riding space to ride a little faster in spurts if I wish, to ride left or right of lane if I wish, while still maintaining my station. As a sweep, I never get closer than 4 seconds to the next rider. That's the way I like to ride my own ride.  
Richard H wrote:
Bryan's wisdom lives on even after his death. If I ride no 2 and the leader changes lane sides, I don't change. Lets use our heads on this issue. If you are 2 seconds or less behind the rider directly in front of you, you need to be in staggered formation to ride safely.. If you are 4 seconds or more behind the rider directly in front of you, you need not be in staggered formation - unless you want to be. I agree. The leader should not determine the formation but no 2. The leader does not have a frame of reference and should be free to decide where to ride. I have requested and tried this a few times in the past when I was leading. It is just a habit that needs to settle in with members. I agree again with the more than 2 secs where it is not required to stagger. On the open road riders want to ride their own ride. Maybe PC is referring to this type of riding where he tries to apply the rule too. This is difficult and should not be enforced, although stagger in ANY situation is ALWAYS good. Then the control in the mirrrors...  In a large group that is controlled by a sweep it is not necessary to keep the rider behind in your view and to KEEP UP WITH HIS SPEED. This means that the whole group's speed is controlled by the slowest rider. Stupid! A group may stretch out to allow riders to ride their style (within reason off course). Faster riders are always invited (when I lead) to pass the slower in front of them. The slower riders are then not pushed above their personal safety ceiling and can also enjoy the ride. The sweep is there to look after the 'flock' and keep all together. It goes without saying that in a small informal group where there is no dedicated sweep riders need to look out for each other.
This is getting better and better, should be required reading to all. Can't wait for the next ride where all this is applied.
Question: I am new to the dynamics of group riding. Sunday previous en route to Soweto I experienced a constant change in the stagger formation on the highway, starting from somewhere in front. What causes this? Surely on the open road with no #2's dropping back at corners, your position in the ride should remain constant? What am I missing? 
Jak it could be caused by riders overtaking and then joing the group in the front which changes the formation.
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| Sat May 19 Overnighter - S: Dullstroom; GS: Serendipity |
| Fri Jun 01 @18:00 - Club Social Evening |
| Sun Jun 03 Club Ride (S & GS: Rooiberg) |
| Sat Jun 09 Club Training Day - Zwartkops |
| Sat Jun 16 GS: Mozambique |
| Fri Jul 06 @18:00 - Club Social Evening |
| Sun Jul 08 Club Ride (S & GS: Cullinan) |
| Thu Jul 12 GS: Parys to De Aar |
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Rides Calendar 2012.pdf
