Lead & Sweep Vest

[Griffindor]

- You may notice in the pictures that Leader and Sweeper are wearing Hi-Vis orange vests. I thought up a way to keep a clear distinction of leading and trailing riders that everyone would recognize. With large groups it can be difficult for the lead rider to tighten up on the fly without counting helmets or having the trail rider speed up to the front to indicate all is good. With the matching vests, the leading rider simply slows the pace until he sees the sweeper show up in back, then continues on his way[/COLOR][/COLOR]. For the trailing rider, he can be confident that he has caught up, and anyone within the pack knows they can fade back if they want to slow their pace without worry of being left behind. It seemed to work well.

Nice....but the faster riders on the twisties always wants to go faster, which I can understand, it's fun, or is it, leaving the slower riders, like me, way behind. I have experienced a group ride when I was basically all by myself for quite awhile. The good thing about that was, I tend to be more careful, bec. i know if something wrong happens, it would take a long time for them to realize that they're missing somebody in the group.

Any group here on BARF that do this on their group rides?

 

[Ghost8475]

- You may notice in the pictures that Leader and Sweeper are wearing Hi-Vis orange vests. I thought up a way to keep a clear distinction of leading and trailing riders that everyone would recognize. With large groups it can be difficult for the lead rider to tighten up on the fly without counting helmets or having the trail rider speed up to the front to indicate all is good. With the matching vests, the leading rider simply slows the pace until he sees the sweeper show up in back, then continues on his way[/COLOR][/COLOR]. For the trailing rider, he can be confident that he has caught up, and anyone within the pack knows they can fade back if they want to slow their pace without worry of being left behind. It seemed to work well.

Nice....but the faster riders on the twisties always wants to go faster, which I can understand, it's fun, or is it, leaving the slower riders, like me, way behind. I have experienced a group ride when I was basically all by myself for quite awhile. The good thing about that was, I tend to be more careful, bec. i know if something wrong happens, it would take a long time for them to realize that they're missing somebody in the group.

Any group here on BARF that do this on their group rides?

missing some pics :ride

 

[Motech]

the leading rider simply slows the pace until he sees the sweeper show up in back, then continues on his way
Any group here on BARF that do this on their group rides?

The first BARF group ride I ever went on worked like that. The lead, who seemed a competent rider at first, kept slowing the pace to catch sight of the sweep. I was riding directly behind the lead, and it was frustrating as hell. It so turned me off of BARF rides that I have only done one since, a PM invitation type, and I will never do a BARF group ride again unless someone I know and admire gives it their thumbs-up.

Ride Your Own Ride means just that, even in a group setting. You don't ride the guys ride behind you, and you don't try and keep up with the faster guys in front if that's not within your skillset.

You don't need constant lead/sweep visual contact during the actual riding. That is total fail, will sap the fun out of the ride for everyone. Just have everyone make sure every now and then the guy behind them is still there, and save the lead/sweep check for the regroup at every road change.

Nice....but the faster riders on the twisties always wants to go faster, which I can understand, it's fun, or is it, leaving the slower riders, like me, way behind. I have experienced a group ride when I was basically all by myself for quite awhile.

Will, if this is a problem for you, I submit it is yours to control in the following two ways:

1. Find a gentler group to hook up with so you won't be left so far behind.
2. Get over it, ride your own ride, find your own joy and accept that others will find theirs in ways different from yours while riding their own rides.

It's not really too difficult to adjust. Choose a group ride that's labeled "mellow" or "newb-friendly" and you may find the pace much more to your liking, and avoid the fast-guy rides that should be labeled "spirited" or "not-newb-friendly". :thumbup

And always enjoy the ride. Too much rigid structure defies the motorcyclists' creed Will; if it ain't fun, it ain't right. Let the lead or sweep know you're outa there and go find your bliss on your own.

 

[i_am_the_koi]

Ya know, I have never done this or seen it done on rides... but it's brilliant in my opinion

Having led a few rides now, I sometimes find it hard doing a head-count in my mirror. A few times I've had very distinct riders in the back... most noticeably to me was a guy on his big ole Blue Gold Wing.... Could see that guy 3 miles back, haha.

But doing the jacket thing might be an idea we'll have to try.... yellow for front, orange for back, or vice-versa....

I was actually thinking grabbing a set of those 2-way radio's that have the vibrate-call function,,, and just buzzing the sweep, having him buzz back kinda thing.... they say 2 mile range but I have never had a set to know if that's accurate.

The vest thing... that might be the way to go.... Commencing ebay search

 

[Mel]

Hey guys, you must be new riders or new to the forum because Renee used bright vests on all his rides for the lead and sweep rider. He had the most organized rides I had ever seen on the BARF and SBR forums in the last 4 years.

Mel

 

[i_am_the_koi]

I assume SBR is south bay rider's??? explains why I've never seen them... I'm a north bay guy... and yes, fairly new to BARF and Group rides in general.

Also no clue who renee is..... Don't hit me!!!

 

[Motech]

Hey guys, you must be new riders or new to the forum because Renee used bright vests on all his rides for the lead and sweep rider. He had the most organized rides I had ever seen on the BARF and SBR forums in the last 4 years.

Mel

I will never do a BARF group ride again unless someone I know and admire gives it their thumbs-up.

Hi Mel. :ride

 

[mean dad]

grab some vests cheap at home depot or lowes, for construction/traffic work.

 

[llenta]

Rene has recently moved on from Motorcycling, but we all miss him here. He did have the most regularly organized rides here in my opinion. Each group would have a lead and sweep that would wear different color vests. Although toward the end they were getting kind of ripped up. Some of the regulars on his rides still post "Mellow Group Rides" and usually take the same newbie friendly routes that Rene did, but without the vests as they have seen better days.

 

[Flying Pig]

Rene has recently moved on from Motorcycling, but we all miss him here. He did have the most regularly organized rides here in my opinion. Each group would have a lead and sweep that would wear different color vests. Although toward the end they were getting kind of ripped up. Some of the regulars on his rides still post "Mellow Group Rides" and usually take the same newbie friendly routes that Rene did, but without the vests as they have seen better days.

Thanks for typing that up so I didn't have to

 

[Morphine]

I agree. Paul's (schumacher62) Mellow Group Rides is one of the most organized group ride I've been on. FWIW the Doc Wong's clinic ride I was very organized well. OP, you might wanna look into it if you haven't.

Then there are other group rides that I wouldn't join again where people just kinda break all kind of traffic laws (speed limit ok fine but stop signs, red lights, crossing DY to pass constantly?)

It's not the vests; it's the mentality of the group.

 

[outtolunc]

grab some vests cheap at home depot or lowes, for construction/traffic work.

Big5 also carries 1 (or more) styles of safety vests/belts. I always have at least 1 in my bags (when i have the bags on).

 

[FoolishMortal]

Hey guys, you must be new riders or new to the forum because Renee used bright vests on all his rides for the lead and sweep rider. He had the most organized rides I had ever seen on the BARF and SBR forums in the last 4 years.

Mel

No and no. :rolleyes Just never went on a ride with Rene. :x

 

[NoobCorpse]

I agree. Paul's (schumacher62) Mellow Group Rides is one of the most organized group ride I've been on. FWIW the Doc Wong's clinic ride I was very organized well. OP, you might wanna look into it if you haven't.

Yep, both Paul (schumacher62) and Brian (BigB) now organize "Mellow Rides" in the tradition of Rene's Mellow/Newbie group rides from SBR/BARF. The structure of these rides are some of the best around - lead / sweeps, organizing rider groups by experience and pace, pre-ride instruction and pep talk, frequent stops, and above all, friendly people.

It's not the vests; it's the mentality of the group.

You said it. The group of regulars for Rene's rides really set the tone for fun, responsible, safe, and friendly motorcycle group riding.

 

[Griffindor]

Ya know, I have never done this or seen it done on rides... but it's brilliant in my opinion

Having led a few rides now, I sometimes find it hard doing a head-count in my mirror. A few times I've had very distinct riders in the back... most noticeably to me was a guy on his big ole Blue Gold Wing.... Could see that guy 3 miles back, haha.

But doing the jacket thing might be an idea we'll have to try.... yellow for front, orange for back, or vice-versa....

I was actually thinking grabbing a set of those 2-way radio's that have the vibrate-call function,,, and just buzzing the sweep, having him buzz back kinda thing.... they say 2 mile range but I have never had a set to know if that's accurate.

The vest thing... that might be the way to go.... Commencing ebay search

'got the Hi-viz yellow vest, I'm going to start wearing this when I'm the sweep on my next group ride. 'hopefully it helps my lead.

 

[russ69]

Vests are great if you are leading a parade or working a funeral. Group riding is not all that hard. Assign a sweep rider, count heads and ride the pace. That's really all there is to it. If you lose a duckling along the way, the sweep rider will be with him/her. What's the beef?

 

[i_am_the_koi]

Vests are great if you are leading a parade or working a funeral. Group riding is not all that hard. Assign a sweep rider, count heads and ride the pace. That's really all there is to it. If you lose a duckling along the way, the sweep rider will be with him/her. What's the beef?

No beef

I've noticed as lead that even when head counting it's much easier to look for a easy to spot object then it is to count heads....

For instance... I've got a group of 8 riders... the one sweep is on a very noticeable motorcycle and is a trustworthy sweep.... instead of having to count I look for his motorcycle, spot it, and know that we haven't lost anybody or else we would have lost him as well.

That's why the vest would be handy that if I saw that bright yellow/orange vest on my trustworthy sweep, I'd know that we're all together.

Just as if he saw the color on me, he'd know the group has reformed...

Would also be handy if we've stopped to reform the group that they can see us clearly and know to stop instead of riding by, or worse, slamming on their brakes and causing an accident

 

[BigB]

The vests work well, I have the set that Rene used, and they do come out when we do our "mellow" rides.

I have about 10 or so, in two colors. I admit, they work perfect for the lead rider, as I can see my sweep, when we hit turns, so I know my entire group doesn't miss the turn. I however do not use the vest to gauge speed, I simply use the overall group as my meter. If they keep up, I speed up (assuming an experienced group). Otherwise I set the pace, if its a new group, learning, to limit any overshooting turns or playing 'catch up'.

Vests are a win. If ya want to see, come to one of my Mellow Group rides. Sat or Sun mostly. Experienced riders always welcome, since we bring very new riders out, and they can learn from you too!

 

[i_am_the_koi]

Vests are a win. If ya want to see, come to one of my Mellow Group rides. Sat or Sun mostly. Experienced riders always welcome, since we bring very new riders out, and they can learn from you too!

I will definitely watch for them.... Would love to join in a good south bay ride one of these days as I've never done any of those road's yet down there

 

[BigB]

I will definitely watch for them.... Would love to join in a good south bay ride one of these days as I've never done any of those road's yet down there

Ha, funny you just posted. I just clicked 'maybe' on your DMV practice day on the 7th.

Yeah, come on down some time, its a Mellow ride for sure, but often some of the more experienced guys/gals are in group 1 and are more Medium pace. Either way, you will see some great roads and see why the SC mountains are so much fun! :cool