on sunday morning a 28 year old women lost her life on a ride, she had dropped her child off at day care and was  less than  30 minutes into the ride before her death.

here's the facts as i've been able to ascertain.

she was new to riding and riding with a group who had vastly more experience than her.  at the end of a twenty two mile straight line there are set of "S" curves on a down hill slope. (i've scared the crap out of my self on them) she went in too hot. got in touble, this is where eyewitness accounts vary, one guy said she slid off, others say she stood it up and ran off. either way the results were the same. she lost her life.

this now brings me to my point.  there are alot of new riders here on the board, many women, (and yes i love that) who have completed the motorcycle safety course.
for that i congratulate you, yet please understand that is the equivilent to passing drivers ed. the only way to hone you skills is riding, i've logged over 150,000 miles on two wheels and still don't feel i have it down pat. yes i do get wild and crazy as has  been documented, i've also been down more times than i have fingers on one hand. my wild and crazy time is alway alone never in a group.
givin that experience i offer these tips when group riding. first and formost, get together before hand and have a safety meeting which should include inspections of all safety equip. you should discuss destination and route along with a desired traveling speed.  for the ride you break it up into smaller groups experienced in front, intermideate in middle and novice in the rear.  following the rear pack should be the most experienced rider. this way he/she serves a nanny. he/she then can advise the novice group of potential mistakes when stopped for fuel.  leave the showboaters at home.  

if you are a novice and this isnt happening,make it happen or just follow along at your own pace, you will catch up to them at fuel stops.  RIDE AT YOUR EXPERIENCE LEVEL.

i firmly believe that the groups should ride at the least experienced level, but i know that doesnt often happen.

on many occasions i've been the nanny and happy to do it..  

i'll get off my soap box now, i hope it wasn't  to abrasive for some of you. But knowledge is power and i love you guys and gals like family, all of you,regardless if you post or just read. i  can't bear the thought of losing any one of you.  ok got a little sappy there, but it's from the heart.

Good thoughts Sluggo. We all need to remember that we are not invincible and to ride our own ride.

P.S. The soapbox is yours anytime you want it.

I've been riding for 18 years. Am I an expert? Nope, not even close. I'm probably the slowest rider on any group ride I try to suffer through. By choice, I tend to slide back and take over the "tail gunner" position. Don't like having other bikes behind me. (Or in front of me for that matter)

MSF teaches the bare essentials. ERC expands on them. As Sluggo so often mentions, you HAVE to ride to improve/maintain your skills. Having been off the scoot for almost 4 years, I know exactly HOW bad my control has degraded. I wobble. I "lurch" a bit taking off or stopping or shifting.

Biking, though fun, IS work. Getting tired? STOP and have some coffe, a soda, a snack, a smoke, whatever. Or all. Group "outclassing" you in the twisties? So what. Let THEM showboat. Let THEM speed. You can laugh as you ride by them getting tickets. Pack riding making you "spooky"? Drop back, signal the tailgunner that you are wiped out. If he/she takes the position seriously the pack will stop for awhile, or let you peel off (don't expect an escort though).

I commute roughly 21 miles each way to work daily. I stop on the way in. I stop on the way home. I stick to the back/frontage roads.  There are pull outs for a reason, so, I swing in, shake out the cobwebs (the Savage droning encourages sleep), and then continue on. Try it, it helps.
-WD

Sluggo, WD, and Savage_Rob are completely correct.   It can be your pride or your life.

I've got 30,000 miles or so under my belt, and when I ride with my friends, I am by far the most experienced rider (we're youngish, ~25), so I do take the tail position... and I always insist that the next most experienced rider lead.  The only problem is that many time's the guy is a knucklehead (so maybe I/we shouldn't be riding with him).  So what do you guys think... Should I lead or follow?

I'd also like to point out that the tailgunner has other responsibilities, too, such as initiating lane changes (being the first to change lanes when it is safe for the group to do so... after the leader's signal).

ks

Sorry to hear about that young mother losing her life.

While not always the case, I tend to ride as if I am in no hurry anymore.

There are some very good ideas posted in this sad thread.  New and experienced riders would do well to read it and contemplate what it is to ride within your limits and to be aware that others in your group are not riding at your level, whether they be more or less experienced.  

Yes, It is sad ! And before anyone of us goes for a ride we have to think how many lifes depend on us and have a little more responcibility.
And what about the group that let this happen? Don't You think they should have beem riding accordingly, so this would not happen?!

Hi all I was reading all you all have wrote on this subject and as you know I am just beginning to ride and I agree withwhat you all said about the msf classes a good class to take but you don't know how to ride that much when you come out of it so I am taking it easy, short trips and my husband is always behind me he starting riding last year and said he still learning a lot so thank you all for the information you put on this site as as I have said before I love this site. So everbody take care and keep writing so I can learn. 8)

Sorry to read about this. I`ll make sure I learn from this very sad experience.

Please, Sluggo, express my condolences to the rider's family from a Chilean fellow rider.

RW