Group Routing
 Keeping
the Troops Together
It happened again. Lightning and I attempted to make a 3
day trip from Seattle to the Columbia River Gorge twice now. Every time we leave
something gets screwed up, I wind up in the Gorge and Lightning winds up back
home in Seattle.
Lightning and I like to go out on rides together. The
thing is that Lightning likes to maintain an average speed of about 85mph on the
open road. I, on the other hand, stay closer to the legal speed limit. Since
Lightning likes a longer break with a stiff cup of coffee and a cigarette about
every hour, we just choose a town an hour away and agree to meet up there. That
works great unless Lightning doesnt consult his map and winds up heading east
instead of west.
Group riding is a lot more fun when the group is spread
out. Its also safer and theres less peer pressure on riders who feel they
have to perform just so when riding tightly in a pack formation. For me,
the best group riding is when I cant see the group until the next stop. But
as you can see by the above-mentioned dilemma, group rides can get botched and
people can wind up in the State Patrols missing persons files by the end of
the day.
Heres five ways to keep your long-range group ride on
track, regardless of where the riders spread out.
1. Prior to heading out, use mapping
software to pre-determine the route. Such software is readily available from
Microsoft, Rand McNally and Delorme for around under $50. Print out copies for
each rider and include both the map printouts and the written directions
sheets.
2. Prior to leaving, pass out the route sheets to each
rider. Discuss likely gas, food and break stops along the way. Be sure to
point out if there are long stretches with little chance for fueling up, so
that everyone gasses up and pees in anticipation of these lengths.
3. Everyone with a cell phone should exchange their cell
numbers so that the line of communication is open in the event that a rider
winds up MIA. You can simply write them down on the back of the route sheets.
4. Obviously in many rural and wilderness areas there
are no cell phone carriers. Prior to the ride everyone should take down two
appointed group members home phone numbers equipped with answering devices.
That way calls can be made to a central number from a pay phone if need be.
Again, write the numbers down on the backside of the route sheet.
5. Regroup at each designated stop before heading out on
the next leg.
Had Lightning and I followed these simple steps, we would
have had a great three day trip. We will next time.
PT/Fall 02
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