Ideas for playing ROAD "WARRIOR" CAPTAIN
by Braxton Ladner
with brief intro by Dave Aldridge

Well buddy, here it is, The rules of the road according to Fidel. Just kidding. I hope this helps you out. Use this as you see fit. I don't care if my name is attached to it or not. I never have been one to worry about weather or not someone else agrees with me on these things. I enjoyed meeting your friends the other day. See ya soon. Let me hear from ya.

Dave, these are just some ideas that I have found to be effective. Keep in mind, being the leader of the group is not an enviable job. That's why no one ever volunteers for it. Usually everyone is receptive to instructions and guidelines when they are presented in the vein of ensuring a safe and pleasant ride for everyone. I always make a point to let everyone know that if they don't like the way the ride is going, they are more than welcome to go off on their own and meet back up with the group at a given location. Meeting back up, or at least contact via cell phone, let's the group know that these people are OK. After all, we all are part of a unique family and consequently are concerned about everyone's well being. However, if they choose to stay with the group, then they will do the things that will ensure a safe and pleasant ride for the group. It usually doesn't take long for the group to identify any problems and take care of it.

The most important thing the group can do is to recognize the need for a Road Captain and accept and appreciate this person for the responsibility and sacrifices this person takes on by leading a group of 'individualist' that would not prefer to express that 'individuality' in any other surrounding than with a group of there fellow 'individualist'.

The following are some things that I feel are the responsibility of the 'Road Captain':

• · If the ride is an organized ride, not just a one day let's get together, three or four bike ride, the route needs to be planned out and conveyed to all participants either verbally or, preferably, with copies of a map of the planned route. Now, this doesn't mean that the route will always stay the same as the ride progresses, but it does provide everyone with an idea of where they are going and when they will be turning. NOTE: Even "one day" rides need a planned route or at least final destination that everyone is aware of.
• · The identification and assignment of someone, preferably with experience riding with medium to large groups, as the "drag man" or last. The leader needs to be able to identify this bike at a glance in the rear view mirror to ensure everyone is up and moving as a group.
• · Discuss with group and come to a con-census prior to departure on the first day of how the group and, ultimately the leader, will be notified of a problem in the group, e.g. Mechanical failure, pee stops, Kodak moments, etc. As a general rule, each rider should keep in contact with the bike in front of them and alert that bike if the bike behind them is having a problem or whatever. This methodology keeps everyone in touch with every one else. The group may want to decide on some hand signals that indicate certain conditions. Some of these are fairly standard for those with just a little riding experience; some can be uniquely entertaining. This discussion should also address that fact that if you are going to ride on the right or left side of the lane, stay in that position, do not keep moving left or right. This disrupts the continuity of the group and creates more confusion than anything else and makes it difficult for the leader to keep track of all the riders.
• · Conduct a short but comprehensive meeting with the group each morning before departure on that day's leg of the trip. This provides everyone the forum for expressing concerns about the ride, suggest any alternative to the day's route, share experiences from the previous day, or possible plan for any stop that may not be on the current itinerary. This is also the time for the Leader or 'Road Captain' to address anything that he or she feels needs to be addressed with the group or an individual, especially with respect to any behaviors on the road that, in his or her opinion, jeopardizes the safety of anyone in the group. This should be done with respect and firmness so that no one has any doubt as to what the message is. (By the way, this is how I got the nickname "Fidel".)
• · Be aware of the experience level of all riders in the group. This is accomplished through prior knowledge of the individual or through observations. Always be prepared to impart your experiences with less experienced riders. I have found that the best method for this is to share your experience that taught you the lesson that you would like to share with them and that they may need to learn.
  
  (Dave, this is truly a touchy situation and can be construed as being "parental", and yes, I have been accused of being parental, but it is difficult for me to not feel responsible for the people that are putting a certain amount of faith and trust in me by following me on a motorcycle ride.)
• · Ride the speed that appears to be the speed that the group is comfortable with. This is a difficult judgement call at best. Many variables come into play with this decision. I have found that if I discuss this with the group, a con-census can usually be reached. The most important factors that I believe need to be considered are as follows
• · Where you are riding; back roads or the big road. I feel very strongly that the safest practice is to go with the flow of the traffic, especially on the big road. If the group wants to be on a leisurely ride, then stay off the big road. However, there are times on back roads, especially curvy roads where some people may want to really challenge themselves and take these curves faster than others. This is OK as long as everyone understands that just because the leader or someone else decides to take off and ride these curves faster than others, that doesn't mean the whole group or any individual has to do the same thing. In this case the leader should make sure and slow down at intervals to check that everyone is still with the group and there has not been a problem.
• · Road conditions coupled with the experience level of the weakest rider in the group.
• · Always keep in mind that if the leader passes a car, the majority of the group will do so also, or at least try. This can get very scary, again depending on experience levels.
• · The distance that the group needs to travel within a given amount of time.
• · And, obviously, weather conditions.

The following is my opinion of what the responsibilities of the group are:

BRING YOUR BRAIN TO THE EVENT

· Ride staggered. Some people have been riding together long enough, they may feel comfortable riding side by side, like Dave Bayles and myself. However, we stagger when conditions dictate, e.g. Traffic, Narrow road, Rainy/wet road, Curves, etc.

· Keep the group formation as tight as is comfortable. This is very subjective, but there are valid, tangible reasons for not getting stretched out from here to kingdom come such as:

• · The assholes out there driving four wheelers that just have to get in the middle of your group have less of a tendency to try when the group is tight.
• · If the group gets too far stretched out, the leader can't see the last bike or "Drag Man" as I call him. If this situation persists, the leader has no choice but to at least slow way down or possibly stop till the end of the group catches up. This can cause confusion and dangerous driving conditions for the other riders.
• · And last, but certainly not least, It just looks cool to have a big group of motorcycles all formed up consistently riding down the road. It's the kinda thing you hear about when you get back from your trip. Someone tells you about a friend of theirs that saw this group of 18 Harley's riding the hill country and it looked like these guys really knew what they were doing. That's the kinda thing that makes you feel proud to be seen with all these "individualists" that, at times hate your guts for being such a "Fidel"

· Be prepared for all possible riding conditions; rain, blistering heat, cold, etc…

If all of these on the previous three pages are tended to, the last and most important responsibility just falls into place with very little effort:

· Enjoy the companionship of people that will stand behind you in any situation, the beauty of the country side and the wind in your face, and the freedom to express that individuality like nothing else in the world provides by being an integral part of the most uniquely individualistic culture there is.

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