For all chapter rides and trips, we follow these “Group Riding Rules”. Riding in a group is nice to look at and contributes significantly to the safety of everyone. And because no world champion has yet fallen from the sky, we are constantly discussing our potential for improvement. We ride considerately towards all other road users because this is the way it has to be.

Compliance with these rules is so important to us that intentional violations can lead to exclusion from the ride or from the chapter. In particular: overtaking within the group, aggressive riding style (riding too close, changing lanes, gesturing or pressuring other road users ...)

Group riding requires concentration and discipline. In particular with large groups, intersections are often secured and cordoned off. This is not to say that a right of way should be forced here.

By complying with the rules and the safeguards, our closed convoy is protected. Participants in a convoy must not expect and easy free ride.

Each rider is responsible for their own safety.

It happens time and again that impatient road users want to break into a convoy. This leads to dangerous situations. In particular, if the distances to the rider in front are not kept, other road users are encouraged to overtake. Whenever this occurs, the overtaking must be given enough space.

A convoy consists of the Road Captain (convoy leader), the participating bikers and the Last Man (final driver). The Road Captain chooses the Last Man before departure. The Last Man’s role is to secure the end of the convoy.

Rules of thumb

• Nobody has to break a law or ride beyond their limit!
• Whoever rides doesn't drink. The corresponding measures are used for overnight stays.
• Maintain your position in the convoy (left or right). Return to your position after each break. Lateral closing of gaps according to the hand signal of the rider in front of the other lane. Do not overtake or change lanes.
• The distance is usually 2 seconds to the one in front in the lateral lane, 1 second to the one in front in the other lane.
• If someone behind you stops, set the turn signal and also stop (check in the rear-view mirror again and again!).
• Adapt your speed to the biker in front of you, and don’t ignore the bikers behind you.
• Nobody is left behind! If someone is "lost", they will be searched for!
• Only use turn signals when the center line has to be crossed or when turning.
• Only turn when the biker following has turned on the turn signal, otherwise wait before turning.
• If you want to leave the convoy while riding, inform the Road Captain before the start, otherwise the missing person will be sought!
• Show obstacles with hand signals.

Road Captain Duties

• The road captain is the boss. He leads the ride and sets the breaks / times..
• The Road Captain chooses the Last Man.
• The Road Captain can exclude participants or order measures:
  
  • Due to rider behavior or violations of the vest rules.
  • For riders who have difficulties in the convoy, a separate solution will be found. This is in coordination with a second road captain or a chapter officer.
  • Determination of the position of the participants based on their experience (number of trips) or license (L).

Staggered riding, safety distance

The Road Captain chooses: the route the stops the speed the position of the slow, less experienced drivers the security method ("blocker") The Convoy Participant: rides at a distance adapted to the speed of the rider in front only drives so fast that the distance of the driver at the rear can be maintained maintains the position once taken within the convoy - does not overtake The Last Man: is responsible that nobody is left behind and helps to keep the convoy together.
Closing gaps Gaps are always closed laterally, by moving forward in your assigned lane. Changing lanes is prohibited. That means staying on the same track from back to front. If possible, pay attention to hand signals for closing gaps. It can always happen that there is a gap in front of you because someone has left the convoy. It is a widespread dangerous bad habit to close this gap by moving sideways. Participants have hit each other more than once. The correct way to close such gaps is laterally, i.e. to stay on the same track from back to front.
Stopping When stopping at intersections, traffic lights and other obstacles, two columns are used and the distance to the vehicle in front is kept as short as possible to enable a quick crossing of the intersection.
Securing intersections In large groups in particular, there is a need to secure intersections in such a way that the entire group can cross them in a smooth flow. It is important that the group drives in a focused and open manner. The road captain determines how many people should secure the next intersection and indicates this with hand signals. The foremost bikers fulfill this duty. Exception: L-bikers who ride behind the Road Captain. The front bikers block the roadside indicated by the road captain to let the bikers pass from behind. After securing, the Blockers join the convoy behind the Last Man and wait for his hand signal to fill their previous lane of the column.
The Road Captain's hand signals / determine the blockers The Road Captain holds 2 or more fingers up and signals the next riders that they must secure the intersection / roundabout. At the next intersection / roundabout, the front 2 - 3 bikes will secure the road again and then rejoin the convoy from behind. The whole convoy must cross the intersection as soon as possible. After the convoy has crossed the intersection, the Blockers join the convoy behind the Last Man and wait for his hand signal to fill their previous lane of the column.
The convoy leader holds 1 finger up and signals the next driver that he has to secure the road. The convoy should turn as soon as possible. After the convoy has turned, the Blocker joins the convoy behind the Last Man and waits for his hand signal to fill their previous lane of the column.
If the group is separated by a red traffic light, the last biker in the front group will wait for the previous group at the next change of direction. The rear group drives straight ahead until it sees a comrade and moves in the direction in which he leads. This continues until we are all complete again.

Nobody can get lost! We leave no one on the street without help!

Secure in a roundabout

Hand signal

Closing remarks

You automatically drive faster in the rear of the convoy than in front. With just 20 bikes, this can be a good 20 kmph difference This effect can be reduced somewhat if everyone maintains the same distances, drives with concentration and the Road Captain throttles the speed in time. So, it can be that urban driving at 40 kmph and out of town at 60 or 70 kmph.

Different countries, different customs: the range becomes particularly colorful when you drive in our neighboring countries. It is usually modest and orderly with German colleagues. With the Italian Amici too, but only for the first 10 minutes, the temperament usually breaks through, and a friendly swarm of bees develops. We have had the same experience with Greek and French chapters. For us it is a little bit tricky because we do not know the unwritten laws of these groups and do not know what we can rely on.

These are just the most important, international rules. There are a number of other subtleties that can make riding together a pleasure. Different clubs have different such subtleties that have to be discovered and followed when you get together.

The country-specific traffic rules, as well as the "group - ring rules" are the responsibility of all bikers themselves.

Limitation of liability

Any liability of the organizers is excluded. All insurance remains the sole responsibility of the participants. The country-specific traffic rules as well as the "group - riding rules" are the responsibility of all participants. Furthermore, the waivers in the official chapter registration form apply.

chapter on tour = safety and fun