As I write this final Mid-month Roundup before our 2026 RFTW, a realization of fact that we have less than 30 days until Kick Stands Up (KSU). Are you ready to ride both physically and mentally?
Let’s run through a few areas that are often overlooked, undervalued, or just forgotten all together. On the bright side, you have almost a month to practice just a little more.
Group Riding – we’ll be riding in staggered formation and for most riders, this is something not usually performed but maybe once a year. Midway’s formations are simple, staggered formation at speed, following two seconds behind the person in front of you. The person just off to either your right or left side is two seconds from the person in front and one second off from you. There are only a few ways to practice this, actual group riding with two or more motorcycles, riding in traffic that may or may not be cooperative, or following a family member or friend in a car and being knowledgeable of what it is you are trying to accomplish. It sounds easy, but for some it can be very challenging. But for anyone you can get used to it, relaxed, and even placed into a trance like state. Used to it or not, practice is vital and key.
Lane Tracking – normally a rider enjoys the freedom of an entire lane to maneuver within giving many options of evasion and escape if the time comes for it. In group riding this is restricted down to half of a normal lane placing you in lanes 1 and 3 as shown in the image. In this placement, usually all debris is clear but can lead to some tire tracking and pavement cracking, keeping the need of a vigilant rider at all times. Maneuvering around obstacles can be done but awareness of your surroundings and other riders is very important.
Hand Signals – while riding in formation, a rider relies on the folks ahead to pass on information about what is up ahead. Usually, a single rider can see a hazard in the distance and can prepare for it, however in a pack visibility is limited and hand signals become very important. Just as you will rely on the signals given to you by the rider ahead of you, the riders behind you will rely on you to pass it back. Remember, communication is vital in groups, and this is no different. Hand signals and meanings can be found listed in the daily itinerary booklet. To say some are more important than others would be a lie. All of them carry the same weight and information value. Tapping in or out, signaling for help or assistance needed, to speeding up or down to hazards in the road, all are necessary to know l, understand, and practice using to pass along while in formation. Using them while riding everyday not only will help you remember and provide practice but are common enough for general motorists to understand and appreciate as well.
Engine Breaking – human beings are reactive creatures by nature and while driving is no different. If you’ve ever been in traffic that is backed up for a while, the worst thing anyone can do way up front is tap their brakes. A chain reaction will ensue creating a slinky effect that will only magnify the further it goes back. The same thing happens while group riding as well. If you find yourself riding a little too close to the person in front and want to slow down, maybe you’ll gently apply a little trail brake to slowly bring you back to the 2-second mark. You didn’t even apply that much brake that normally no one would notice your speed change. But the instant your finger ever so gently squeezed the brake lever, your bright red brake light came on signaling a warning light to everyone behind you that had a direct eye shot of your light. They instantly grab their breaks to prevent any type of incident from occurring with them involved. In an instant the brake lights pop on in warning signaling more behind them that there is some sort of danger ahead, you need to slow down and prepare yourself to avoid any issues. Even though you barely applied any brake at all, the rest of the group behind you is now trailing away in anticipation of an unexpected encounter. The riders directly behind you are now realizing the light didn’t actually mean impending doom and are now trying to catch up, creating a distance between them and the riders behind them. Shortly after they begin to accelerate, the riders behind them follow suit and increase their speed, and the cycle continues on back. Meanwhile, the riders behind you catch up so quickly that they now instinctively apply their brakes to slow them up and start the whole process all over again.
We’ve all done it. To remedy this situation, rather than slightly touching the brake, slowly let off the throttle. Control your speed with your wrist being careful not to over rotate one way or the other. This could also create a slingshot/slinky effect if over performed. Now by all means, if you need to use your brake, use it. Just use your light sparingly.
Highway Pegs – as we ride across the desert, plains, and even through the mountains, eventually you’ll get comfortable riding in the group and want or even need to stretch your legs out. If you have a pair of highway pegs, letting them down and stretching out to or even over the top is a feeling like no other on long rides. The only critical aspect of having them is the need to be able to raise and lower them with your feet. Although they are a nice relaxing feature on the road, they can be a severe hazard when coming into fuel or even staging with the group. If anyone can recount striking their shin or knee across a hitch that is on the back of a vehicle, then you can imagine the pain of either a peg or sometimes a claw reaching out and striking a leg as you wheel by. Down pegs a severe safety hazard, especially when refueling as people could get injured while refueling operations are in progress. Please make sure they can be lowered and raised by feet pressure, and if not, please either remove or store them in their upright position.
Cruise Control – most modern motorcycles now come with some form of cruise control as a standard or aftermarket feature. Although these are comfort systems, please do not use them while riding in the group. As you will come to know you will need to adjust your speed continuously and at a moment’s notice. The response between throttle and cruise control are not the same and only the throttle shall be used.
Radios – how many times have you stopped at a light and up beside you another bike rolls in with their music blaring so loud that you couldn’t hear your own bike? I understand when you are at highway speed the music needs to be turned up to hear it over the wind. But, when group riding many riders have helmet coms installed, not for the music but radio communications. Anyone can have this capability to communicate with others within their platoon or to listen in on the leadership (listen only). However, leadership is required to listen and communicate at all times in order to keep the group safe and on track. Another important broadcast over the GMRS radios just before leaving a stop is the reading of the Missing Man Bio, a solemn moment that all should hear prior to starting up your engines. So, while we are in group formation, please keep the external music off and/or listen through a headset. For more information on GRMS radios and/or headsets, please contact your leadership or read the information available on the forum pages.
Luggage & Loading – as with any trip, luggage is an essential part of planning and execution. The only downside to a bike trip is the need to downsize the luggage as well. Think about this a minute: most riders are used to riding by themselves and with no luggage, while others are used to riding two up but again, no luggage, even trikes and bikes with trailers. Now add luggage. For a single rider, your machine will behave similarly to having a passenger. And for this riding two up, now you have more weight that will also change the way your machine will handle. Now it may sound crazy, but pack your bag in advance, even if it isn’t the outfits you’ll take with you. Pack your machine to something similar if not exactly to what you will travel with and ride with it prior to the trip. Understand what and how the differences affect the handling of your machines. You will also find that you will pack a couple of times, realizing what you want and what you can actually bring may be two totally different things. Don’t worry, if the most experienced riders do it. Just remember, your bike has a load limit. This includes you, your passenger, your equipment and accessories, and your luggage. It all adds up quickly. The last thing to remember when loading your bike is to ensure everything is secure. The last thing you want is to get to your destination and realize that you don’t have something anymore because you lost it miles back. You definitely don’t want it picked up by a fellow rider, that is how road names are given. Most importantly you don’t want to find out that your lost luggage caused an accident behind you. Secure your load, ensure it is secure, and triple check it again. Don’t believe me? Just ask DuctTape, ZipTie, or Bungee; they’ll all tell you their experiences.
And if you haven’t already been riding to get your saddle in the shape over long distances, you best get going. Watching riders trying to get off their bikes at the end of the first few days because they didn’t get their ‘saddle training’ in is quite the site. (Just remember road names are earned this way)
Registration – IT IS TIME. If you haven’t registered, you need to do it now.
Pre-Paid Fuel – Mandatory. Paying now allows you to use Zelle. If you wait until you check in, CASH ONLY.
Folks, it is crunch time. Please make your final preparations, registrations, and updates. We are less than 30 days out. Time to ‘Sit or Git’.
Hope to see everyone safely in Ontario or along the way.
As always
Ride Safe
Rids Smart
And keep the shiny side up!
~Is it May yet? Then again, every day is May if you let it.
Less than 30 days away….
Ben ‘Stitch’ Noyce
Due to circumstances beyond our control, Midway Route Photos from previous runs are no longer available. 