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<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Tahoma>THE<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“SWEEP RIDER”<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></B></DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal align=center><FONT size=3 face=Tahoma>A guideline<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>by John Del Santo</FONT></DIV>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal align=center><o:p><FONT size=3 face=Tahoma> </FONT></o:p></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face=Tahoma>When a ride is being planned and set up, one rider takes the responsibility of being the Ride Leader. <SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN" lang=EN>The Leader's job is to set the rules,</SPAN> and also chooses a responsible, experienced person to be the <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“Sweep” Rider or “Back Door”….the very last bike in line. There should be an alternate Sweep so that if the main Sweep needs to stop for someone, the alternate then takes over right away. Ideally, the Sweep rider has some means of communication with the Ride Leader. The Sweep will be keeping their eye on the group in front of them and if someone in the group is riding unsafely and endangering other riders, should not hesitate telling them to behave or leave….Don’t worry, their feelings have been hurt before.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Tahoma>The Sweep should know the route of travel or the final destination for the ride.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>At the pre-ride talk,<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>all riders should be told that if they need to leave the ride unexpectedly….they should wave-off the Sweep rider so the Sweep knows that there is not a problem. At the pre-ride meeting the Leader and Sweep should discuss what method they want to use to accomplish lane changes.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>When riders in the front of the group make Right-turns-on-Red, that tends to leave riders in the back of the group stranded….So it’s a good idea to avoid this practice on group rides. </FONT></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face=Tahoma><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma"></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face=Tahoma><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma">On the Freeway some riders act as if permitting a car to cross their column of bikes is a violation of their religious and constitutional rights, and can make a driver already in a panic about missing his exit quite dangerous.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Do address this problem...It's best to ride in sub-groups of four to six bikes and provide a gap of four or more car lengths between each sub-group.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We are not a “convoy”.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We are individual vehicles.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Even Army convoys and funeral processions lose their right to individuality once they enter a freeway. </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Anyone
leading a ride should be aware of a strange quirk of Physics that happens.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In one big, long group….If the lead rider is going a steady 65 MPH, then the riders in the back of the pack will be going 85 MPH. ? ? ?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Maybe an Engineer could explain that.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Regarding group rides read more at : :<SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma"><A href="http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/streetsurvival/group_motorcycle_safety/viewall.html#ixzz1XvsZSM9e"><SPAN style="COLOR: #003399">http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/streetsurvival/group_motorcycle_safety/viewall.html#ixzz1XvsZSM9e</SPAN></A><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(thanks for the
info).</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face=Tahoma>The Ride Leader will always signal early, and slow down gradually.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma">Periodically riders should check the riders following in their rear view mirror. </SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma">If you see a rider falling behind, slow down a little so they may catch up. If all the riders in the group use this technique, the group should be able to maintain a fairly steady speed without the unsafe pressure of doing the “100 MPH Catch-Up” Trick. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face=Tahoma><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma">If you’re separated from the group</SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma">, don’t panic. Your group should have a pre-planned procedure in place to regroup. Don’t break the law or ride beyond your skills to catch up.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma"><FONT size=3><FONT face=Tahoma>Enjoy each other’s company, but ride your own ride. <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face=Tahoma><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma">Read more at on group rides at :<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: green; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN" lang=EN>www.<SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">msf-usa.org</SPAN>/downloads/<SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">Group</SPAN>_Ride.pdf</SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3 face=Tahoma> </FONT></o:p></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Tahoma>In the event of one of the group riders having a breakdown, a slip & slide, an unplanned dismount, <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>a collision, or a medical problem….. That’s when the Sweep rider becomes in charge of the area. He or She will send someone to call for whatever help is needed,<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>will send another rider at least a quarter-mile down the road to stand OFF the roadway and slow down oncoming traffic,<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>and then the Sweep sends everyone else away from the scene….up the road to a wide safe area….. Everyone will want to stand around the scene and be concerned,<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>but you don’t need a big clump of people standing next to the road waiting to be slammed into by an inebriated or distracted driver coming around the bend.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The only riders that stay will be someone who is a Nurse, Doctor, EMT or Mechanic…. depending on who is needed. </FONT></DIV>
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face=Tahoma>Quote for the Day :<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There is no bigger pain in the butt than someone who shows up for a group ride with an almost-empty gas tank. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><BR><BR> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#00007f face="tahoma, new york, times, serif"></FONT> <FONT size=1 face=Tahoma><STRONG>John Del Santo</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=1> ( 619 ) 223 - 0421</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT size=2><STRONG><EM> <FONT size=2><STRONG><EM> </EM></STRONG><FONT color=#0080ff size=1>At Intersections, and </FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><FONT color=#0080ff size=1> In Your Blind Spots,</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><FONT size=1> <FONT color=#00407f>"Check Twice for Motorcycles". </FONT></FONT><STRONG><EM><FONT color=#00407f> </FONT></EM></STRONG></FONT></DIV>
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