Bike Meeting Places
Shell Casuarina Thomas Rd (cnr Johnson Rd)
Casuarina Just off the Freeway heading south.
Caltex Midvale Great Eastern Highway between Roe Hwy and Farrall Road lights. Midvale = bottom of Greenmount
BP Kewdale Abernathy Road at the McDowell St lights.
Gull(Gingers Roadhouse) Upper Swan Great Northen Highway - (Just past Copley Road) huge place cannot miss it.
Caltex Cannington cnr Cecil and Albany Highway - Perth side of Carousel at the set of lights.
   
Group Riding Etiquette
  • The following are some basic principles for travelling as a group on motorcycles.
  • Designate a Ride Leader who knows where she is going and who rides in front, and a Tail-Ender who rides at the rear.
  • Everyone is to ride at their own pace.
  • If you are unable to see the fider following you and the group is turning (corner, round-a-bout, etc), stop at the corner to ensure the followers know which direction to go. Wait for the Tail-Ender before leaving the corner and rejoining the group.
  • Ride in a staggered formation. If the leader rides the right side of the lane, then the second bike rides towards the left, the third to the right and so on.
  • Allow a two-second interval between you and the bike directly ahead of you. Ride smoothly without any swapping back and forth.
  • Don't be a lemming. You, not the group leader, are riding your bike. Do your own checks for traffic and other hazards - don't just blindly follow. If someone in your group pulls onto the shoulder and stops, don't follow. Stay with the group. The Tail-Ender bike is designated by the leader to stop and help.
  • In parking, the leader will try to find an area big enough for everyone. If she can't, find your own.
  • The destination point will be decided before departing and stops will be agreed upon. Maps and mobiles are useful if you get separated from the group.
  • Make sure your petrol tank is full and everything else is taken care of before you go. Top up your tank at every fuel stop whether you need it or not.
  • Stay within the bounds of your skill level. Don't be influenced by the bike ahead of you diving into curves. Group riding is neither a race nor a competition.
  • If you don`t feel comfortable riding in a group, ride on your own.
   
Corner Marking
  • Group Leader and Tail Ender (Rider) stay in position during the ride. Others take turns marking.
  • At an intersection where the ride turns, the leader signals for the rider immediately behind her to mark the corner.
  • That rider stays on the corner, in a clearly visible and safe position, and points out the turn to following riders.
  • When the Tail Ender arrives, she signals the corner marker either by sounding the horn or an agreed hand signal. The marker then pulls in front of the tail rider and continues. Do not leave the corner until the Tail Ender arrives, no matter what!
  • If, as a rider, you see a spot that could be confusing and has not been marked by the lead rider (or maybe the person who was meant to corner mark didn't stop for whatever reason) display some initiative and mark that corner yourself. Your mates that are following will be happy and you may well be instrumental in getting the whole group to the destination.
  • One last thing. If you are immediately ahead of the Tail Ender, always keep their headlight in view. This does not mean that you have to sit two seconds ahead, but rather have an occasional look in your mirrors (you do scan them regularly, don't you?). If you cannot see the Tail Ender's headlight, ask yourself why and if necessary wait or turn around and look for the rear rider. Being rear rider can be very lonely indeed if something goes wrong.
   
Commonly used Hand Signals
Stop Left hand held up, forearm vertical.
Hazard On left side of bike, point and continue pointing at hazard with left hand. On the right side, point and continue pointing with right leg.
Your blinker is on Extend left arm and open and close fingers.
   
Biking Terminology
Chicken Strips The tread left on the sidewalls of a sport bike tyre. How much of this there is (or isn't) is how some Bikers size each other up.
Countersteering Pushing the bikes handlebars in one direction (at higher speeds) and having it go in the opposite direction.
Endo The art of stopping a motorcycle and having the rear wheel lift off the ground. Also called a stoppie.
Fairing The plastic shrouds that deflect wind and rain from the rider, the motorcycling equivalent of automotive bodywork.
Lane-splitting Driving between two lanes of parked/stopped vehicles.
Mono Wheelie, riding on the back wheel
Pipes Exhaust System
Road Rash A Wipeout that scrapes off some of your skin. Marks left behind on a biker's body after falling down while moving.
Feral Femmes (c) 2007   .   .   .   Developed by Dynode Productions