BIRMINGHAM UK H.O.G - 6852 F E B 2 0 1 3 HTTP://BRUMHOG.NING.COM

With January behind us I start to get a bit of a tingle at this time of year. The days are growing longer, and the first signs of spring are upon us, the riding season approaches!

I know most of you feel the same; you only have to look at the turnout for the February new members’ day. It was the 2nd of February and we managed to get out on the bikes for a short but

very welcome ride. We also had a good number of members that came from far and wide just to welcome new people. This gives me a warm glow of expectation as the riding season approaches.

So, as we start thinking about dusting off the HOG and getting out to ride more often we need to give up some time to thinking about dusting off the riding skills again. Irrespective of how experienced

you may be, I am sure you will agree that riding a bike requires you to continually improve your riding skills?

It was with that in mind that the February club night Guest Speaker was Marcus McCormick from the IAM. Even if you don’t consider taking one of their courses we hope that it has given you some food for thought as the season approaches.

It’s all about Safety

GETTING READY FOR THE 2013 RIDING SEASON

NEW MEMBERS LEAVING THE DEALER RETURNING.......

THE BULL PEN

In the same vein we have our own Safety Officer; Harry Harrison. Harry has one of the most difficult positions in the Chapter. He needs to help to raise safety awareness and ensure that we stay as safe as is possible without being seen as a kill-joy. Not an easy balance to strike. Harry does this well, and is as keen as anyone to get out on his bike to enjoy a good days ride! Please take some time to read the information that Harry has put together, the details of which can be found later in this news-letter.

It is good to see Trish Easton and Mandy Cape leading the way for our Ladies of Harley. We seem to have far fewer lady Riders than most other Chapters and are trying to put this right. If you have any ideas on how to get more Lady Riders involved please have a chat with Trish and Mandy. We are also trying to encourage those ladies that prefer to ride pillion to help shape the future of the Chapter in

order that they feel that it is a welcoming place for them to be, again any ideas to Trish and Mandy please.

As a Chapter we are keen to take part in the HOG Chapter Challenge this year. This is a bit of fun designed to get us out on our bikes more often. Details can be found on the web site. It is our aim to launch this properly at the start of the season event on the 16th March at the shop. Tony and the gang are putting on a day of entertainment to get us in the mood to ride. So watch the web site for details and ensure that you are free to attend what promises to be a great launch day for the new season.

As the season approaches we have made good progress on putting together a calendar of ride-outs and other events. Dave Haydon and his team of road captains have put together a good number of ride outs. If you want to see something on the list of events or want a favourite ride out of yours to be considered just drop Dave a line and we will see what we can do.

Finally, if you have not yet got around to buying your Big Brum Bash  &ckets………………..why  not!

Director’s musings continued..............

CHAPTER PICCIES

CHAPTER EVENING FEB

JOHN EASTON

NICOLA AND FAY

ALL SMILES

AS A CHAPTER WE ARE KEEN TO TAKE PART IN THE HOG CHAPTER CHALLENGE THIS YEAR

I have been a member of HOG and the Birmingham chapter, since buying my first Harley in 2004.

In 2008, I traded up to my current Harley, A Fatboy, which I have owned from new. My wife Cheryl has a cousin in the chapter, Jean, who is the partner of my friend Pete Harris, so we tend to do the same ride-outs and attend the same rallies etc. It’s “a family thing”.

I have two roles within the Birmingham Chapter of HOG UK. Safety Officer and Road Captain.

Back in May this year, Andy Rooke kindly put my name forward for the Road Captain’s course which was held at HOG’s UK head office in Oxford. The course was conducted by HOG’s most experienced Road Captains from Chelsea and Fulham, and Dunedin chapters and lasted two full days and included class room theory and practical riding sessions.

The course was very enjoyable and rewarding, but on the Sunday night at the end of the course and after riding home, I felt physically and mentally drained. A case of information overload with high levels of concentration needed on the practical group rides.

Being a Road Captain is not an advanced riding qualification. It’s about organising a ride to take the safest route, avoiding difficult junctions or hazardous road surfaces etc. Also to employ proven methods needed to ensure that the whole group arrives safely at the destination, without any incidents en-route or of people getting lost. Depending on the ride and the numbers in the group, we use either the second man drop off or the

buddy system, whichever seems the most appropriate for the ride.

Pete is also a Road captain, so we often alternate between lead and tail. Particularly on weekends away.

Then in July, I was appointed Safety Officer for the chapter. The Safety Officer’s role is to promote safe riding to all chapter members and where necessary, assist new members in integrating to the HOG group riding techniques.

A less enjoyable function is to liaise with HOG in the event of repercussions following an incident involving a chapter member. Thankfully, this has not been necessary and I hope it’s a function that is never needed.

I try to make myself available for all new members, who may have questions to ask about group riding, or how the Second man drop off system and the Buddy systems operate and any questions in general about membership of the chapter.

Since taking up both roles, I have lead two groups for weekends away and also for shorter, day ride-outs.

I am looking forward to working with our new Head Road captain, Dave Hayden, as well as our other new committee members, to help members to get the most out of owning their Harley next year.

Looking forward to some good rides in 2013.

Regards, Harry.

A few words from our Safety Officer - Harry Harrison

HARRY

JOHN

ANDY & CHERIE

MARK & DEBBIE

BEING A ROAD CAPTAIN IS NOT AN ADVANCED RIDING QUALIFICATION

Becoming a member of HOG and more importantly the Birmingham HOG Chapter, can and will open up new

horizons and opportunities to ride your Harley and expand your circle of friends. I find it hard to remember what life was like before I joined in

2004.

If you are new to Harley ownership, or have only ridden with one or two other

people, riding with a larger group will be exhilarating and exciting, I personally feel much safer riding with a group on a

ride-out, because someone else (the Lead Road Captain) has the worry of planning the route and leading everyone. Plus, you have the

reassurance that the tail Road Captain is following to cover your back and pick up any stragglers or those that have

missed a drop off/turing.

With the euphoria of riding within a group, it can be easy to experience a

large lapse of concentration, where difficult situations can quickly escalate to affect those riding with you. With experience you will get to know

everyone and after a few rides will be able to read their riding styles and anticipate their moves, as they will

yours.

Your first group ride-out can be a little daunting, but everyone had to do their

first ride-out once. Within the Chapter, you will find a wide range f ages and riding skills, from people who have recently completed “direct access”

and are new to riding, to those “older” members who have many years experience of riding and who may have

evolved from sports bike riders and the like. Where do you fit ?

Everyone in the Chapter will be

supportive and help you to integrate smoothly. Our aim is to have a good time and to enjoy riding our Harley's. Whether that is for a short Sunday

breakfast ride or one of our long distance rides across the channel coupled with many different, interesting

rides in between.

As role of Safety officer within the Chapter, its to offer specific help and support, working with the the Road

Captains to ensure that everyone gets the most out of riding, without exposing themselves to any

unnecessary dangers. There is enough to contend with, poor road maintenance, inexperienced or inept

car drivers and other road hazards, therefore there is a need that everyone is in tune and riding to the same guidelines.

Therefore I ask that you read up on the three guides:

• Group Riding

• The Buddy System and

• The Second Man Drop

All 3 guides are available from the Head

Road Captain on club night in hard copy format or electronically via the web site:

http://brumhog.ning.com/forum/topics/

group-riding-policy

On your first ride with the Chapter, please identify yourself to the the Lead

Road Captain. He will discuss any concerns that you may have and suggest where to ride within the group.

Please do not be offended with any advice and guidance given by the Chapter, we are not here to tell you how to ride your motorcycle. You have

passed your test, the Chapter is here to purely offer help, advice and assistance where is is needed. Equally, the

Chapter needs to be reassured that you will not present a danger to others whilst riding in the group. I’m sure you

can understand the need for us all to

feel safe when riding with new or unfamiliar people.

Please feel free to call me for an

informal chat or alternatively to meet up at the Harley Dealership (The Shop). Any questions or concerns that you have can easily be answered over a

coffee.

Don’t forget that the FIRST saturday of each month we have a “New Members’

day down at the dealer where Chapter Members including Road Captains are on hand to take you out for a short

ride to introduce the practice of Group Riding, drop off etc.

That’s all I have to say for the moment, other than a very warm welcome to

the Birmingham Chapter UK.

Harry Harrison

Safety Office and Road Captain

Tel: 0121 382 4484

Mob: 07817676081

Email: harry.harrison@dunlopatl.co.uk

A note for New Members........

Introduction

The Road captain, leading the Group Ride will take a central position within the lane.

The second man immediately behind the Road captain should take a position to his right, and two bike lengths clear.

The third man takes up a position to the Road captain’s left and four bike lengths back from the front and so on.

So that you are at least two bike lengths clear of the nearest bike to you.

The reasons for riding in staggered formation are:

★ We take up less space on the road when staggered, than we would in a single line.

★ The lead Road captain has better visibility in his mirrors of how the group is staying together.

★ If someone has to brake suddenly, the rider behind is not directly behind and has a bigger braking distance.

Rules to be applied during group Riding

★ No overtaking – stay in position. Though you will move forward within the group as the second man is dropped off and picked up ( See second man drop off guidance notes ).

★ Ride within the speed limits. See the HOG disclaimer.

★ If the group becomes strung out, the lead Road captain will slow his pace or pull over, to allow the group to reform. Do not feel under any pressure to ride beyond your ability to keep up.

★ Look ahead and use your mirrors to maintain spacial awareness. Don’t just follow the bike in front. Also look over your shoulder, to cover your mirror’s blind spots. In traffic, it’s easy to forget that you have someone just behind and to your right, or on your inside. Close up at road junctions or in traffic etc and be alert for when lights change.

Breakdown Procedure

The Tail Road Captain will stop and ensure that you have the necessary contacts to enable recovery. Please ensure that you carry a mobile phone with emergency numbers.

Leaving a ride

Please give the recognised hand signal that you wish to leave a ride, for whatever reasons. A flat hand waved side to side across the throat signals, “I’m done, heading home”. It will avoid a Road captain having to stop, or turn round and go back, to check that you are OK.

Road Rage

Don’t do it. Things can get frustrating with some car drivers, but venting your anger may have consequences for riders further back in the group who may not be aware of what’s gone on.

GROUP RIDING

Your Buddy is the rider riding immediately behind you. His or her Buddy is the rider immediately behind them and so on, so that there is an invisible string joining us.

The “Buddy system” relies on everyone keeping sight of the rider behind. If you lose sight of him/her, slow down or pull over until you see him/her again. If the guy in front loses sight of you, he or she will do the same, so that everyone maintains sight of the person immediately behind. If you arrive at an island or road junction, don’t proceed unless you are confident that the person riding behind you has seen which way you have gone. The same with traffic lights. If you get across, but your Buddy is held back – ride slowly or pull over, until you have seen that he/she has caught up.

It only takes one link of the chain to break (someone to leave his Buddy behind) and then we have two groups, with the risk of the second group taking a wrong turn.

The Buddy system is the most simple method of keeping everyone together on a ride. However, the down side, is that the ride’s pace is set by the slowest rider,

★ This system is most suited to shorter rides, with fewer bikes;

★ It can be used on longer rides, in particular where the Road captain leading the ride has not been able to recce the route beforehand and to plan his second man drop off points

BUDDY SYSTEM

The Lead Road captain will have previously ridden the route and will have identified safe places for him to drop off the rider immediately behind him ( the second man ).

The drop of points will either be before an intersection or traffic island, or just after the junction on the road taken. Or in some cases at complicated junctions, both before and after.

Approaching the drop off point, the Road captain will raise his left arm in the air to signal “get ready”. Then, as he passes the point where he wants you to stop, he will point to the spot.

IF YOU FEEL THAT IT IS SAFE TO STOP THERE, indicate, pull in, cancel your indicator and point with your arm, the direction that the Road captain has gone. If you feel that the location is unsafe, move on until you do feel safe. You are ultimately responsible for your own safety.

It is important to cancel your indicator, to avoid giving conflicting signals. For example, you could have your left indicator flashing, but pointing right with your arm. It is sometimes difficult to coordinate stopping, selecting neutral and canceling indicators, so an easy tip is to use the kill switch.

As riders pass you, you will get an idea of how many are left to pass. But it may take some time for everyone to come by. Do not leave your post until you see the Tail man with his HI-Viz vest. (He will have been pointed out to you before commencing the ride ).

As the last rider passes you and the Tail man approaches, indicate to move off and fall in just in front. If due to traffic, you cannot join in front of the Tail man, let him go by and then follow. When safe, he will let you past, to rejoin the group on the end.

As people are dropped off and re-join, your position within the group will move forward. So that on a long ride, you may be dropped off more than once.

Important. If you are riding out from the kerb and the second man dropped was riding kerb side, do not reposition close to the near side. Maintain your position on the road. It will come right when you are dropped off. Otherwise we have bikes moving across left and right every time a drop off is made.

This is current HOG policy. Accidents have occurred where people have crossed over following drop offs.

At traffic islands, look for the Rider who has been dropped off. You may need to pass one or two exists before you see him/her. It may not have been safe to drop off a Rider immediately before the island. The lead Road captain will also fall back on the Buddy system if there are no suitable places for a Second man drop.

2ND MAN DROP