Group Riding

SABERS Marshals.
At the pre-ride briefing riders will be made aware of the Ride Leader, Tail End Charlie and the Marshals.

• Ride Leader and Tailend Charlie wear ORANGE HI-VIS VESTS.

• Tailend Charlie will only go as fast as the slowest rider is comfortable with travelling. Tailend Charlie volunteers for this position fully understanding that they will look after and nurture the slower riders so please don't ride beyond your capabilities to keep up, just relax and enjoy yourself.

• Ride Marshals, AKA Corner Marshals wear YELLOW HI-VIS VESTS.

• Everyone is to stay between the Ride Leader and Tailend Charlie.

• The corner marshals’ job is to indicate direction at intersections where there may be confusion as to which way the ride is headed.  If there is no marshal on an intersection, take the main road or go straight on as applicable.

• If we run out of corner marshals for any reason we will either pull up and regroup or you will be asked (by a raised hand and the spot to be marshalled signalled by the ride leader) to marshal a corner till an official marshal arrives who will then relieve you of the corner and you can rejoin the group.

• At corners & other places of possible directional confusion the ride leader will clearly identify to the Corner Marshal/s where they are to stop and direct riders to turn.  

• Once all the riders have gone past and Tailend Charlie arrives, the Corner Marshal/s will re-join the ride.

• The Corner Marshal will head forwards to the front of the ride passing where safe.  They will also pass on ride information to the ride leader when necessary.

• Riders are to keep an eye out for Corner Marshals returning to the front and allow them to pass safely.

SABERS rides differ to some other clubs/organisations as we organise the Corner Marshals.  This allows riders to just turn up and go for a ride and enjoy just that …..Riding

Riders.

• Before going out for a ride make sure you are appropriately licensed and your bike is registered & roadworthy.  Wear appropriate protective clothing.

• Always check your mirrors when riding in a group or on your own, a marshal or faster rider may be wanting you to move over so they can pass safely.  Don’t feel pressured to speed up and go beyond your ability.

• Only ride in staggered formation on straight roads with good visibility otherwise ride as a solo rider with the usual 3 second gap in front and in the appropriate lane.

• When new to riding in a group, start at the back, gauge what skill the rider in front of you has and safely make your way forward in the group till you find the niche you are comfortable in. Again remember to keep a safe buffer zone between you and the rider in front and don't feel you have to ride faster than you are capable. Just move to the left and wave the rider behind you through by raising your outer leg and do a small kicking motion. This will keep both your hands on the bars and still communicate your intention the rider behind you.

• As a safety measure, please let a marshal, Tailend Charlie or the ride leader know if you plan to pull out at any point during the ride. This can be done by simply getting the attention of one of the ride officials and giving them a wave as you turn off. If we don't know you have left we may fear the worst and spend time looking for you on the side of the road.

• Please observe the 5 minute warning given by the ride leader or marshals when leaving from a stop point. When the main group takes off and there are stragglers at the rear it tends to stretch the ride group out and reduces the effectiveness of our corner marshals.

• If you are overtaking do so when safe and appropriate.  Move over to the right of the other rider, not the inside!!  Obey all road rules.

• There will always be riders of different abilities on different capacity motorcycles so please be courteous to everyone so we all get to the same destination at much the same time.

In short the SABERS rides have been set up for riders and pillions to turn up and just ride.  They do not have to work on the day.  If for any reason they are at the front and do stop to marshal, their place at the earliest convenience will be filled by a SABERS Corner Marshal and they will be able to join back into the ride.

SABERS just want to go riding and want to spread that enjoyment to everyone that turns up to these rides or any SABERS event.

We welcome all riders/pillions of all ride abilities and capacity bikes.

SABERS MARSHALS, RIDER LEADER & TAILEND CHARLIE HI-VIS VESTS

SABERS Marshal hi-vis vest. 
Note the paw on the front.
This helps to ID a SABERS Marshal from other club marshals.

SABERS Marshal hi-vis vest rear view.

SABERS Ride Leader & Tail End Charlie hi-vis vest.
Note the paw on the front.
This helps to ID a SABERS Marshal from other club marshals.

SABERS Marshal hi-vis vest rear view.