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Sunday Ride Protocols |
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Ride notes: This is an informal ride, and as always, remember that this is a social ride; your safety and the safety of your fellow riders is paramount. As a reminder here are some basic group ride protocols which you may also find useful for your own rides. Safe speed: The safe speed for road conditions will differ from rider to rider. You are responsible to pick a pace that is comfortable and within your ability. There will be plenty of opportunities to regroup. Never ride beyond your limits in an attempt to keep up with another rider! Safe distance: Do not follow closely; leave a safe distance between you and the next rider. It is especially important to avoid following closely on secondary roads where you can't see around the next corner and circumstances can change without warning. Passing: If you must ride faster than the rider in front of you, put your blinker on and pass. If you see a rider behind you preparing to pass, move over. There is little point to passing when riding in a group, however. We all get there about the same time... Lane discipline: Never cross the double yellow line! Always stay in your lane, and pick your line accordingly. Passing: If you are prepared to ride faster than the rider in front, put your blinker on and pass. If you see a rider behind you preparing to pass, move over and give plenty of room. Don't speed up! Stopping: If the group stops, pull off the road completely. When the group starts, be sure to look over your shoulder for approaching traffic before you pull out after the person in front of you. Don't assume it is clear just because they pulled out... Breakdowns: The sweeps and riding friends may stop and provide assistance. It is not safe for then entire group to stop for one rider unless there is plenty of room to pull off the road. Taking off early: It is fine to head home early, but it is appreciated if you let the others in the group or the sweeps know so we don't wait around or go looking for you. |
Welcome Friends,
Our October shop ride will leave from the shop parking lot at 9:00 am, the first Sunday of October. This is going to be a rather short ride, with the point of the ride being a nice long interlude of watching motorcycle races at Sears Point/Infineon Raceway. The races actually start at 9:00, so if you do not want to miss anything, you may decide to leave at 7:45 or so and get there in time for first practice.
It is the last AFM race of the year at Sears Point, and we are also going to participate in a BMW Riders' Event at Infineon. The Bay Area BMW Dealers would like to invite you to watch Brian Parriott, and the K 1200 S go for its first win in the AFM Series. (I believe it is open production.) The racebike will be on display, Brian Parriott will be available to chat with, and the Bay Area BMW Dealers will cater a lunch in the room below the media center, which will also include a wine-tasting from the co-sponsor, MerSoleil Winery. This is a great opportunity to gather the BMW community together and have a great time at the races. Please RSVP to me by e-mail for this ride (Not usually necessary for our rides) so that we can organize enough lunch for everyone.
In addition, Dave Moss, of whom we are a sponsor, is campaigning a Triumph 675 Daytona in Formula 40, 600 Superbike and 600 Supersport. (See our web report at Cal News and Events: Project Daytona ). This is full of interesting technical information for sport and track riders, and gives a good overview of how a race campaign unfolds in the course of the season.
We will leave the shop and ride straight up 280 to 19th Ave, across the Golden Gate with a short stop at the Vista Point at the north end of the bridge, then up to Hwy 37, Black Point Road and the racetrack. It is not a very exciting route, I admit, but we want to get to the track as early as possible, since the races start at 9:00. If you want to leave earlier to see the first races and practice, we will meet you there, but please RSVP if you plan to join us for lunch. This is a very, very easy ride, so if you are a newbie and comfortable on the freeway, there is nothing to prevent you from joining us, The sight of all the racers may give you inspiration for your future riding!
We can park near the pit lane, and be sure to visit Dave Moss's pit tent and say hellos to Dave and Amelia, of our Cal BMW Triumph family. I think we will have access to Amelia's pickup bed to stack extra gear, too. Going to the races is more fun if you have some supplies: be sure to bring a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, water bottle, maybe even shorts and sneakers, so that you can see and be comfortable. It is possible to ride almost all the way around the track on your bike, so you can watch the races from different vantage points. I like to have binoculars along, too, but it is not essential.
You can come and go as you please once we get to the races, but I will probably spend the whole day there and return around 4:30.
The admission to the races is $10.00. There are food vendors there, but I think we can count on a decent lunch for the BMW riders at the hospitality room. Be sure to RSVP if you plan to eat with us.
After the races we'll return via the same route. The traffic will be heavy on 101 and 19th Ave. but light on 280 and the rest of the way home.
Please call or E-mail me if you have any questions, I'll be glad to answer them.
Ride safely,
Kari Prager
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