[_Stretchie_]

Oooft, that was alooooot of reading, I can't answer each bit cos it'd take a while so I will answer some key points (and some not so key points).

If you think any of my comments are abrupt I can honestly say there is no malice or ill feeling behind them, just remember, I'm a northern monkey and stringing one coherent sentance together is quite hard work for me let alone all the below.

I love you all

Originally Posted by timwilky

I ain't a fast rider, but I do like a loon when the opportunity arises. I therefore see no reason why dedicated meet up points should not be identified and then it is upto the individual, do they want to play follow my leader or perhaps have a more spirited ride and a longer rest period at the meet points etc. and first dabs at the grub

OK I know I am the voice of dissent on this. I think it a valid argument, but the AR becomes personal fiefdoms to some and everybody must conform.

I see your point mate but to be honest it's not going to happen, pretty much all the comments seem to be aimed at health and saftey, and if people start going off on their own we have no way of being sure everything is ok, you can guarantee if one person shoots off, several will follow, and then some more and then more again, we would have a couple of break off groups from the main ride and what happens if we get to a stop and they are not there? How long do we stay at that stop to ensure they can join again, and also if we didn't stay at the stop until these people turned up then you can also guarantee there would be uproar and people worrying about them and probably not concentrating on their own riding.

Originally Posted by the_lone_wolf

Riding with 200 others is no different from riding with 30 others

You'll only ever see up to 20 in front of you and maybe 5 behind unless you're on a really long straight

But it's more interesting when you can fill a small supermarket car park when you stop...

Well said my boy

Originally Posted by hongman

Sorry if this sounds a bit noobish.

How does the rideout actually work?

I know we well have someone leading, and someone right at the end - but what are the jobs of the markers?

Exactly dude, there is a leader at the front (Me) and a TEC (Tail End Charlie) at the back (Bellerophon) you DO NOT overtake the leader and the the TEC will not overtake you, if you are at the roadside and see the TEC (we an the markers will be very visible with brightly coloured bibs on) wave them down to let them know you are in our group. The TEC will not be able to know every one who is in our group.

The markers will start off behind the leader and as we get to a junction/turning the first marker behind the leader will pull over WHERE IT IS SAFE TO DO SO and point people in the direction to take. They will stay there until the TEC appears, the TEC will wave the marker to move on and will not overtake the marker as the TEC should ALWAYS be the person at the back.

Originally Posted by Bear

The AR is always a big ride out and I've marked the last 3.

• Ride at your own pace,
• Give each other and the markers plenty of room,
• Don't worry about the route as the markers are there to make sure you don't get lost
• You probably won't be the slowest rider there, and even if you are it really doesn't matter due to the way the marker system is organised.

Most of all have fun!

There's very little to be worried about as far as I can see!

Well said Big J

Originally Posted by jambo

Please don't fuss about being at the back if you're worried you'll be slow. It simply doesn't work like that. At the front the pace is actually slightly more consistent as people get less of an accordien effect going on. But it's entirely down to you. The people at the front will NOT be going bat-out-of-hell fast anyway unless they want the group hideously spread out.

The ride is not a precession. Please don't overtake the markers, but you aren't expected to sit in single-file. A little common sense goes a long way, if you start buzzing people and being a twit purely for your own gratification you'll upset people and get a dressing down to boot

While the AR is a big ride, it's traditionally been organised very well and people have had no problems getting where we're going, at a pace they're happy with

Jambo

Very well put, and he is right, I will be leading a very legal rideout, the further back you are the more spaced out the group gets due to traffic and lights and junctions and stuff, do not concern yourself where you are in the group or how fast you are going, it should be no different to riding at anytime if you are aware of your surrounding as you should be if you are riding a bike/driving a car. Use your mirrors, check your blind spots remember it 'Mirror, Signal, Manouvre' for a reason, (and indicate BEFORE you move, not AS you move, we are not BMW drivers )

Originally Posted by kwak zzr

Never met you BEAR but you seem to have gained a reputation lol

For a good reason, I have only ever had one other mans tongue in my mouth and it was BEAR's

Originally Posted by Red Herring

The problem with having dedicated "markers" is that ......

Personally I'm a big fan of the drop off system....

It's not my place to be dictating how you guys are going to run this but with 150-200 potential bikers to look after you're going to have your work cut out.....

To be honest mate that very same conversation was had in the organising of this AR, and in the organising of AR08 and I can only presuming in the organising for all the others.

Pro's and cons to all different ways of doing things and we chose the method where the benefits most outweigh the risks.

This is my fourth AR and to be honest mate this is one of the conversations which comes up every year, if you organise a big rideout as a drop off system you get the same conversation but with people saying "I don't like the sound of this drop off system, what happens if I end up behind the leader but I don't want to mark the junction?" "I am a new rider, not ridded in groups before what happens if I end up a couple of bikes behind the leader mbecause I don't want to mark but none of the people ahead of me mark, do I HAVE to mark"

Originally Posted by caz650s

Hi Red herring,

I know where your coming from ,

But the peeps organizing this AR know the drop off system inside out & we have been using it for years on our 'normal' rideouts all over the country.

I don't know if you have attended an AR before ... but there is no way you can start dividing riders up into seperate groups .

The system being used this year has worked perfectly over the last few AR's and there is no way it will change for this one !

If You do not like the idea of riding in a 'prossesion' with your fellow orgers .. which after all is what it is all about ... You may be better of going for a blast on your own at a pace that suits you ??

Pretty much sums it up

Originally Posted by Red Herring

Fair point, but there have been several people, me included, asking just how it will be done and all we have received back is a "don't worry, the markers will take care of everything".

I hope that got answered above

Originally Posted by Red Herring

My understanding from reading previous threads is that you hadn't had this many involved then so I was just trying to be helpful. My apologies if it wasn't welcome.

Not at all mate, if people don't bring these things up then they cannot be addressed. This thread is far from unwelcomed and I hope that by starting this a few people have had some worried addressed.




Peace out