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Guest Rider Information
 

The Club

  • Desert Motorcycle Riders is a membership-based club.
  • We ride every Thursday morning from October through May.
  • Meeting place: Vicky’s of Santa Fe.
  • All riders should arrive between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. for coffee, announcements, ride review, etc.
  • Lunch tickets are to be purchased from the club Treasurer before 8:45.

 

Guest Riders

  • Individuals wishing to ride with DMR should contact our club's president, Chris Hector at chrishector@verizon.net.
  • In advance of your first club ride, we will ask you to accompany one or two DMR members on a checkout ride to ascertain your riding ability.
  • You will need to sign a waiver of liability
  • You will need to provide your driver's license and proof of insurance before riding.
  • On your first club ride, you'll be assigned to a riding group and that group’s Road Captain and Sweep will observe you throughout the ride and provide feedback. Your demonstration of good riding skills and group riding knowledge will enable you continue the ride with our group


Safety

  • Our #1 priority.
  • Wearing of a DOT helmet is required by California law. In addition, we strongly recommend that riders wear at least: over-the-ankle boots, long pants, gloves and eye protection.
  • Your motorcycle should be in good working condition, gas tank full at the start of the ride.


Rules of the Road

  • We ride mostly in staggered formation, utilizing guidelines of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (see diagram below).
  • When so designated by the Road Captain with a hand signal, we ride in single file.
  • Watch for signals from riders in front of you and pass them along.
  • Watch your mirrors for riders behind; if they’re not there, pull over and wait.
  • If you have to leave the group, tell your Road Captain and Sweep at a stop.
  • Absolutely no alcohol consumption during rides.
  • The ride is officially over when we return to the Coachella Valley.


    Staggered Formation Riding

    Staggered riding formation allows a proper space cushion between motorcycles so that each rider has enough time and space to maneuver and to react to hazards.

    The leader rides in the left third of the lane, while the next rider stays at least one second behind in the right third of the lane; the rest of the group follows the same pattern.

    A single-file formation is preferred on a curvy road, under conditions of poor visibility or poor road surfaces, entering/leaving highways, or other situations where an increased space cushion or maneuvering room is needed.




     

    View the MSF video on Staggered Formation Riding by clicking here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erpkyD7SMfw

     

     

     

     

     


     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Prepared 4/15/2014