17 Do's and Don'ts for your First Group Ride

Many Bikers who've been around the block a time or two have a routine down when it comes to going on a group ride. Most like to arrive early to meet up with old friends while making new ones. Others prefer to register for the ride first and plan where they'll be riding in the group.

If you're new to motorcycling or new to group riding, here's a list of "do's and don'ts" right from FXCHD. These tips are good to follow if you're riding with friends or on a larger charity ride.

DO start off the day with a full tank of gas. There's usually a gas station close to where the ride starts, so plan to fill up there. Nothing's worse than having the ride starting out and less than a mile into it you've got to signal you need gas.

DO get to know your group riding signals. Sure lots of riders have bike to bike communications, but not everybody! So it's useful to know how to use signals to communicate and understand.

DON'T forget to do a T-CLOCS inspection before even leaving the house. You'll be really embarrassed if a cop pulls you over because your tail lamp is out.

DO have water with you so you can stay hydrated as the day goes on.

DON'T be afraid to ask questions and speak up! If the person leading the ride isn't pointed out to you, ask who you're supposed to be following. If you know the route they're taking is tore up, let the group know ahead of time.

DO take lots of pictures if that's your thing. Not only will it help you to remember the fun you had that day, they also make great birthday or Christmas gifts later on.

DO ride up to the pumps and gas up when the group stops for gas. Only after filling up your fuel tank do you empty your bladder (unless it's an urgency) or grab a snack to eat. And, even if you think you don't need gas, fill up anyways because you never know.

DO ride your own ride (meaning ride with the group and reasonably stay within your comfort zone). The nice thing about riding in a group is you'll usually have more experienced riders that can tell you're ready to take your ride to the next level, so they might have you go through some twisties that you didn't think you could handle. That being said...

...DON'T be pushed too far beyond your riding abilities. Say you've never ridden on the interstate and the group is planning a 'turn and burn' out to Buffalo (speeding down the Thruway just to get there and then get back). If this is not your style then say so! Do not ride faster than your Guardian Angel can fly.

DO make your last phone calls, texts, tweets and Instagram, Facebook, etc. posts well before the ride starts.

DON'T be "that guy/gal" to be putting on your helmet, gloves, selecting your radio station or getting your earbuds in, etc while everyone is already ready to ride and they're waiting on you. When the Road Captain says to get ready to ride, that is not the time to start an in-depth conversation or perform a T-CLOCS inspection. Go grab your stuff, put it on and start your bike.

DO take your rain gear with you. Even if the Weather Wo/Man says there won't be any rain, you might still find a need for it. Waterproof = Wind-proof. If it's not raining you can put on your rainsuit to help block the wind and keep you warm.

DO be familiar and be comfortable riding in a staggered formation. Most groups do this, it's only when Bikers have been riding together for years that are confident to ride side-by-side.

DON'T miss the Ride Briefing -with most rides they'll have a small period before KSU (Kick Stands Up) where they'll go over who the Road Captains are, what riding signals they'll be using, how they plan on handling stop lights & heavy traffic intersections, what the route will be, and what the road conditions are (if there's construction going on, gravel down, etc.). Sure you'll see it on the ride, but it is nice to know about it before hand as well.

DO wait for other members of the group on a ride. Keep an eye on your rearview mirrors and let members in the group ahead of you know if others have fallen behind. This can happen on small group rides with friends that you'll run into this situation (most larger charity group rides will also have someone riding 'sweep'). Someone maybe got a flat tire, stalled out their bike, or ran out of gas... If you no longer see them in your rearview, signal to the others, pull over and wait for them to catch up. If you don't see them in a few minutes, chances are you'll probably have to double back and go see what's going on.

DON'T drink and ride, group ride or riding on your own. First of all, the ride really is intoxicating enough. Second, most groups don't allow any alcohol before or during the ride - it's just not safe and puts others at risk. Third, if you do have an accident the police and your insurance will insist on a full investigation, and if they find you're legally intoxicated you'll be in for fines, license suspension, possible jail time, and increased insurance premiums.

Last but not least: DO take the time to enjoy the ride and make new friends. After all, you know you already have one thing in common: riding motorcycles! This is your time to relax, have fun, see new sites and roads, and maybe even learn a new thing or two.