Triangle Denizens of Doom

The Bikers@ µFAQ

First, a word from our Administrator:

REC.MOTO THIS IS NOT.
Fun and flames are welcome, advice and questions moreso, but we are a group of working folks with jobs, and I, amongst others, cannot sift through more than about 15-20 messages per day.

PLEASE, before sending mail to the list, ask yourself if this message is for "everyone on the list" to read, or if a personal note to one or several list members would be more appropriate.

Also, a comment about Netiquette/Spams:
The participants on this list are, by and large, experienced users of the Internet.  Most of us participate in multiple mail lists, newsgroups, and other electronic forums. The probability that we will have already heard the latest Internet rumor is so high that it is nearly a certainty.

Please DO NOT REPOST SPAM to the TriDoD list!!!

Please DO NOT CROSS-POST to the TriDoD list!!!
This will ultimately lead to spam posts from outside sources.

No matter how helpful you think you are being, this is not an appropriate forum for spreading the latest rumor of a email virus, or to solicit political activism in the latest Imminent Death of the Internet. Trust us. Save it for BS or BB, and see for yourself how many respond, "yeah, I got that mail 7 times already."

Remember "the importance of a message does not affect its suitability for a particular group."

Bikers@ is primarily for discussion of relevance to motorcycles, motorcyclists, or riding, in the Triangle Area of North Carolina, USA. Discussion about any sort of biking problem is welcome, but an attempt should be made to keep it of practical relevance; theoretical or philosophical discussions are best taken to the rec.motorcycles newsgroup.

Although we call ourselves the "Triangle Denizens" or "TriDoD," mostly for historical reasons, we are open to all those with an interest in motorcycling in the triangle area. All are welcome at all our events.

Please try to reduce quoted text to a minimum...to help those of us who are spare-time-ly-challenged and scan messages quickly. One-liner jokes, while fun, are most appreciated when at the end of a message with signal content. Edit subject lines to reflect when a thread mutates.

Some days there will be no list traffic (we hope!). Don't worry about it. The regular µFAQ posting should be in your mailbox sometime every now and then to let you know the list is still there.

Subscribing:

We are a group of *active* motorcycle enthusiasts, not just cyber-identities. We expect that all subscribers will from time to time come out to meet people in person, whether it's to one of the regular events or to one of the irregular get-togethers posted on the list. If your location is such that this is not possible for you (like, you live in Canada or something) you might want to reconsider whether this list is for you.

Inane subscription requests from Europe and suchlike, totally ignoring the guidelines posted in past FAQs, has necessitated a restrictive subscribe procedure.

To subscribe to this list, you must have a referral from an existing list member. Since we have regular social events, it should be quite easy for you to turn up to one and meet someone who will send a referral for you. In fact, it is strongly recommended that you turn up to one, or more, of our events first so you can be sure that we're the sort of folks you want to hang out with, since the list is, after all, about active participation.

ALL personal mangement (unsubscribing, digest on/off, postponing mail delivery, etc.) of your list account can be managed by going to:
http://tridod.org/mailman/listinfo/bikers

NOTE:  The only task you cannot accomplish via the web page is changing your subscriber email address.  Should you need to change from one email address to another, contact the listowner at:
mailman-ownerATtridod.org
Be sure to include your old AND your new email address.

If you are unsuccessful in your attempts at  unsubscribing or making any other account changes, contact the listowner:
mailman-ownerATtridod.org
The title of your message MUST BE THE FOLLOWING:
Subject: BIKERS ADMINISTRATION

If you send a message with some other title, and the list owner doesn't do whatever it is you requested, don't be surprised. He gets ton of email, and often deletes email based on the subject line alone.

To send mail to the list, the address to use is:
bikersATtridod.org

There is a digest version of the list available. Should you find that the number of email messages is overwhelming, you may want to try using the digest version. All the day's emails will be sent to you in one message. Each posting from the day will be attached to the email. This attachment process causes problems for some people, but alas, it's a "feature" of the listserv software, and cannot be changed. If your email reader automatically dumps attachments to a file on your disk, you may not want this version, since you'll have to open, and then trash each message individually as a file on your disk.

If you want to sponsor a new subscriber, send email to:
mailman-ownerATtridod.org
with the subject:
SUBSCRIPTION REFERRAL

The subject must be ALL CAPS and the body of the message must include the email address of the new subscriber.

The new subscriber is expected to post an introduction to the list soon after joining.

Regretfully, requests which do not follow these guidelines will not be honored.

Note About Email Systems:
When the list serv cannot deliver an email message to an individual user, the list admin is notified (for each and every email that can't be delivered - that can be 10-50 times a day depending on list traffic).
The reason is usually either:
1 - the individual user's email server is down
or
2 - the individual user has reached the storage capacity of their email system.

The list admin will only tolerate bounced messages from an individual user for so long before getting tired of dealing with them and unsubscribing that user from the list.  SO...please be sure to use a reliable service for your email if at all possible AND be sure to check your email frequently enough to assure that you don't accumulate so much as to max out your available storage.  Should you get unsubscribed from the list...you can write to the list admin and request assistance in getting resubscribed (be sure to use the email address and syntax listed above).

Regular TriDoD Events:

These are regular occasions which will happen unless the Keeper of the Event posts something to the contrary.

BIKER BRUNCH (BB): Sunday mornings, rain or shine.  BB is a group ride to a breakfast location. The leader/s of the ride will vary from week to week, as will the breakfast style and location. The meeting place, however, does *not* vary: it is close to the geographical center of the TriDoD -- the Mobil gas station on Airport Blvd, 0.3 mile south of I-40 at exit 284 (on the left coming from I-40, past the Waffle House and a motel). Meet there at 8:45 to leave at 9:00 sharp; make sure that by 9:00 you have 80 miles of fuel in your tank. If there's some reason you're likely to need more frequent stops, please don't be afraid to tell the group so allowances can be made.
For information on some of our favorite routes --> Click Here
Keeper: Martyn Wheeler, Email
Notes: Please read the group riding protocol note below.

NEW BIKE ROUNDS (NBRs): It's a tradition for folks who get a new bike to buy a round for at least one other TriDoD person. Usually takes place at MMG, but the date/location/amount is up to the person buying. It is *optional*, just a tradition, not a social requirement.

Note: NBR has nothing (necessarily) to do with beer. It's the idea of sharing one's joy at the acquisition of a new (to him/her) motorcycle, with people who understand the feeling. We only settled on beer because it's what we all drank at such gatherings at the time we started them. NBRs are optional, they are completely of the purchaser's discretion, and they are beside the damn point - The point is the NB, not the R! (Ed Green DoD#0111)

For more details about when NBR is appropriate, contact the Keeper.
Keeper: Rick Clarke, Email
Notes: This date/location is flexible. Although MMG is prefered by many, if someone offers up a round as inducement, this crowd can be persuaded to go most anywhere, anytime.

MONTHLY MONDAY GATHERING (MMG): Second Monday of every month.  Although people arrive at uneven times, generally it runs from about 6:30 pm to 9 pm. 
Location:  Edwards Mill Bar and Grill (http://www.edwardsmill.com/bar.grill/)
3201-153 Edwards Mill Road (at the corner of Duraleigh Rd)
Raleigh, NC
(919) 783-5447
Keeper: , Email

RIGHT COAST RIDE (RCR): The organization and announcements for the RCR, along with some related
discussion, is carried out on the "east" email list. If you're interested in the RCR , you should probably be on this list.
To subscribe to the list, send email to:
listproc@elektro.cmhnet.org
with the following single statement in the MESSAGE BODY:
subscribe east <YourNameHere>
Keeper: Martyn Wheeler, Email

SPRING RIDE (SR): Spring Ride started out as the Spring Fling...a gathering of TriDoDers and guests in Little Switzerland, NC for a weekend of feasting on twisties, food, and fellowship.  Next year's Ride will be April 30-May 2, 2004.  More Info
Keeper:  John Hite, Email
DIRECTIONS

ASSAULT on DEALS GAP (AoDG): A gathering to ride "The Dragon", 318 turns in 11 miles, on the NC/TN border. This event is generally held in September. Information available at:  http://www.mindspring.com/~rmgill/mc/adg/adg.html

Group Riding Protocol:

Often our TriDoD BB rides can draw 10-15 bikes (sometimes more...sometimes less). With that size of a group, some minimal protocol is necessary for safety. Please observe the following:

-- MSF-style staggered formation when riding close, such as in town; shift to two-abreast at stop lights, etc.. Spread out if you want in the countryside.

-- Lead, follow, or getTF out of the way... keep in order unless the rider in front of you waves you by.

-- You are responsible for the (one) rider *BEHIND* you -- at each intersection/turn in the route, signal and *MAKE SURE* the rider behind you makes the correct turn. Be prepared to *wait* in case they are held up behind you.

-- If you're dropping out of the group, make sure the rider in front and behind you know you're splitting off.

-- Be careful at intersections, none of us run red lights (the guy in front of you will wait for you at the next turn).

-- If you don't have 80 miles of fuel left in your tank at a fuelstop, FILL IT UP NOW!

-- Ride within your *own* limits.

-- Be considerate: if you ride a Laverda Montjuic, ride at the back or bring earplugs for the folks behind you... ;-)

Inexperienced riders:

-- YOU WILL *NOT* HOLD US UP!!! Get that out of your mind right away... we do not resent novice riders and will always wait for you.

-- Be prepared to accept constructive criticism and comments.

SOME THOUGHTS ON GROUP RIDING
By Martyn Wheeler

Lowlands Riding Style:
This is where the group stays together in formation, travelling at the pace of the slowest rider. Sort of like a HOG ride but with no pressure to "keep up." I'll lead one like this at BB's now and then when requested, or if we have a lot of new riders.

Highlands Riding Style:
In the "Highlands" paradigm, under which most BB groups operate, the opposite is true. Riders should end up in order of their speed -- on that day, not in order of speed capability -- with the fastest at the front and the slowest at the rear.

Beware of the bungie effect. If the front rider maintains a constant 55 mph, there will be some point at which the last rider would have to exceed 100mph to "catch up." Paradoxically, if that last rider also maintained a constant 55mph, there would be no need to "catch up."

The bungie effect simply means that as riders maintain a constant *time* difference, the *distance* difference fluctuates according to speed. This is a *major* factor in perception of how "close" a group is riding.

Add to that effects of stop signs, traffic lights, and traffic, and the time difference fluctuates too.

All that means that no-one can in practice "catch up", and that there is no point in doing so. If you get left behind, be assured that at the next turn you will catch up with the rider in front of you. Also, group leaders will (should) halt every now and then to gather the group back together.

Group dynamics of the Highlands style means that riders tend to clump in sub-groups depending on speed. If you're a new rider or just want to ride *with* someone, announce it and there will be someone to ride with you.

"Ride your own ride" means never having to catch up. It also means no-one will be resented for "slowing the group down".

GET THIS THROUGH YOUR THICK HEADS!!!
RIDE AT YOUR *OWN* PACE...
DO *NOT* ATTEMPT TO CATCH UP...
DO *NOT* BE EMBARRASSED AT YOUR SPEED.
(lowers voice again)

The next few paragraphs have nothing to do with arrogance or macho posturing, although they will certainly sound that way. Those who know me will realize that. They are merely fact:

Speed on BB is not a macho contest. It means *nothing*. I can lap VIR faster on my Guzzi California cruiser than some riders on a CBR929RR, VFR, or similar sportbike. If I choose to do so, I can leave most BB groups way behind at the first sequence of corners, no matter what bike I'm riding. Same goes for a number of other guys. And if you notice, those folks are the same ones who *don't* usually go hurtling around the countryside, especially on BB rides. In fact, if I'm leading you'll see me usually slow down on the straights to let the group gather back together some.

None of the fast guys have ever ridden faster than "moderate" on a BB ride. (OK, I did do one or two "moderate to quick" rides a year or few ago, but nothing even remotely approaching "fast".) Most BB riders have no concept of what "fast" means. Here's a clue: it has nothing to do with straight line speed, or who you can "keep up with."

Here's a big secret about the TriDoD...why it sometimes seems to be so little understood is beyond me:
You cannot gain respect or TriDoD clique status by going fast on BB rides. You do so by riding within your own limits, respecting other riders, being a polite group rider, helping less experienced riders along (a vital TriDoD tradition), and most of all by displaying a genuine and mature enthusiasm about riding, no matter how, where, what 
-- or even *if* -- you currently ride.

The Ten Commandments of Group Riding
By Dustin Kassman, MSF Instructor

Arrive at a group ride ready to ride. This means with a full tank of gas, appropriate clothing for the weather, well-rested and fed, and a bike in safe operating condition. Riding is no fun if you are too hot or too cold, and your friends would rather ride than wrench on your bike or get gas for you.

Make sure everyone is aware of the proposed route and extended stops (such as lunch, fuel, and sightseeing stops). It is always a good idea to prepare a map of the route with these stops indicated.

The ride is self-paced, ride at a speed you feel comfortable with. No one should feel pressure to keep up with anyone else. In particular, no one will object to you riding as slowly as you wish. It is natural for people to feel they need to keep up with the rider ahead, however, riding outside their limits is the main reason riders get hurt! It is not the point of this ride to have someone get hurt.

Ride in a staggered formation, with a minimum of two seconds between you and the rider directly in front of you. This allows you to use the entire lane to ride in and gives you an extra margin of safety.

Ride your ride, not the rider's in front of you. Make sure you keep looking down the road and through the corners, not at the bike ahead of you. Set your own pace and choose your own lines through the corners.

A group of motorcycles is not considered a "single vehicle!". Be courteous and allow cars to enter/exit a highway or change lanes. Make sure you let the riders behind you know what is going on (this also applies to other hazards, as well).

At least one of the riders ahead of you (if any) will wait at every point where you might make a wrong turn.

Similarly, you are expected to wait at intersections and other decision points until the person behind you (if any) shows up.

Plan brief stops throughout the ride to let everyone regroup, make sure everyone is present, check gas supplies, and to allow for rests.

If you decide to split off from the ride, make a reasonable attempt to alert the entire group to your departure; if regrouping does not happen soon enough for you, you must let at least one other person know you are leaving.

To comment on this Web Page or the uFAQ: Email

This page was last updated:
04/25/2006

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