Cape Fear Harley Owners Group© 2012 CFHOG Contact CFHOG

THE DUTIES

Responsibilities:

• Assists the sponsoring dealer and chapter director in upholding the "Annual Charter for the CFHOG chapter"
• Plan routes for chapter rides
• Educates chapter members about the Towing Reimbursement Program
• Assists in keeping the chapter informed of all HOG programs
• Educates chapter members about group riding techniques
• Inform chapter members of any hand signals used by the chapter on group rides
• Obtain signed release forms for chapter rides
• Act as a guide for organized chapter rides

• Must be a competent & confident rider with a minimum of six months riding experience
• Attend the Group Riders Course given by Head RC
• Road Captain class by the chapter safety officer
• Graduate Experience Riders Course (recommend every 3 years)
• Be an assistant RC for three Group rides
• Successfully Plan & Lead a Chapter Ride, evaluated by Head RC
• To remain a "Current" Road Captain you must perform a Road Captain duty (Lead, Wing, Drag) one time per quarter. If you are not "Current" you must perform as a Wing or Drag on one ride prior to leading your next ride.

• Complete Basic First Aid/CPR Course (every 3 years)
• Complete the Bystanders Assistance Program, Basic Level
• Complete the Bystanders Assistance Program, Advance Level

• Ride the route or do a map reconnoiter
• Prepare a map of the route indicating the stops
• When there are three lanes, use the middle lane. This allows faster traffic to pass and vehicles to enter and exit the highway » Avoid congested areas
• Plan stops to avoid gravel lots and left-hand turns
• Plan gas stops for the bikes with small tanks
• If you have a large group stopping at a restaurant—call ahead for reservations
• Coordinate with the police for large activities
• Never block traffic
• Carry your HOG Touring Handbook

• Conduct a safety and route brief before departing
• Remind all bikes with more than one headlamp to turn off auxiliary lights
• Drive within the speed limit. Bikers at the rear may have to drive a little faster to close gaps. Driving too slow may create a problem; drivers in vehicles may become impatient and try to pass the entire group
• Know the route well enough so you can signal your intentions to turn well in advance. Use signals for lane changes. If you find yourself at a turn too quickly or miss it, continue until you can turn the entire group safely
• Lead from the left third of the lane with an assistant in the right third
• Have an experienced biker that knows the route at the rear as the Drag Man (DM)
• New riders should be behind your assistant. You can control the speed and safety of the group better if the new bikers are close to you
• Use CBs and cell phone if available

• Start the ride with a full tank of gas
• Ride in a staggered formation
• Try to ride at a constant speed
• Let the bikes behind you set the pace. If a biker falls behind, slow down
• Don't pass a vehicle unless the entire group can pass
• In heavy traffic, it is better to slow down and stay behind a vehicle than to make unnecessary lane changes
• Be aware of how the weather will affect the bikers. Too hot, too cold, or wet weather will dictate changes. You may have to stop more often in hot or cold weather or have an unscheduled stop because of hard rain
• Close the formation to a column of two's at stops
• At scheduled stops, get with the group and ask if there are any problems or safety issues. Tell them how long the stop will be and hold them to it

• Every biker should have a buddy who will stop with them should they have problems. The designated DM will also stop, estimate the situation, and report to the RC at the next available stop
• If a biker has to stop or goes down, everyone will turn on their flashers so that the RC will know that here is a problem
• It is unsafe for a large group to stop on the side of a road. The group will continue to the next available stop and wait for the designated last biker to report. Based on the report, a decision will be made as to whether the group continues on or waits for the stopped bikers

• Staggered Formation: Lead biker in left 1/3 of lane, next biker in right 1/3 of lane, one second behind the first biker, and so on. Bikers should be able to maneuver left or right to avoid a hazard without hitting another biker. Stay in line with the bike in front of you. Do not switch between left and right side of the lane. If a biker drops out, close the space by moving straight forward
• Single File Formation: All bikes ride in a single file, two seconds behind one another in either the left or right third of the lane. The lead rider will determine which side of the lane the group will ride
• Passing: Pass one bike at a time, in a staggered formation. Signal. If you have a passenger, they should signal as well. The lead biker will have to get far enough ahead of the passed vehicle to allow all the bikes to get around and back in formation.

• Every biker and/or passenger in the group will relay the signal
• Staggered Formation - arm straight up showing two fingers
• Single File Formation - arm straight up showing index finger
• Road Caution/Heads up - pat top of helmet
• Hazard on the Road - point with left hand or right foot.
• Slow Down---arm down and palm toward the back. Move your arm back and forth at the elbow
• Increase speed – left arm out, palm facing upward, moving up and down
• Need Gas - point at the gas tank
• Need Food or a Break - point to you mouth
• Use standard left/right and stop signals with your lights

• Introduce Primary RC, Wingman, Dragman, turn off auxiliary lights
• Explain route and stops
• Explain riding formations - single file, staggered, side-by-side, no crossing over, road lane positions (1,2,3)
• Identify new bikers & tell them where to ride
• Review hand and arm signals: stop, left/right turn, slow/speed up, obstacles, heads up, gas break, etc.. Relay signals back
• Review how to control stops, riding space between riders, cornering (SLPR) outside-inside-outside
• No Road Rage, do not block intersections or run red lights
• Emergency stopping procedures- buddy, horn, flashers, dragman, group
• Inspect Bikes -T-tires/wheels, brakes, C-controls, L-lights, O-oil, fuel, C-chassis & belt, S-sidestand