Wednesday 24/07/2024

This week’s blog is a bit more theoretical in approach, as I couldn’t ride as I’d broken my toe by walking into a door frame in the middle of the night!

Lots of Easy Riders assembled in Weavers Park to ride on a beautiful, sunny day and I waved everyone off rather sadly, because I wanted to ride too!

I’ve been thinking about the roles of ride leader and ride support.  In my view, the ride leader has the responsibility for planning a safe route, and remembering where all the turns are.  Ride leaders manage ride safety by their observation skills, e.g. spotting upcoming road hazards, simply because they are usually at the front, but they can’t control what’s going on behind them.

 The support rider is much more aware of the group’s riding behaviour because they can see it, and can hear traffic behind, particularly the frustrated engine revving of the impatient drivers.  Comments from this week’s ride were notable because Andy Craven said his group were nicely spread out, implying that road traffic was able to pass, using the gaps created in the group.  So, let’s continue to apply the 5-rider-rule and create gaps by dropping back if you can count 5 riders in close formation in front of you.  Andy also noted there was some great ride-member responsibility displayed by second riders sitting on the turn to make sure the whole group remained together.  Well done – let’s keep it up!

 Random acts of kindness.  There’s been a few times when I’ve heard about something kind that’s been done by someone in our group.  This time, I was talking to an Easy Rider who had had an unexpected and delightful day out, on a coach trip at very short notice.  The wife of another Easy Rider had a trip planned, and her companion had an unexpected reason to drop out, so a freebie was available for anyone who could take up the offer.  Our group member was feeling a little down-hearted, and the opportunity of a jaunt the following day perked her up no end.  They had a FABULOUS day out, talked from start to finish, and really enjoyed the venue and history surrounding it.  I’m really pleased this is what Easy Riders enables.  Long live random acts of kindness.

Cathy MacTaggart