Spokey's Guide to Cruise Etiquette

[Cooky3]

Hi all. I have done a few smaller runs and in the absence of radios etc everyone has taken the responsibility to ensure they can always see the car behind them... Helps avoid junction losses and also means you don't leave a fallen man or woman behind...

Might not suit all if there is a Miss (or Mr) Daisy out there...

 

[Anonymous]

"Cruise Order

The cruise leader will be in front (obviously), after that, it is recommended that people who know their cars well and are comfortable with a good pace go at the back. If you are new to cruises or are not comfortable with things like taking the racing line through corners, it is probably better to go towards the middle / front of the queue. There is no need to prove anything. The people at the back can then hang back and "catch up" without fear that the cruise leader will leave them behind somewhere.

Not everyone is comfortable with spirited driving. However, it can also be quite frustrating for an experienced cruiser to get stuck behind someone who brakes in the wrong places or otherwise makes the drive less enjoyable. Consideration for both types of drivers is important!"

Having done a few runs now I'd thought I'd chip in based on my own observations and much feedback from frustrated individuals..

Certainly out in more open country where other traffic is not the limiting factor to progress over the ground I would add:

1) The management of the running order is often 'ducked' to avoid 'upsetting' individuals, but, the flipside is then that someissues can arise..

2) I'm not sure that having a sweeper 'pushing' the slow guys is a good idea always, for the slower guys, having a car on your tail, even if at some distance can make it feel to them that they are being herded or pushed...I don't think there is a simple answer..

3) Where I think its quite clear is that having people who for whatever set of reasons who are off the pace of the run leader, in the group of cars behind the run leader engenders deep frustrations in those that want to keep pace with what the run leader is doing...

4) People feel awkard about overtaking and usually the person /persons running off the pace seem to have tunnel vision /myopia to the frustrations of their colleagues..

5) Over the course of the run, with the stops, I think it behoves the run leader to pro-actively filter the slower drivers to the rear of the pack, with maybe a faster sweeper who is happy to do that role bringing the rear up..

6) I think the re-iteration of the 'right to overtake' slower drivers , with the correct etiquette maybe needs to be re-emphasised.

Anyway for 2020 I'm going to try that strategy and see what it brings..I may become unpopular..

 

[AlienZed]

Interesting ,
On point 2 ' sweeper ' this can sometimes be redundant , i myself was sweeper on one of the welsh runs, the 3 car in front fell away from the pack and failed to notice they had turned right ,inspite of me hanging out and indicating, went merrily on until he finally saw me flashing and pulled up.
I find it better to have experienced drivers 2 0r 3 ,dependant on group size spaced strategically in the group ,the last one having the odd 2 /3 slower drivers behind and be mindfull of their pace ,and for me its easier to control rather than being a sweeper
as such .
Just my observations.

 

[Anonymous]

Interesting ,
On point 2 ' sweeper ' this can sometimes be redundant , i myself was sweeper on one of the welsh runs, the 3 car in front fell away from the pack and failed to notice they had turned right ,inspite of me hanging out and indicating, went merrily on until he finally saw me flashing and pulled up.
I find it better to have experienced drivers 2 0r 3 ,dependant on group size spaced strategically in the group ,the last one having the odd 2 /3 slower drivers behind and be mindfull of their pace ,and for me its easier to control rather than being a sweeper
as such .
Just my observations.

Yes that seems like a good idea!

 

[Nictrix]

I have only been on a few forum runs but have been on many bike runs.
What seems logical to me and seems to work when put in practise is for each individual to make sure they can see at least one person in front and one behind. (obviously if you are at the front or rear you can only keep an eye in front or behind not both)
What this does is keep everybody together. If someone loses sight of the person behind them they slow up a little to let them catch up which in turn makes the person in front of them slow up to keep them in their view also.
This way nobody should ever take a wrong turn as they can always see the person in front and nobody feels pressured to go faster than they are comfortable with to try and catch up. Remember the people at the back have to travel faster to keep up especially if overtaking is limited.