All ride marshalls please read

[Flamedance]

I liked how we all slowed up to get a good run onto the tight corner coming down toward freo

Yeah its a fun corner. As ride marshalls however I DO NOT WANT TO SEE THIS HAPPENING ON THE DAY!

It is up to the lead ride marshalls to set the pace of their groups in order to avoid any issues. That corner will cause issues with 100 bikes hitting it and treating it like a racetrack.

Sorry to bring you down guys but if the police or general public see knee sliding there it will only give MAD a bad name.

Added to the fact that if a large group of people hit that corner hard there will be an increased chance of accidents. I don't want any accidents to happen on a charity ride aiming to raise funds for injuries.

I mentioned to Guzziboy after the ride that from now on I want to see the practice runs done as though it was the MAD ride itself. There was way too much lane changing and speed on the practice. I will be out there again next weekend and will be checking peoples riding and speed to determine who will be leading groups and who will be general marshalls.

If you have any questions feel free to drop me a pm.

[Barfridge]

<hangs head>
Yes dad
Sory dad

[delete_me_kthxbai]

Dibs TEC for the next one

It will have to be something mentioned at the pre-ride brief. Even then, there will be ride participants that will do it.

[Guzziboy]

I agree with all your comments Tim. As the ride leader the other day I have to accept responsibility for a couple of lane changes, etc that were probably OK with a group of our size, BUT NOT OK if you have a group of up to 100 people of varying experience following you ( not just general riding experience, but also group riding experience), and also remember you will be under the ever watchful eyes of our law keepers. As Tim said, these practice rides should be done as if they were the real thing, so I will have to accept a slap on the wrist for that.

Unfortunately, if this means that you and your group are caught behind traffic traveling at under the speed limit, then so be it. The last thing we want is for a large group of riders to be weaving in and out of traffic. Also this means that if a group gets split up by lights, then another marshal in that group needs to move to the front of the remaining riders and take charge, so there is not a mad race to catch up once those lights change.

Ideally, where there is more than 1 lane we need to keep to the left hand lane-until we get close to the city on Mill Point Rd, where we have to safely get the groups of riders all the way over to the right hand of 3 lanes, the timing of this will then come down to traffic flow, and the judgement and experience of the person leading the group.

Until the day of the ride we will not know how many marshals there will be to a group, but the full details of how this will be managed will be discussed at the marshal's pre ride address on the day.

[shortSteve]

Cool cool. I'm sure we can all behave for a day. Happy to lead a group or run midpack for split groups or tec or whatever is needed.

[karen]

Thanks for making that clear, Tim.
I was thinking about that issue and cringed when I read that post.
I'll continue to do my 'nana' thing as I have been.

[Griff]

Clear point Tim, sound thinking too... Maybe a briefing ahead of the day about the general plan and outcomes wanted would be good. This post is a great start - I have picked up several points to think about...

[Bendito]

Even if the first few bikes zip through it, the pack will slow down to a normal pace after half a dozen or so. If the lead marshall does the right thing it should be all cool

[Harro]

Copy that.

Just to get it clear in my pea sized brain, the ride marshalls will be leading a group of upto 100 bikes?

Sorry for my lack of knowledge but I have been at work for both practice runs, so Im a little scetchy on details. Im hoping to pick some brains on Thursday arvo's practice run.

[karen]

Harro, the plan is to have one leader, one tec and hopefully one, may be two, marshals in the pack in case the pack is split up so they can move to the 'new' front and lead the broken up pack ... I believe.
Some one else can post up that info more clearly I hope.

[Rizzo]

Obvoiusly keeping to the left at all times will ensure a smoother hassle free run, also illiminating the chance (especially on stirling hwy) of becoming stuck behind vehicles turning right across the traffic flow, keeping in mind everyone, we will be leading a lot of inexperienced "group" riding people, and some that would never have ridden in a group at all! So it is up to us to do most of the thinking for them. Also when approaching intersections, try to anticipate what the lights are gonna do (ie possible light change coming up) they may have been green for ages and you may be able to alter your speed slightly in order to keep the groups together.

[Harro]

Harro, the plan is to have one leader, one tec and hopefully one, may be two, marshals in the pack in case the pack is split up so they can move to the 'new' front and lead the broken up pack ... I believe.
Some one else can post up that info more clearly I hope.

Roger!

Cheers for that - it cant really work any other way I guess.

Im looking forward to this day, should be damned huge!

[Wilson]

Oops. Sorry. Noted, and it's good to have a bit of discussion on the way the ride will run.

[Flamedance]

Guzzi - Not a slap on the wrist mate. You're doing a superb job. As I said to you I came out to evaluate the marshalls and see who could be placed as leads and who would be in the support roles.

No offence to anyone was intended - I had no problems with anyones abilities (cept for that bald bugger on the R1sp ) This week I will be there again and we will have a bit of a meeting before we head off. So if any of you have questions or suggestions please speak up and let me know. I may be a big ugly bastard but I'm (usually) nice after a coffee in the mornings.

The main concern for me is that for the first time we are not having police escorts so I really want this ride to be a flawless effort so that we won't get any negative feedback from WAPOL. Yes they aren't escorting due to their own manpower issues but I prefer to look from this angle: They are trusting us to do the right thing without their supervision, it could very well be our chance to prove that we are capable of not being the irresponsible hoons that TT and Dorro attempt to paint us as. We do it right, and we don't have police issues then we could actually get them back on our side.

And that would truly be a good thing.
Looking forward to seeing you all on Sunday.

[Hornet]

Would you be interested in some of the marshals from the first few groups returning to help out again?


Google maps puts the distance at around 6.5kms, or 16 minutes. I reckon a bike could easily do it in less than that. Depending on how long each group takes to get to Perth the marshal could then bugger off back to Shents.
Are you planning on letting the ride go in groups over a long period of time or rather quickly?

[Nath]

We may need to, the call will be made Sunday morning depending on how many participants and how many marshals attend.

[Yagadan]

I'll be happy to double back if need be.

[Garett]

Can do too

[Guzziboy]

Likewise for me.

[r0gue]

I also don't mind doubling back