July 18th, 2002 Hi everyone, Is everyone as tired as I am today? Are we all getting to old for these late nights? Well, our first Hampton Fireworks night was a lot of fun. We rode, we ate, we watched, we chatted, we lost a hat, we found a hat. If you didn't get a chance to go and would like to, we are going to do another Fireworks Ride on August 21st. I'll add it to the schedule next week. I would like to mention one thing about last night that is a safety concern - stopping on the road. I just don't want to see someone get hurt needlessly. What we have been doing is very unsafe and I would like to see us handle it better. In the future, if someone has a problem and needs to stop right away, one rider should stop to assist the rider with the problem and the rest of the group should continue on until we can find a safe place to pull over that is off the road. If other help is neededthen the assist person can ride to the group and get it. If you need to stop but do not need to stop immediately then stay with the group and address the problem as soon as weall stop in a safe place. To alert the lead of a problem give two long blasts of your horn. If you hear the bike behind you sounding their horn for a stop and the lead does not acknowledge the horn with a arm wave, pass it up. After a roadside stop we should re-enter the road cautiously. If we are on a highway we should start riding up the breakdown lane until we are up to speed. Do not move into the travellane until after the rear bike is in the lane. When it is safe to do so the rear bike will move into the travel lane. For other type roads it is important to let the rear take the road before you proceed onto it. One of the many advantages of group riding is that you will never be left behind. Let's be safe. Just a reminder - there will be a Mystery Ride Saturday (7/20) departing Burger King in Londonderry at 10:30. For more info contact Sue D. at 434-6511 Have a great weekend all, Ride Safe. Robin