Voluntary Ride Waivers:
Northern Colorado Indian Motorcycle Riders Group® Chapter motorcycle rides are about having fun, sharing camaraderie with other fellow riders, and experiencing the exuberance of the open road that only motorcycles can provide. NoCo IMRG rides are generally pre-planned and announced in the NoCo Informer, an email distribution sent periodically to Chapter members. Also, the scheduled Chapter rides are found in the Events Calendar on this website.
Guests are permitted (riders & passengers) on NoCo IMRG Chapter rides; however, the following conditions apply:
- Guests may attend up to 3 group rides before having to become a Chapter member to continue participating in Northern Colorado IMRG group rides.
- The number of guests attending a group ride can not be greater than the number of NoCo IMRG Chapter members attending the ride.
Chapter member riders and guest riders are required to have a Motorcycle Endorsement on their driver’s license. All Chapter members and guests are also required to sign a waiver agreement before each Northern Colorado IMRG ride. The Road Officer for the group ride will have you complete and sign the appropriate waiver (Driver, Passenger, Minor) before leaving on the ride. For your convenience, you can download and complete the waiver and bring it with you to the meetup location ahead of time.
The consumption of alcoholic beverages is not allowed on any Chapter ride. This policy is for the safety of those on the group ride and to promote a positive image of motorcycle riding and Indian Motorcycles, and is endorsed by the National IMRG.
Pre-Ride
Group motorcycle rides will have a designated meeting place with a meetup time and kickstands up (KSU) time. Please arrive on time and well before KSU. You should also do a pre-ride check on your motorcycle (e.g. checking tire pressure, lights, etc) to help make sure it’s safe to ride. Come prepared with proper clothing layers for climate changes, rain gear, sunscreen lotion, drinking water – essentially whatever you believe is required to keep your ride enjoyable. Arrive with a full tank of gas, and empty your bladder before the ride begins.
NoCo IMRG group motorcycle rides will have a Lead Road Officer and a Sweep Road Officer. The Lead Road Officer plans the ride route, provides a pre-ride overview, and leads the group ride with continual focus on rider safety. The Sweep Road Officer is the last motorcycle, and helps to keep the group together and to ensure all riders arrive at the destination safely. If you plan on leaving the group ride early before arriving at the designation, please let the Sweep know ahead of time so they can expect your departure from the ride, and not follow you thinking you are having some sort of difficulty.
Prior to departing on the group ride, the Lead Road Officer will do a pre-ride overview covering the planned route and any stops, as well as informing riders of any known road conditions. The Road Officer will also go over hand-signals.
Motorcycle Riding Formation
Northern Colorado IMRG group motorcycle rides are in staggered formation with the leader starting in the left of the lane and the next rider in the right of the lane at least one second behind the leader. The rest of the riders in the group will follow the same pattern. Position yourself on the side of the lane you want to ride in before the start of the ride.
Trikes will ride in the center of the lane with no riders lining up beside them.
Maintain your lane position while riding your motorcycle. If a gap occurs due to a rider leaving, DO NOT criss-cross to fill in the gap. Instead, when it is safe to do so, the rider closet to the gap should wave the next rider in that lane to move up to fill the gap. A rider should not move up to fill the gap until they are waved to move forward. If a gap(s) is unable to be immediately filled, do not worry and just stay on your side of the lane – it will be innately filled at the next traffic stop.
A staggered formation should be maintained except on narrow or sharp winding roads with blind corners. In these cases, the Lead Road Officer will initiate a single-file formation.
Motorcycle Hand Signals
Hand signals (road signals) will be used to communicate with other motorcycle riders in the group. When a signal is given, all trailing riders should also pass the signal back to help ensure everyone see it. Below are the typical signals used by NoCo IMRG during group motorcycle rides (note: some signals may be different than those used by other rider groups).
Left-Hand Turn / Move to Left Lane
Turn on left blinker light
Right-Hand Turn / Move to Right Lane
Turn on right blinker light
Hazard on Road
Point to the hazard with either your leg or hand
Hazard on Right Side of the Road
Swing arm overhead toward right shoulder to indicate a road hazard on the side of the road (e.g. bicyclist)
Emergency
If you have any type of emergency, rapidly tap up/down on your head to indicate distress, and pull over to the side of the road. The Sweep will stop with you to assist.
Single File Formation
Extend arm and index finger straight up indicating to ride in single file formation
Staggered Formation
Extend arm with index and middle fingers straight up to indicate staggered riding formation
Move Up / Fill Gap
Swing arm to motion the rider behind you to move up and fill the gap in front of you (only motion when it is safe for the other rider to pass you)
Railroad Crossing
Swing arm back and forth in a pendulum fashion
General Group Motorcycle Riding
The Lead Road Officer will go over any planned stops during the pre-ride overview. Gas stops will be based on the motorcycle with the least mileage range. Other unplanned stops may be merited during the ride.
The Lead Road Officer will set the pace of the motorcycle ride based on road, traffic, and weather conditions. While riding in town or city limits with lots of traffic stops, group riders should try to keep the formation tight in order to more efficiently get through intersections.
Always ride your own ride. If more experienced riders ahead of you have taken off, don’t feel pressure to catch up. Simply ride at a speed you are comfortable with, and don’t feel pressure to keep up with the group. It is far worse if you fail to negotiate a curve, then to fall back in the pack.
Avoid target fixation. Don’t fall into a lull where you are fixated on the bike just ahead of you. Pay attention to what is going on further down the road so you can respond and adjust to any hazard and not just react to it at the last second.
If you have an emergency during the ride, motion by rapidly tapping the top of your helmet and carefully pull over to the side. The Sweep Road Officer will stop with you and then determine what measures can and will be made for you, and if necessary, remain with you until help has arrived.
Ride Level Ratings
Motorcycle ride level ratings are used to help riders choose rides that are appropriate for their skill level, or to simply be aware of the ride difficulty. If you are a new rider, it is important to start with easy routes and gradually progress to more challenging ones as your skills improve. It is also important to be aware of your own limitations and to ride within your comfort zone.
The following is a brief description of the ride rating system used to provide information to Chapter members regarding the ride difficulty. Riders should be aware of their riding ability prior to participating in the group ride. The rating is based on a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 being the easiest, and 5 being the hardest.
Level 1. This is the easiest ride where the roads are relatively straight with only gentle curves. Low to intermediate travel speeds with relatively short ride distance, and maybe an hour saddle time. May traverse through small city or town, but no interstate riding.
Most of our Dinner Rides are considered Level 1 where we ride on back county roads to destinations in Fort Collins, Loveland, Ault, or Windsor.
Level 2. Only slightly more difficult than Level 1. Road is relatively straight with gentle to slightly more curved roads. Intermediate travel speeds with slightly longer ride distance, and saddle time of up to two hours. May encounter some city or urban traffic conditions.
Taking roundabout rides from Fort Collins going east of I25 will generally fall in this category. We will often refer to these as flat lander rides.
Level 3. This Level begins to be more challenging, and requires riding skills above “beginner” or “novice.” Travelled roads will have more sweeping curves requiring some technical ability to properly corner. Ride duration is longer, typically half a day. Intermediate speeds with perhaps short interstate travel during light traffic periods. May traverse through metro city traffic.
Ride going around Horsetooth Reservoir and Carter Lake is an example of a Level 3 ride.
Level 4. Rides at this level will have lots of curves with decreasing radius (tighter turns), and perhaps some switchback curves. Could travel into the foothills, or low mountain ranges. May be long ride distances, and being in the saddle for much of the day. Will require good technical riding skills and stamina. Could travel at intermediate to fast speeds with interstate riding, and perhaps encounter some heavy traffic.
Examples of Level 4 would include riding the Big Thompson Canyon toward Estes, or Devils Gulch Road out of Glen Haven. Also Poudre Canyon or Rist Canyon toward Mishawaka.
Level 5. This is the most difficult level and requires a great deal of technical riding skills. Likely to encounter lots of sharp curves, and switchbacks. Possibly traverse across higher mountain ranges on narrower roads. Ride duration may be for the full day, or multiple days. Interstate highway travel may be required. Could encounter lots of oncoming traffic on mountainous roads.
Guanella Pass, Million Dollar Highway, Snowy Range, Poudre Canyon/Cameron Pass to Walden are some examples of Level 5 rides.
