We all know the basics and for the most part most of us do pretty good. First we all know and understand the 2 second rule, we do right? And that basically it stops you riding too close the bike in front giving you reaction time should something happen.
But did you realize that leaving too big of a gap can be as bad, and the sad part is, while often it does not directly place you in harms way, it does those who are riding with you.
Ok so how can leaving too much room be bad? Let me count the ways!!!
1. You leave about double the gap compared to your fellow riders in formation and you can bet that cage either to your left or right is going to take that opening and pull in. So what's the problem?
a. you brake (it's instinct) now everyone behind you has to brake (hope they are following the 2 second rule!!)
b. you can't see the riders you are following now you are the lead and have to think for those behind you and workout where the route goes next. (Ready to be a road captain? Well you just became one).
c. give it a few seconds and you can bet the idiot in the cage is going to do something stupid again. They have already proved they are capable by pulling into the formation.
d. the lead can't see you, but if they slow down they run the risk of having the idiot in the cage running into the back of the riders with them.
2. You leave just a little extra space and so do 4 others in the formation. No harm there, right? WAY WRONG! A group of 10 riders in formation at 60 MPH all following the 2 second rule forms a line over 880 ft long, 4 riders leaving "just a little extra space" add over 350 additional feet. OR TO PUT IT ANOTHER WAY, IT ADDS OVER 21 CAR LENGTHS. This makes it that much more difficult to change lanes and keep everyone together especially at intersections and lights. Plus now you are forcing the upper limit of the radio range especially in heavy traffic.
3. Oh speaking of lights, hands up all that subconsciously roll off the throttle as you approach a light while riding in formation. Ok if you don't currently have your hand up you need to pay more attention next time you are riding because almost every single one of us does this. As Road Captain I can look back approaching a light and watch the length of the formation double.
Hey guess what that means, you just upped the chances of those behind you not making the light and you riding slow waiting for them to catch up. It also means you probably doubled your chances of having some idiot in a cage run you over from behind.
4. Ok the last one for now and it’s a little different but it is still to do with maintaining consistent speed and distance within the formation..... Who has ever ridden a sling shot? Well actually you all have if you’ve been more that a few riders back in the formation. This description may help you. The formation is approaching a bend the lead and #2 rider swing smoothly round the bend, but for some reason #3 brakes, then so does #4, #5 get flustered grabs a hand full of brake, #6, #7, #8, #9 are now trying to avoid rearranging the contents of each others saddlebags. The lead and #2 roll back up to the speed limit and continue down the road, #3 gets on it and catches up quickly, #4 really cracks it open and flies down the road to catch up, #5 starts to accelerate but forgot to change down, gets flustered again, misses the gear change, now #1,#2,#3,#4 are disappearing around the next bend. So #5 drops it 2 gears and really snaps it open, now #6,#7,#8,#9 are going to have to do about double the speed limit just to get close to catching up. But wait the lead and #2 slow down to wait for the rest of the group so as #6, #7, #8, #9 come barreling round the bend they have to hit the brakes hard to avoid ramming #5 in the luggage.
So gem about this little observation is that leaving anything other than a consistent 2 second spacing is not going to affect you that much, but those around you (especially those behind you) are probably not going to offer to buy you a coffee at the next stop.
So please pay attention to your spacing it makes the role of the road captains much easier and the ride for others in the group significantly safer, a lot more relaxed and much more enjoyable.