The Cheshire Wings group which has a weekend event in Llandudno every year invited me along again and – as usual – begged me to lead the ride, because of my local knowledge. I was happy to comply, and so they asked if I’d mind trying a drop-off system which they apparently use quite often.

Though I led the ride – as in “guided the group of bikes following me to the destination, and decided where to stop for photo opportunities [see http://www.goldwings-northwales.org.uk/goldwings_galerie.php?dir=%2F2009%2FRide+to+Barmouth+for+Pennine+Wings+(4Apr) for the results] – I didn’t have to worry about directing the drop-offs. Terry rode behind me as the second bike, and he told the third bike where to drop-off – thus relieving my load a little. As lead bike, you have enough to worry about (e.g. figuring out where and which way to go, accommodating road closures or other unforseen problems, setting the pace, adjusting to info over the CB from the tail-gunner, etc.), so I thought this was a useful variation on the standard system.

It even allowed me to shoot off ahead a little where necessary (e.g. to arrange a group rate for the rural toll bridge), knowing that Terry was managing my flock behind me. In effect, I guess I was almost becoming a marshall rather than a ride leader – and Jim Cretney actually joined me in that role the further along we went, ending up with a composite marshalled/drop-off system! But it worked well.

The Police Motorcycle Manual refers to speed becoming dangerous when it is “inappropriate to the circumstances”, which strikes me as about right. The trick is judging the appropriate speed for the circumstances skillfully. For example, if you enter a bend too fast you will be slower going through it because you have compromised your options to accelerate out of it and be faster overall. Riding more slowly than other traffic on a motorway is generally more dangerous than moving with it or passing through it. Skillful use of speed and acceleration is an important part of good riding.