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[Dr.D]

We ride with trikes and there has been some discussion about where they should ride in the formation. Are there any rules about this?

One guy says they kick up more road debris than other bikes or even cars and trucks so he prefers not to ride behind them. I hate the idea of telling the trike rider (lady) to get to the rear because of her vehicle choice but might have to. If there are rules I can present it might sound nicer. She is not the most experienced rider so I really hate to put her in the back.

Any help?

[ultracvorider]

I dont know of any rules, but I do know, if she is an inexperienced rider you dont want her in the back, trike or no trike.

[jaxx]

experienced trike riders can ride in front, middle, or rear as they can go into the turns as quick as a two wheeler and keep up with the group. there are some two wheelers that i wouldnt want in front of me.

[Dr.D]

I would not say she is inexperienced as I have rode the Dragon, Devils Triangle, Cherohala Skyway ect. with at least 7K on that trike but she has the least miles and hours of the group.

I hear they stop faster than two wheeler so that is advantage in the back and the increased visibility means they may be seen by the cages more easily.

[harleyteam]

I follow a trike all the time, and never have any trouble with her kicking up anything.  we're also driving on bumpy potholey roads in NY.

maybe suggest she look into mudflaps to protect HER paint.

[ultrafxr]

I am more concerned about the skill level of the folks riding around me than what bike or trike they ride.  If I am unsure of their ability the I prefer to be in the back!

[kraut]

when we have cars, trikes or the like with us they always drive behind all bikes.

Four reasons:

1. they can be easily seen as end of the column and driving at its end don't block the view to following bikes,

2. they protect the column against cars from behind as they will not so easily be overtaken as a bike,

3. they have the most difficulties overtaking theirselves so on the last position they least slow down the column,

4. as their drivers normally sit higher than a bike they have the best overview over the column ahead and are in the best position to communicate/adress any problem ahead (if they are skilled enough to do so).

[cvobiker]

Every group I've riden in, we the riders pretty much choose where they/we want to ride. In other words, no strict formation rider rules where rider must stay put where he/she is assigned... that would SUCK    my point is, let the three wheeler ride where he/she feels comfortable.    Hell, if I had to follow formation rules when I ride in a group,  i would say, screw the  group ride on your own  

[tompen]

IMHO, If the question is where should an inexpierenced rider be in formation, where ever they are most comfortable. If it is where should a trike be, answer is the same.
IMHO again. Your most experienced riders might be at the front and back. It's group riding, not a parade. If you have someone who doesn't want to ride behind a trike they can position themselves where ever they want.
Please don't make your new rider feel bad about riding a trike.

[arcticdude]

Definitely not in the middle.  Trikes are like cars, they take up the entire lane and makes it dangerous to be in the middle of a group.  You wouldn't want a car in the middle of a group would you??

So that leaves either the front or the back.  IF (and that's a HUGE if) the triker is able to ride a comparable speed for the entire route that the bikes are they can ride in either position.  But if they're NOT able to ride at a comparable speed, then they need to be in the back.  Period.

I did a ride with a group down south with one trike.  The triker felt he needed to be the front vehicle, but was unable to ride worth a chit.  Even speed bumps would get him slow enough EVERYBODY behind had to stop to wait for him to get over the bump.  If I ever go with that group again, he's in the back.

Personally I agree that the trike in the back makes it safer for the bikes in front.  The cars are less likely to try to go around the trike and more likely to see the trike stopping.  It's like a chase vehicle as far as I'm concerned.  In the back.

[Chains]

I am more concerned about the skill level of the folks riding around me than what bike or trike they ride.  If I am unsure of their ability the I prefer to be in the back!

I agree 100%

[Dean_Nelson]

Been on a Trike for the last 13 years and I want to be in the back so I run with the bikes pace and not my pace and run away from them if I am up front.
When I run with people I know and ride with all the time I will run any place from up front, mid, or back.

Trikes do tend to put a lot of road junk in the air and it is better for us to be in the back. And what orthers have said, if you don't have the miles under you on a Trike, you need to run in the back as they will not hold a line and use most of the lane left and right.

Dean Nelson

[kraut]

even if a triker is less experienced I would prefer him or her as last vehicle. Trikes handle differently and only as last vehicle they can choose their way to adress corners or bumps or whatever without getting the whole column in disorder or even danger. Only if it were a plain beginner or for other reasons unable to gain on the group again I would want him or her to drive as Nr. 2, the place reserved for the weakest of the group.

[grc]

Simple common sense says they should be in the rear, for all the reasons mentioned by kraut and Dean.  It's not about trying to not hurt someone's feelings, it's about what is the safest method for everyone.

If the trike rider is a newby and is nervous about being in the back, perhaps that person should get a little more experience before riding with a big group.


Jerry

[jayray00SERG]

Back in the day the only trikes were VW's and always brought up the rear.