Ride-Out Armbands ?

About twenty of us had a great ride-out to Wales on Sunday, great weather, brilliant roads and as always really good company.
Since we have been on Facebook, we have attracted many new riders on our rides which is great, the downside though is that on a Sunday in Wales when there are masses of riders and other ride-outs happening, you get yourself behind someone and you have no idea if he is with us or not!
Although on Sunday, the junction markers and back-marker did a great job (and as far as I'm aware none left their post early) we still managed to lose a group of five !
I suspect they simply followed a rider or group of riders who weren't with us, it was very easily done.
I came to a T junction with a pub on the side and bikers everywhere, I looked at the marker and didn't recognise him but assumed it was "one of us" (it was) but it might not have been.

Now I hate being regimented or told what to do or wear but I'm now wondering if an armband would be a good idea.

It doesn't have to be printed or flashing LED but just enough to be able to identify each other.
They cost about £1.50 each so there is a cost implication, but I can't see anybody objecting to buying one from the club if it could be organised, if sold at the start of a ride-out the seller wouldn't want £30 worth of loose change!

I would only be for this if it was voluntary (don't like "rules") but I think it may be a good idea.
Remember you are not buying one for yourselves, you are buying one to help others on the ride, and I know we all would want to do that ;-)

I'll now leave it up to you to tell me how wrong I am......
:-)

PS... Please nobody even hint at suggesting different colours for different speed riders - I did this once, tongue in cheek, and was almost banned from the club, hung drawn & quartered, and hung from Trowbridge canal bridge :-(

I can still hear the insulting names I was called at the time - and that was from my friends :-)

Bonne idée mon vieux !! One group with whom I've had the pleasure bring armbands when the ride will be large(ish). These are distributed to peeps who are experienced JMs, and they filter back through the huddled masses and do most / all of the marking.

It's a good idea and one that I would happily support. As you mention it can be pretty tricky sometimes to work out if the marker, or other bikers are with your group or not, so this seems like a simple solution to me.

I think it's a good idea - happy to get some ordered and then sell at rides.

I think the back marker is covered and not a problem, I have found some here: http://www.kova-promotional-products...s/KA00001-0001

Burbler - We can ALL be RoadGods :-)

:-)

Good idea , I would be happy to pay a couple of quid for an armband and the excess could go to club funds .

All a bit too formal and regimental and not for me. But I understand the reasons for the proposal and it is just my personal opinion. If it is the democratic will of the Wiltshire bikers to wear armbands then that is fair enough and I respect that.

had a great ride out sunday,one of the five that split from main group,turned out we all live in warminster,so made new friends

Seems like the best way, it's would definitely be for the benefit of the group, so I wouldn't have any problems wearing one.

I notice they do different sizes on that site - might be better to find a universal/adjustable sized one so we can just buy in bulk?

Some have velcro fastenings. They fit anyone. Need to go around jackets anyway.

Other sites have other colours and materials. A few pence extra could be well spent to get the right thing.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by redken1

All a bit too formal and regimental and not for me. But I understand the reasons for the proposal and it is just my personal opinion. If it is the democratic will of the Wiltshire bikers to wear armbands then that is fair enough and I respect that.

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You are funny Ken ;-)
I think you maybe missing the point (on purpose? ) it's not anything to do with formality, being part of a gang, or being subjugated by the our glorious (but un-voted for) leader ;-)
It's simply a way that when I pull up to a junction on a busy ride-out I will know for sure that the guy marking the junction is with us and not another group.

I will also know that if I come across a guy in front of me and he's not wearing an armband I can overtake him (or her) in a reckless fashion and they won't be shouting at me on the forum that evening :-)
If he (or she) is one of us, I can happily follow them knowing that I'm on the right road.

I don't think "democratic will" will come into it (I can't imagine James will be seeking a vote) it's just whether or not you personally wish to be helpful to your fellow riders, especially to the new ones who don't know us.

Hope to see you on some ride-outs this summer Ken, with or without an arm band ;-)

I think this is a great idea, there were so many other groups on ride-outs around the same area that I couldn't even tell if our BM was ours!

Good idea. £4.50 (inc VAT) for the adjustable ones on that site.
http://www.kova-promotional-products...s/KA22301-0001

FluPink looks good :cool:

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Originally Posted by Gerry

I don't think "democratic will" will come into it (I can't imagine James will be seeking a vote) it's just whether or not you personally wish to be helpful to your fellow riders, especially to the new ones who don't know us.

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I'm fully prepared for a repeat of 2008's "OMG James is forcing leaders and back markers to wear hi vis, he's gone mental, there can be no other reason than to make us look stupid, I hate him, WB sucks" episode but I'd rather than than have new group members strewn across the countryside wishing they'd stayed at home!

Gerry, I think you are funny too, and hopefully we can have a laugh together in the future. lol
Seriously though, please accept my apologies for not reading your original post closely enough - I thought you were proposing that the wearing of arm bands would be a compulsory requirement to attend WB ride outs. However, I was only offering my honest personal opinion in response to your request for feedback, and made it clear I understand the reason behind your proposal - I didn't expect to get shot down in flames.

Awww Ken, you have disappointed me, I was all set for a good old fashioned battle of words but now I just feel guilty ;-)
Compulsory - God no!

James - fear not, I'm sure those days are far behind us, sadly nobody seems to be that bothered about the forum any more, the passion just isn't there somehow :-(

The good news is that it's great to see lots of new faces on the ride-outs, I'm sure it is going to be a busy summer !

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gerry

James - fear not, I'm sure those days are far behind us, sadly nobody seems to be that bothered about the forum any more, the passion just isn't there somehow :-(

The good news is that it's great to see lots of new faces on the ride-outs, I'm sure it is going to be a busy summer !

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Yup I miss the chat and the banter, though Facebook has made the world of difference this year. I'm a purest and prefer forums to Facebook but my dictatorial ways have made way for giving people what they seem to want ;)

My next challenge is getting out on a bloody ride-out! Hoping to finish early and do Poole once the weather improves

Careful now James - one step at a time ;-)
I think Mark Able does refresher days before you venture into Dorset lol

Lol :p

Just thought id pop my opinion in i think this is a great idea ive never been on a ride out with WB as im new but am hoping to get on a few and would find this helpful

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I think its a good idea especially as there are so many new members its hard to recognise all the bikes and does get a bit confusing if we pick up a stray on the way lol

Arm bands are a good practical idea ... I have seen the results of back marking on our group when we merged with another group ... did my head in! Ken ... we can get a special one for you .... only joking mate! Richard