Find
your people
Riding is a solo seat on a shared road. The people you meet along the way are a big part of why riders keep riding.
There is no one kind of rider
Retirees on touring bikes, college students on scooters, parents who finally have a free Saturday, people commuting to work. Cruisers ride next to sport bikes. Every group was new once.
Your classmates
The people in your beginner course are your first riding friends. You learned together, so you already ride at the same level.
A riding buddy
One friend at your pace is the best start. Short rides, plenty of stops, and someone to talk the ride over with afterward.
Group rides
Dealerships, riding clubs and community groups run organized rides with a set route, a leader up front and a sweep rider at the back.
Bike nights
Weekly meetups at a diner, café or dealership lot. You don't need to ride in a group, just show up, park and talk bikes.
What to expect
Good groups make new riders feel welcome. Here is how most organized rides work.
- A meeting before the ride. The leader goes over the route, stops, hand signals and what to do if the group gets split up.
- Staggered formation. Riders alternate between the left and right side of the lane, with space in front of each bike.
- Ride your own ride. Never ride faster than you're comfortable with to keep up. The sweep rider stays behind the last bike.
- Tell them you're new. Riders appreciate it, and they'll put you where you'll be most comfortable, usually right behind the leader.
- Arrive with a full tank and your gear on. The group can leave on time and nobody waits at the first gas station.
Your first riding group is your class
Take a beginner course and you'll leave with a skill, a license path and a handful of people who are just as new to riding as you are.
Interested in getting started?
Beginner classes run on a closed practice range, and you can sign up for one today.