MPH are units used on Speedometers and are an indicator of speed. Increase your speed and you increase the distance traveled. The standard unit of time is 1 hour, however if you increase your speed you will increase the distance you travel regardless of the time increment used to measure it. Simple example

Now double your speed to 60 MPH

At each time interval when you doubled the speed you doubled the distance traveled.

This holds true regardless of the time interval used to measure the distance including the time unit of seconds. If you travel at a speed of 30 MPH you will go twice the distance, in an hour or 2 seconds, if you increase your speed to 60 MPH.

What is the distance traveled in terms of seconds?

The conversion factor for distance is 1 mile = 5,280 feet.  

30MPH
--------- = 15 miles   or 15 miles in 30 minutes reduced is 0.5 miles in 1 minute
 ½ hour

this is .0083 miles in 1 second...this is 88 feet every two seconds.

The number of feet you travel every two seconds will change as you increase your speed. Please do the math. Two seconds equates to different distances depending on your speed.

You may wish to use a visual guide to get an estimate of what these feet mean by applying them to some known quantity that you know and have a mental image of such  as the length of your driveway or the road frontage of your property. You can use the road markings where the white dotted lines are each 20 ft.. You can measure it roughly by noticing when the rider in front of you passes a stationary marker like a light or telephone pole or overpass  you should reach that same marker no fewer than two seconds later.  

The Spokeswomen preach both safe riding habits and ride your own ride. Many of the events with Spokes include group riding.  Joining a group ride you forgo individualistic riding styles for the camaraderie of the group. There are existing rules of the road that are incorporated in group riding such as staggered formation, having one lead rider, tail runner, and the 2 second following rule that helps to keep everybody on the same page and have proven effective over time in helping to keep it organized and therefore safer.  

Since speed and distance are variables, the constant factor in the equation is time. Two seconds minimum is considered a safe interval to allow for reaction time, planning, braking distance (which is affected by road conditions),possibly employing avoidance maneuvers if the rider in front of you should have mechanical difficulty, have to brake sharply, blow a tire, fall, or run out of gas (it could happen). The chart below shows the relationship between distance and speed for two second intervals. Since distance is not constant there is not constant “look” to the formation.

The formation will change with speed and distance. A good analogy is comparing it to a rubber band. When you are traveling at slow speeds you can ride closer like a relaxed or unstretched rubber band. As you increase speed the bike formation will elongate like pulling a rubber band taut and the rubber band stretches and elongates. Relax and slow down then the formation will shrink again to a closer riding formation.

The formation should be constantly changing based on speed, weather, road conditions, single file then staggered, two abreast at red lights,  etc. It is evolving all the time becaue it is adjusting to the current situation. The “Look” of the formation does not exist. 

If you are traveling at 50MPH and you are a distance of 40 feet behind the rider directly in front of you and a deer runs into the road you are going to be right where they are in 0.545 seconds. Traveling like that you had better keep your reflexes sharp.
I have read articles that suggest adjusting to a three to five seconds time span when riding conditions warrant a single file. I can think of many Spokies that would find this insufferable and have a paroxysm.

I think with all the outside intrusions that effect the “Look” of a group ride especially here with all the congestion in NJ there is another thought I would like to add. In my mind allowances should also be made for newbies who may not be used to only half the road. The rider behind a newbie should be given space to find their comfort zone to allow for the inexperience of the rider they are following.

Last but not least there are my three “R’s” of riding.

Relax - we are riding for enjoyment

Reason - use common sense. Slow down if you have to. There is no need to rush, ride safely first. Stuff is going to happen. Deal with it wisely. The group does wait.

Respect - Respect others. Respect their experience or inexperience, respect that they may not be riding a new a 1100 Triumph but a 10 year old 450 Rebel , respect that they have a right to enjoy the ride just as much as you without badgering.

Remember May is Motorcycle Awareness Month let’s try and change the way they think about motorcycling by example.