You'd think I was the ring leader of some critical mass ride or something. About 20 folks went up to argyle coffee shop for a little socializing and then went out to paradise and back through Bartonville to the start in Flower Mound. Little did anyone know that a Bartonville police SUV was filming us all the way from 377 on Frenchtown road.
There were a few new riders and it was really really windy so long range communication wasn't too well. I was the assumed ride leader because I wasn't wearing a coat so had my club jersey in full view plus I had once or twice gone from the back to the front when we were going to hit a turn and someone new was in front. Then I'd wait till all to pass and in a couple more miles end up doing the same thing. I'm in front talking to a new guy and we hear a loudspeaker and I look back and everyone was already to the right and I couldnt' make anything out. I figured it was just some kids with a CB and loudspeaker but a minute or so later as I'm going 37 I see a big black SUV and the pull in behind me and activate their light bar.
I was thinking if I blew a stop sign or did something but really I sort of didn't do anything wrong that he wanted to talk about. When I was in the back I did see alot of 3-5 people side by side however if there is a car approaching we always go single file. I did break the 2 abreast rule when I was passing and crossed the yellow line to pass, just like a car would, so I could communicate to the new rider up front because he was a good 100ft from everyone. He mentioned a few things that I just thought I'd pass on but everyone probably already knows.
-Ride at most two side by side
-Stay to on the right side of the road
-On two lane roads maybe unpair (which we did) until traffic clears up.
Things that concern me or I'm unsure of.
-Don't pass people going two side by side.
If that were the case cars shouldn't be able to do it? -Bartonville has on the agenda to restrict bicycle traffic on certain roads at certain times of the day (most likely commute times) - I kind of wish I had to pass through there for my commute because I'd love to go to court over that ticket (if the ordinance gets passed)
I am going to pass this on to the local clubs and my LBS who sponsers the jersey I was wearing
He probably has me on video giogn back and forth like the do in nascar races to warm up their tires on a yellow flag. There were a few times I was in back and there were a bunch of people side by side behind me so I'd go from the right to the left of the lane over and over, still all on the right side.
Note: The office was very nice. He just wanted to give me a background and let me know what we did which was questionable and they were going start writing tickets. Also it was nice we got a heads up on a possible ordinance that they might be passing.