One for all or all for one
- Thread starter AZMike
- Start date
McJeep
Active Member
I mostly ride alone, or alongside my wife (she riding her own) - I have ridden with clubs in the past and found that you don't get to relax and enjoy the ride so much when you are pre occupied with watching every one else's placing, speed, etc - While I still prefer solo trips, I don't mind riding with others - just so long as it's a same way, same day ride - gimme my space when riding, we can chat at the pub at the end o the day 
I'm good with small group rides as long as the rider behind me stays back 100 yards. If something jumps out in front of me, I don't want to have to check my mirrors before I hit the binders full force. You've all seen the reports where something bad happened to a group of riders because they were riding too close together. Let me know where we're going and stay off my ass.
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cyclemike4
Well-Known Member
I would prefer to ride in back when on a group ride. I hang back and just do my own thing. A funny story from a few years ago. I was in the back of the pack of about 5 bikes coming out of North Carolina going back to Kentucky. Everybody else had been leading the whole trip. They said it was my turn to lead no one wanted to do it. Here is my problem leading. If I get into a flow and I am having a good ride I will follow the sun for direction and I won't use road sines. I missed our turn because i was in a flow and enjoying the road. All I knew I was headed north. good enough for me! Of course we wound up out in the middle of someplace. We were looking at a map and a feller stopped and said you are not on that map boys. He told us to get back to where we need to be we had to go over a mountain about 30 miles. ( it made deals gap look like a drag strip too!) he then said at the bottom of the north side turn left on a little one lane black top road. there will be mobile homes on the left so you will know it is the right road. that road will turn into gravel but don't worry. that gravel will turn into dirt and go into a hole in the trees but don't worry. when you come out of the trees you will be behind a little country store with one gas pump and you can fill up the bikes there. turn left in front of the store and you will be headed to KY. My buddy on the sportster was not amused. He is always running on fumes any way. It turned out to be a great ride we all remember to today. Oh by the way we passed a entering Virginia state sine deep in the woods. Craziest place I have ever seen a state sine.
AZMike
Well-Known Member
I have owned and operated my own business for 32 years. I have slayed every dragon that has come against me, until now. The supply chain is broken and out of my control. I have been very stressed lately and sleeping poorly. I was like a kid at Christmas waiting for Friday morning to take the S 10 out for a nice long planned loop. Just me and the bike to clear my head and put things in perspective. What a wonderful ride to keep me sane. Everything will be alright....
That's one way to look at it. I'm always checking my mirrors to see where following traffic is. That way, if I can't get on the binders, I pick an escape route.
Longdog Cymru
Well-Known Member
I used to ride in a small group but I ride alone now. I tour Europe alone and I get some funny comments, mainly from people who don’t understand, but it means I can go where I please, I can stop whenever I please, I can ride as quickly or as slowly as I please and I tend to meet more people when I ride alone.
Yes I'm always checking the mirrors too. My point was that if a dog or deer jumps out in front of me, I want to know that the rider behind me is way back. There are a lot of accidents that took out 5-10 motorcycles when it would have been only one if they had been keeping enough distance between them.
Two that come to mind are the group of Vets the foreign truck driver took out a couple of years ago and there was a group of Goldwings riders out West that a car crossed the center line and wiped out. Paying attention wouldn't have done either group any good, but if they had been 100 yards apart, the front rider was doomed, but the rest would have been saved.
DamonS
Active Member
I only ride with my wife and/or kids or alone. I sadly have a very low tolerance level for pretty much anything "groups" seem to bring to the table. Politics, bickering, hierarchy, and then add on top of that, as many of you have said, the bad riding behaviour, or simply the 'loud rear facing pipes that can only be heard from the back of the bike saves lives' crowd gives me a headache that can spoil even the most serene ride. Almost everyone at my business rides, its a veritable used bike shop of brands and styles out front on any given day, some like the bike gang status, others just like to burn miles and decompress.. to each their own, and get that hand out when we cross paths
small group of me and my family works best for me. stop when we want, go when we want, and when the road ends we don't have to take the long way around because shiny chrome may get dusty.
i'd say shiny side up, but after a hard day of riding, most of us don't have a shiny side, so rubber down
small group of me and my family works best for me. stop when we want, go when we want, and when the road ends we don't have to take the long way around because shiny chrome may get dusty.
i'd say shiny side up, but after a hard day of riding, most of us don't have a shiny side, so rubber down
Senor Ramon
Member
After reading some of the posts in this thread, I think I understand the solo rider mentality now.
This past Sunday I joined a group of riders that I ride frequently with from Moorpark to Pismo beach. The group had 15 people ranging in age from 50 (me) to 75 years of age. Mostly Goldwings, cruisers and some ADV bikes. We never made it to our destination. Frequent bathroom breaks, arguments, traffic, blah, blah, blah, turned an awesome day ride into mush. Maybe I'm too sensitive, but I only get one day a week to ride, and want to have fun. It's no longer fun riding in a group to me. The guys are great, the camraderie is awesome, but riding in a single file looking for the other guy behind you 99 percent of the time is taxing.
I understand that riding in a group can sometimes give people a false sense of safety and security because help is there if you need it, but the fun factor is lost... Maybe if I find only one other riding buddy things might change.
This past Sunday I joined a group of riders that I ride frequently with from Moorpark to Pismo beach. The group had 15 people ranging in age from 50 (me) to 75 years of age. Mostly Goldwings, cruisers and some ADV bikes. We never made it to our destination. Frequent bathroom breaks, arguments, traffic, blah, blah, blah, turned an awesome day ride into mush. Maybe I'm too sensitive, but I only get one day a week to ride, and want to have fun. It's no longer fun riding in a group to me. The guys are great, the camraderie is awesome, but riding in a single file looking for the other guy behind you 99 percent of the time is taxing.
I understand that riding in a group can sometimes give people a false sense of safety and security because help is there if you need it, but the fun factor is lost... Maybe if I find only one other riding buddy things might change.
For some reason I had read this thread today and not before, but I would like to do some solo but due to the country situation in Mexico I DO NOT FEEL SAFE doing it solo, but I had found my partner who is my same edge and have done at leas 2 years for riding together and had worked out very well when we are in the road, what we had define is that when we are in the road we well go at the weakest rider phase! and we have had some experiences that when we had to do something because the partner had to do the other accepts and we have being able to enjoy the ride. I can say that being in a group we do not feel as good as when we ride along.
On the other hand my son sarted to ride with me (he did many years of cross) so he will be part of the small group and we will work out to enjoy every ride, I will be more than happy to share the rides with my son and my partner.
My thinking is that the main reason why accidents happen are due to Ego, Speed and Alchohol (based on this, must of the accidents can be prevented), also I need to assure the people in the road see me and I try to always be one step ahead of my sorrounding.
For a safe and enjoyable rides.
On the other hand my son sarted to ride with me (he did many years of cross) so he will be part of the small group and we will work out to enjoy every ride, I will be more than happy to share the rides with my son and my partner.
My thinking is that the main reason why accidents happen are due to Ego, Speed and Alchohol (based on this, must of the accidents can be prevented), also I need to assure the people in the road see me and I try to always be one step ahead of my sorrounding.
For a safe and enjoyable rides.
AZMike
Well-Known Member
Senor Ramon, I totally get it. I used to ride with a big Goldwing group and it was great for a while. Then came the alpha pecking order stuff and riding suggestions and difference in riding styles just made it too High School for me. 2 or 3 great guys and the rest were Tool Academy candidates.
Senor Ramon
Member
You are definitely right. To prove my point, here is a photo of us stopping in Ojai that same day. The group couldn't agree on standing still for a minute to take a group photo (I'm taking the photo).
What's really funny is the group wanted to plan a ride to Sedona AZ (where I have never been) and was excited to join and plan. But we couldnt make it 130 miles in a straight line on the freeway, how are we going to make it to AZ (SMH)?
What's really funny is the group wanted to plan a ride to Sedona AZ (where I have never been) and was excited to join and plan. But we couldnt make it 130 miles in a straight line on the freeway, how are we going to make it to AZ (SMH)?
AZMike
Well-Known Member
Sedona is beautiful and worth the trip. I am heading that way on Saturday in the Motorhome. Maybe take a friend and go. Jerome is very close and more fun. I like the old guy on his phone in your picture. I am going to shut mine off for a week, I am just not that important.
I will ride in groups of up to 4 but no more. I prefer just 1 riding partner. I used the buddy system when I was diving and it saved me more than once and I believe in it for riding especially as I ride further off the beaten track
Senor Ramon
Member
The guy on his phone is actually super mellow. He rides a GS and a goldwing when his wife tags along. On most rides he leads the way but can't for the life of him take my calls on his sena headset or use it as an intercom. Sigh. He's concerned if he test rides my S10 he will want one (so he says).