Auckland - Any cruiser riders interested in doing a few group rides?

[HOOK]

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To all those of you who have surfed across from NZMCG, I just worked out that you can change the colour of this site ... I could hardly read it when it was all black ...but if you go down to the bottom left of this page you can choose a different colour ... I am using "The Light Universe" ..its heaps easier to read! ..sorry a bit off topic

Wow - had a look at NZmcg site and can see it imploding... Going to shut out all members who haven't ridden 'with the group ' enough ... or posted enough... and apparently unless you ride at, or are willing to ride at 140+km/hr , then your not a real rider & lack skills. Throwing the toys outta the sandpit and going back to grass roots, apparently.

Not knocking anyone who wants to ride at that speed - but it's not for me - I prefer to enjoy the journey and would like to ride with the similar minded

And thanks for the tip on changing colour but "The Light Universe" nearly melted my eyeballs ...

Stay Upright

[Scottie]

Well put Hook. When I was with the NZ Cruiser Group, I became dissillussioned with the presumption that you were not a good rider unless you ride at high speeds and corner fast. Often on group rides, slower riders were given the cold shoulder or simply left behind to the point where group rides were simply a joke.

Many in the Group had a point to prove - which was that they could ride their cruisers as fast as any sports bike. Big deal! We found that poeple were doing one or two rides with the Group and never riding with them again for that very reason. For me, and the people I like to ride with, you buy a cruiser because you like to take it easy, enjoy the scenery and have nothing to prove. A cruiser is not just a class of bike, it's a state of mind. Keep an eye on the calendar as we are planning a few cruiser rides in the near future which will be more to your liking.

[s8306]

Interesting what you say there Rob as i,ve had similar things said to me.Have never ridden with the Auckland crowed and never got the chance when you guys came to Wanganui for our charity ride.It seemed to me that the others followed where lord and master went, apart from some of the central region members.Hope you get things of the ground up there and more people wake up and realise it,s not about balls out riding.Personally this whole site shut down thing is just another way for him to gauge how much support he,s got.

[s8306]

Looks like i,ve been removed as well,maybe he read what i said in my last post,who cares, what a wanker.

[duckonin]

Yes what you all have said is good and constructive, but at the end of the day it is all up to you ' ride your own ride' you know where they are going that should be enough, lunch coffee whatever social get together, heaps of group rides fail because the participants feel it is two fast, if you are at the back it can be very quick riding to keep up, got a pillion on board think of them, when riding on some good roads with others my wife and I always give others the option 'good road go for it enjoy the road ride and thrill that ego' we will catch you up if we need to, that way we at least enjoy the scenery and our ride because that is what we wanted to do...
To keep the back of a ride happy with the speed, you need to ride like the gangs, that is in good formation reasonably tight so no cars can get in and ride at the one pace, passing itself is an art, once the leader passes he slow's it all down till the last is back where it should be then it is ride on, to do this style of riding you need to b real comfortable with the others around you sometimes in a real tight formation.

[Scottie]

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To keep the back of a ride happy with the speed, you need to ride like the gangs, that is in good formation reasonably tight so no cars can get in and ride at the one pace, passing itself is an art, once the leader passes he slow's it all down till the last is back where it should be then it is ride on, to do this style of riding you need to b real comfortable with the others around you sometimes in a real tight formation.

I could not agree more, we recently rode the East Coast with a group and then repeated it in the South Island (after we let the speedsters go do their own thing) and we rode just like you describe - especially when its comes to passing cars. It makes for a much more enjoyable ride, better shared memories and when one stops - we all stop. Hope to catch you ona ride one day.

[animaltkd]

Both styles of riding as a group in tight formation and riding in small groups to the same destination both have bonus's.
I rode for many years in tight formation group runs with various clubs I have been associated with, we have usually 50-80+ riders with the aim of arriving en mass.

Over the last few years ridden both and found a lot of riders struggle with formation riding as no doubt on the bigger rides we all have seen, also now at 42 years and have buried a few bike brothers i am more about riding how I want to.
South Island to me an example, I enjoyed listening to others who had ridden and done things differently to myself. For example, I didn't stop to do the helicopter to the glaciers, but when we met up later I heard how good it was... it is now on the plan for 2011, however I still thoroughly enjoyed my ride that day.

Trotsky wrote "It makes for a much more enjoyable ride, better shared memories and when one stops - we all stop." -
Again I agree with this to a degree, on a day trip or a weekend trip, yep totally agree 100% - more than 1 week,to be totally honest that I cant do, unless I am with someone who is very very similar to myself. I cant even visit my own family for more than 4 days without wanting to get away!!

Riding is a very personal thing, as long as you are not endangering anyone else with your riding then I will never have an issue, the only time I will get pissed is if riders hold up a entire group then I tend to break off, do my own thing and wait at the next meeting point.

At the end of the day it is all about do you have a smile on ya face when u finish.

BTW South Island was a blast, doing it again next year. Trotsky ya write up on the trip was really good.

[MotoKuzzi]

My sentiments same as the rest re group rides. Close formation is exhilarating and requires 100% concentration, so is speed and having a momentary blat and letting the bike have it's head. I don't enjoy continuos fast riding because I like to cruise and enjoy the scenery as well. All these things are possible within the one ride, ( ride your own ride ). I also ride on my own a lot because the window of opportunity to go may be short and I don't know too may others around where I live. The biggest problem with group rides as far as I'm concerned is the big noting and ego tripping by some, but I accept that as part of it and you can't make friends and have a enjoyable ride if that upsets you too much.

[animaltkd]

I have to say when I get pissed off with something, riding for a short time not having to watch for others in my mirrors really settles me back down again.
But I will openly admit and I do often so people dont get any misunderstanding because I ride a goldwing, I like to ride reasonably quickly, I love opening the wing up and I also love just chilling out...... Perfect ride for me is when I do both.

Close formation riding not only requires 100% concentration, but also more importantly 100% trust in the rider in front and behind, if I dont trust the rider in front or behind then I will make sure I have distance.

[duckonin]

Right !! The NZCG still advocates 'ride your own ride' it's used is to know when rides are on by being posted on the rides forum come if your want!

It does not mean we all have to ride together or as fast as each other, on most group rides anyway you may get others like your self who want to ride at another pace stick with them you will enjoy your ride, or just dodge along.

The Admin of the NZCG has always said the same as I just have, so has animaltkd, in his post's in fact all post's say almost the same thing, the CG was set up for like minded persons and has been going along with a brilliant website giving link's to other riders, who can all receive a private PM if you would rather ride with one or two persons rather than a large group.

animaltkd, both of your above post's have said it all, and I agree if couples can survive a few days and then a few more together they are special and a strong bond will keep you riding together for years to come but and there always will be BUT'S, never be scared to say "we shall meet you there " then off you go..

[MotoKuzzi]

Not bagging NZCG, but it's main attraction for me was to see what rides were on, because they're a good bunch of people in my experience. But, I prefer KB for entertainment and tapping into the knowledge available with a more diverse group of owners / riders. I've fixed more than one problem on my old shitter by going into the mechanical section and looking for advice.

[duckonin]

Motokuzzi you are right, not many if any except u on the CG with Cali's, not many in the membership full stop, at all compared to Kiwi biker, so info to u would be small in that respect, as for the entertainment on KB well ha ha I will not respond, Some may say the CG may need to iron out some kinks I myself do not think any exist, we all have our own subjective views on matters which can create conflict, use it for what it stands for, ' A meeting place for like minded persons'.. Life is too darn short so enjoy!!!

[9rider]

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Yes what you all have said is good and constructive, but at the end of the day it is all up to you ' ride your own ride' you know where they are going that should be enough, lunch coffee whatever social get together, heaps of group rides fail because the participants feel it is two fast, if you are at the back it can be very quick riding to keep up, got a pillion on board think of them, when riding on some good roads with others my wife and I always give others the option 'good road go for it enjoy the road ride and thrill that ego' we will catch you up if we need to, that way we at least enjoy the scenery and our ride because that is what we wanted to do...
To keep the back of a ride happy with the speed, you need to ride like the gangs, that is in good formation reasonably tight so no cars can get in and ride at the one pace, passing itself is an art, once the leader passes he slow's it all down till the last is back where it should be then it is ride on, to do this style of riding you need to b real comfortable with the others around you sometimes in a real tight formation.

Well put I agree with what you are saying. I think that is called a group ride.

[Top Cat]

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Well put I agree with what you are saying. I think that is called a group ride.

Thats what we had on the South Island trip, a group of 2 and a group of 4......neat aye?

[animaltkd]

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Thats what we had on the South Island trip, a group of 2 and a group of 4......neat aye?

Agreed, everybody rode their own ride and that was what the whole trip was about and there are shitloads of new places to go and see.

I cant get over how stunning the place was! and how great the roads were..... After the state of the roads on the Coast2Coast yesterday, South Islands were brilliant.

Iching to get back down there again.