To ride by yourself or not ride by yourself?

[Sniper]

G'day Dudes and Dudetts.

Fantastic day for a ride out there and here I am bloody sitting in front of a computer at work doing nothing. I would rather prefer to be out on my bike exploring and enjoying the freedom that being on a two wheeled machine offers. Anyway, that brings me to a question. Do you prefer riding on your own or in groups. Or, are you just not fussed?

I have grown up with very little social skills (Hard to imagine I know) so being around people houses alot of "cat in a room full of rocking chairs" moments for me. Hence I enjoy dissappearing on my bike by myself but equally, I enjoy the company of others and I like meeting new people (sometimes). So Im not fussed. If pushed though, I would like to say I enjoy riding with others more because it subconsciously provides me with a "safer" mindset incase anything goes wrong, there is another person around.

So, what would you say and why?

[froggyfrenchman]

would have to rate it equally. but, riding with learners can become very frustrating over long trips. So, is long as youre with a good group its fine. I only have one mate that i will ride two abreast with.

[Dodge10]

Bro even though , i dont have anybike yet, i would go with the groups is better. It feels stronger and safer, thats what i feel...

[cher]

i've just come back from a ride did 100ks :ride: i ride by myself only because i don't know anyone else in my area awesome day :Punk: cheers

[**R1**]

Im not fussed eitha way but at least if you go with others and you get chased by the cops chances are they will catch someone else b4 thay catch me, so i guess riding with others has it advantages.

[Charlie]

I am one of those frustrating learner riders so I like the small group rides, I usually go out with just one or two others esp being new to WGTN I dont fancy getting lost as well. Solo rides where you can just ride somewhere for the sake of riding are cool too; havent done a big group ride yet - which is actually a confidnce thing. Best get over that real quick as I'm doing the KB Tukas ride and 2nd October!

[madboy]

I'm not too fussed. Group rides are good for exploring roads I don't know and for the social intercourse (or monkey spanking) before, during and after. But on the actual ride itself I like to be out on my own. I don't really like having people behind me because I then feel a need to keep a good eye on my mirrors, which detracts from my forward focus. And I feel guilty about passing people when in a group too.

The best groups I find to ride in are the ones where you are very clear on where you fit in the pecking order speed wise. You just sit in there knowing that you're not holding anyone up, no ones gonna try to pass you at the exact moment you decide to cut the sweeping but clearly visible corner, and the guys in front are not holding you up.

A bit like yesterday really - a thou with good rider, a thou 2-up with good rider, me, another quick 2-up biker, and a couple of 250s. Simple, no confusion, no stress - except when I hit that bump at the exact moment I looked down at the speedo that was hovering between 26X and 27X...

[sunhuntin]

usually ride alone as not many friends here ride. have ridden in a big group of 82 bikes as driver, and also ridden with larger groups as a pillion. like riding alone as that way im free to decide on the direction, speed, stop points and when to go home again. think id keep group rides for once in a while so it makes them more memorable. i have ridden with another guy who has a bike the same as pup, he would be my main riding buddy, but even that doesnt happen too often. pays not to get too used to company, lol.

[sels1]

Some days I like to ride alone, somedays I like a small group, sometimes it's fun in a large group - but not too often. I guess my perfered option would be to ride with a few others who rode at my speed. There is a certain amount of safety factor in a small group - you are more visable to other motorists and you have support for any breakdowns/incidents. Less likely to get lost too...

[White trash]

I like to ride with a small group of people I know very well. Namely Hayden, Jimbo, Deano, Cycosis, The Tazman. The reason is everbody knows that I go in front, so they don't even try and challenge.

Actually, that's shit.

We all know how to ride very quickly, we can get as close to each other as we need to without freaking out and nobody calls anybody else a wanker at regroups due to close overtaking.

[zadok]

I like riding with groups, it's a great feeling. Now that my wife likes the idea of going pillion, it wouldn't bother me if it was just the two of us.

[Riff Raff]

The reason is everbody knows that I go in front, so they don't even try and challenge.
Except when you go riding with me...... and then I crash! That's it, we're not going riding together again!

[Ixion]

Haven't ridden with mortals for 30 odd years. Used once to have a few mates to ride with, but it was never like a group ride, just riding with mates.

They're all gone or out of it now, so I ride alone. Except for the shadows.

Group rides always turn into defacto races or pissing contests, never been interested in showing that I can go faster or slower than another guy, and I'm not good at following set routes. Like to be able to say "Wonder what's down that road, let's have a shufti".

We are born alone, and die alone, and between, I'll ride alone, though never without company.

[**R1**]

I like to ride with a small group of people I know very well. Namely Hayden, Jimbo, Deano, Cycosis, The Tazman. The reason is everbody knows that I go in front, so they don't even try and challenge.

Actually, that's shit.

We all know how to ride very quickly, we can get as close to each other as we need to without freaking out and nobody calls anybody else a wanker at regroups due to close overtaking.Is this on that pink tricycle you keep mentioning??? hurry up and get a bike and come do the Akoroa ride you Nana..

[cowboyz]

I have always ridden alone. Probably because I never have anyone to ride with. I work shifts too so my rides are usually a matter of cant be bothered going home just yet, I think I'll clock up a couple of hundred ks the long way home. Am keen to meet some from around pallmy area and get into some group rides - just as soon as I get a bike back.

[Motu]

I much prefer to ride alone - me on the bike,at my pace,stopping when I want,for as long as I like,thinking my thoughts,I'm not a people person and a bike is time for me to be alone in the world.

In an earlier age it was a social thing,we all rode bikes,and we rode them everywhere - the bikes set us apart from mere mortals and gave us an identity.Then I rode with my wife,the two of us on bikes living in our own world.

I prefer to ride off road with others,it just doesn't seem right somehow to do it alone,a much more shared experiance then riding on the road.

[Monsterbishi]

I prefer riding alone, allows me to gather my thoughts, gets the blod pressure down to safe levels...

Having said that, if I didn't work weekends I wouldn't mind a trip or two with other KB'rs

[Virago]

I like riding with groups, it's a great feeling. Now that my wife likes the idea of going pillion, it wouldn't bother me if it was just the two of us.
As Zadok said, groups are a great buzz. And riding alone, with a pillion who knows the ropes and trusts your riding, can be a great feeling.

Mrs V and I love long rides together, sharing the rhythm of the ride, no need to communicate other than the occasional squeeze or pat for mutual reassurance.

It's the ultimate way to share the experience.

[Beemer]

I much prefer to ride alone - me on the bike, at my pace,stopping when I want,for as long as I like,thinking my thoughts, I'm not a people person and a bike is time for me to be alone in the world.

I pretty much agree with Motu's sentiments here, I like riding alone because I don't have any pressure to go faster or slower (very rare, I'm not exactly a fast rider!) and I can stop when I want, for as long as I want. Sometimes I like to ride somewhere and stop for a hot chocolate and a break, then turn around and ride home again. Other times I just feel like going out for a 30 minute ride rather than a long ride. I work from home, so if I feel like going for a ride at 10am on a Tuesday morning, it's not like I can call up many people and ask if they are keen on a ride either!

I hate riding with a group who are much better riders than me because I either feel I am slowing them down or I feel uncomfortable with trying to keep my pace up. I enjoy riding with my husband, he is happy to tailor his speed to mine, and if he feels like a bit of a blat, he will stop somewhere and wait for me.

I don't worry about being alone and crashing as a general rule because I am not the type to push the limits - I know I could get killed by someone who crosses the centre line or by a dog that runs out in front of me - but it doesn't make me stop riding alone. If I were riding somewhere at night it may push me towards having company though.

And Cowboyz, come along to the Central Districts Motorcycle Touring Club when you have a bike - or even before then! Meetings the first Monday of the month at the Awapuni Tavern back bar (behind the gaming room) at 7.30pm.

[Jackrat]

Most of the time I am by myself and prefer it that way.
Not to say I don't enjoy being with others a times but my time on the bike does tend to be the time I just want to be moving along,not going any place in particular or having anywhere to be.Often I go for a ride an end up ringing home to say "I'll see ya' tomorrow" because I got carryed away with just moving along an ended up way out there some where.
Having said that,there's been times I think I've got to know people a lot faster than I might have in another situation because we've done the same miles seen the same things an sat down at the end of the day an just enjoyed each others company,not much said just the shared expereince.
Good subject, Cheers :ride:

[SPman]

By myself, if Im going somewhere specific - like up and down the country - so I can set my own pace, not be constrained or incited by anothers.
Other times - like KB rides, generally happy to ride in groups, but I usually end up riding by myself anyway, coz I'm faster than some and slower than most others......:sherlock:

[cowboyz]

And Cowboyz, come along to the Central Districts Motorcycle Touring Club when you have a bike - or even before then! Meetings the first Monday of the month at the Awapuni Tavern back bar (behind the gaming room) at 7.30pm.


I would but timing doesnt suit. My partner works night shift weekdays so I am lookign after the kids. Myabe one of these days I will find a babysitter and come along for a look.

[mikey]

I like to ride with a small group of people I know very well. Namely Hayden, Jimbo, Deano, Cycosis, The Tazman. The reason is everbody knows that I go in front, so they don't even try and challenge.



oh is that whats supposed to happen!
shame about my dodgy overtake at the lights, but if that bus you were riding wasnt so fucking big we could of all fitted in nicely

[DemonWolf]

hmmm... I love riding alone.. helps with my personal space, creates the freedom needed to be sane! but I also like riding with groups.. as I'll sit back and watch other more experienced riders doing their thing... though i'm not keen on the 'got something to prove' ppl... ya tend to find them out and eventually ignore them anyhow.. being in this little sub-culture with alot of rides being organised is a great way to meet new people and go for group rides if you want... =)

[justsomeguy]

Riding by yourself is always great fun if you are kind of a loner...

Riding with (larger) groups is not too bad if you get over the frequent stops and riding with strangers.

However according to me the best type of riding is with a 3-6 (10 MAX) riders who you know well and trust their skills and judgement. If all of you are of similar riding abilities then thats a bonus. It's fun and safe in case you breakdown, crash or have to deal with a mad cager, etc.

:ride:

[Bonez]

Prefer being by myself. Don't mind riding with a few mates. Don't mind the odd pack run like the Coast to Coast. I tend to vare off on radom routes at a wim that can frastrate fellow riders or stop in the middle of knowwhere and pick some random object off the road- 5m of arial cable for example last time. Tis all good.

[loosebruce]

I dont mind too bad, riding in a group is great for when shit goes wrong as i have found out, major big help.
If i want to go hard i like to ride by myself or with certain riders who can push me along, i learn alot this way to when i've got someone to aim for.
In my earlier days i only rode by myself, didn't know anyone with bikes and when i hooked up with trashy and bruns, will trashy didnt have his GSXR750 anymore and bruns had a racebike only, so the only time i really rode with anyone was the track.
But without a doubt since hooking up with KB i have learned a heck of alot in a short amount of time with riding with others.

[cowpoos]

I simply don't know anyone!!!


I should go for a ride with the welly lads someday...I hear them from time to time...my farm is only a short way off the road between featherston and martinbourgh....


And I'm not sure what I would do if I ended up on a group ride where they're all riding like nana's or riding to die...where as I ride rather briskly...

[Big Dave]

Co-pilot is 'over' group rides - Being the trauma nurse she is - she's sick of scraping people off the tarmac when they come off, which has happened several times lately. It always falls to her for the first aid and shes brilliant at it, but has done it once too often now.

Subsequently I'm not that keen for big groups any more either. We had 5 good years of rallies and rides and may come back after a break, but for now - it's close friends only or I'm off out front.

[Biff]

Im not fussed eitha way but at least if you go with others and you get chased by the cops chances are they will catch someone else b4 thay catch me, so i guess riding with others has it advantages.

That's why you always blat passed me on one wheel all the time.

Reminds me of a joke:

A film crew are in the Africa - filming lions. A male lion they're filming looks up and sees them, roars and starts walking towards them. The camera man starts putting on his Nike Air. The sound man says," I don't know why you're bothering putting those on, you'll never out run it."

"Fuck the lion", replied the cameraman. "As long as I outrun you I'm sweet".

Bastard.

In answer to the question Snipper - in a small group, unless any of them ride an R1.

[RiderInBlack]

Not the right voting option there for me. "Not too fussed really" comes close, but the truth is that I am fussed.
For me it's a matter of what I'm in the mood for. Like a cat, I like company when I'm in the mood for it, otherwise I'm "The Cat Who Rides By Himself". That's why I like riding, cause it gives me that freedom.

[Macktheknife]

I have ridden alone a lot and ridden in groups of up to 1600 bikes (very cool) I have learned that I dont trust a lot of riders to get too close to me but the ones I do trust have my ever lasting respect as great ( and slightly mental) riders. I guess it depends on the kind of mood Im in too, sometimes I dont want witnesses to my stupidity with speed! lol thats why I ride a cruiser now, not as tempted to go at light speed everywhere.

[XTC]

i've just come back from a ride did 100ks :ride: i ride by myself only because i don't know anyone else in my area awesome day :Punk: cheers
I'm sort of in your area.......

[XTC]

I prefer small groups maybe up to 4 or 5 bikes with people of similar skill. Large groups of riders with differing skill levels and expectations can be frustrating. But even a bad ride is better than a good day at work.