Motorcycling and An Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)

At the Wednesday night rides over the recent years I too have witnessed changes in riding attitudes, and sadly very sadly perhaps a group mentality culture that can be pervasive and subtly intimidating - not intimidating by any particular individual/s but rather just the pure social dynamic.

On another sad point, there have been quite a number of motorcylist fatalities, and indeed since the November ACC protest ride this has brought home the fact that serious injury and death are real consequences.

I would like to offer a few comments about the regular Wednesday ride this current daylight saving season, and hopefully spur some encouragement to improve the situation and the event in general for next spring and summer.

Safe Riding

Looking Ahead To September 2010

As we are approaching the end of the daylight saving season 2009-10 and the regular Wednesday night ‘cruisie’ ride, then it may be time to reflect through this winter on what can be done to perhaps improve the next daylight saving period ride/rides.

Last September the The Group Ride Guide was posted on this website, and not surprisingly there were varying opinions, but most noticeable was the reality to the situation of who was going to stick their neck out and take control/responsibility etc etc for organising at the Duckpond. I recall at the time saying “I’m leaving now and riding to Paekakariki Hill.” Essentially if you want to follow then ‘ride your own ride’.

From that point on in September 2009, I believe that there was a reluctance to be seen to preaching the gospel according to the Guidelines, not because the guidelines were not a sensible and rational approach, but rather the peer pressure of the Wednesday night gathering made for a ‘be damned if you do, be damned if you don’t’ mentality. And be damned if I was going to stick my neck out for some that would choose to ignore and ride there own ride way above the ‘cruisie’ theme.

I identified numerous riders on a Wednesday evening that I felt comfortable riding with, and through this current daylight saving period I have often taken up the tail or near the back position. And at other times I would head out of the carpark as one of the lead riders and would pull over before the Rimutaka Hill at Kaitoke to let other bikes carry on their own ride, or at Battle Hill or Pautahanui when doing the Paekakariki Hill ride. There were times when, if I felt uncomfortable on the night I would actually leave by myself five minutes before the main group.

Here is a final observation:
Back in 2007 I suggested that the Wednesday night ride post up the desination/route before the actual ride day so as to enable novice riders to have an idea if they wanted to join the ride that week. The suggestion was shouted down the reason being ‘we don’t want the cops to know and stake out the route’. No further comment there other than ‘if it’s a cruisie ride there shouldn’t be an issue with speed or general riding behaviour’.

Next riding season I would be very pleased to see if somebody takes up my lead and posts up an advertised monthly ride calendar for the Wednesday night rides detailing route/destination/optional turn around points etc, say a calendar month in advance. And that the person posting up the program is diligent enough to ensure that reasonable care is taken to have a briefing before departure. The individual would need to have the support of several riders to assist in group ride responsibilities and as appropriate provide assistance to novice riders that attend.

Enjoy the remaining weeks before winter and safe riding.

Postscript Comments:
Some additional remarks this evening:


Thanks for that Brett, I am pleased you came back with your reply.

Whether I am riding or not daylight saving 2010-11, I would like to think that good preparation before a ride is very important and so to advertise a ride (leaving the Duckpond at 6.30pm on a Wednesday evening next season) and thus giving the readers here on KB the opportunity to decide if they want to join that ride is not only courteous but also sensible. To arrive at a meeting point (Duckpond) not knowing ahead of time what the destination point is I think is a negative feature. By all means that feature can remain for the ‘regular’ experienced riders and they may decide for themselves at 6.20pm their destination. For those that elect to ride the advertised ride that’s fine too, and of course they may elect to change their minds and ride with other riders that have just decided their destination (when and where it may be different to the advertised ride) that can remain and does not have to change. (The regular experience riders by all means lead out of the carpark first.)

I think common sense does not necessarily mean that things have to be ‘over complicated’ and I wouldn’t even attempt to change the nappy of a hairy assed biker, we’re all big enough and ugly enough to wipe our own backsides and so does the responsibility of owning and riding a motorcycle.

"If the stats indicate we are safer than EVER before right now"…then accompany those who have to knock on the door and deliver the tragic news “I’m sorry to have to tell you….” when the next fatality occurs.

I am sorry but statistics of themselves are just that statistics - whatever can be done to promote responsible motorcycle riding will perhaps go a lot further to reduce serious injury and one day make a rider reconsider his decision making/risk taking.

I would like to think that next season the Wednesday ride will cater for all who front up at the Duckpond, and to provide an element of choice - I think that is fair and reasonable. Enjoy your own rides with the regulars, and I promise I won’t spit the dummy.

Thanks again for your responding as it does present opportunity for people to evaluate and decide when and where next they may ride, next season.

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Thanks for that John, your comments are noted with interest.

I can conclude therefore that if somebody posts up a ride event leaving the Duckpond at 6.30pm on a Wednesday evening during daylight saving 2010-11, to say for example, around the Wellington Harbour and Bays, then that is okay as it does provide a choice of ride routes/destinations. The following week the destination may be Pauhatanui Inlet/Paraparaumu, the following week Rimutaka Hill summit turnaround, the following week Makara loop, the following week Wainui Coast/Eastbourne, the following week....

I haven't got any hesitation in speaking up if I see something that while ‘it may not be broken’ can be of itself safer* and more enjoyable. The decisions and choices remain exclusively those here on KB that at least may want to have the opportunity of evaluating other Wednesday evening riding events.

You are right this is not a club:

It is effectively a noticeboard, advising like minded people of happenings and a means by which we can all share ideas.

That is an astute observation, one that is respected. Whether it is a Tuesday or a Wednesday event, the opportunity to decide whether to attend an advertised ride program/destination event is an opportunity that could be embraced by this website.

*"Safer" - is a subjective relative word and personal judgement call. I note Gareth's comments and if a relatively 'safer choice' option is available then I cannot see anything wrong with that.

With respect
BB#1