Riding your own ride

[Danae]

Group rides, riding as a pack or sharing a common destination...hmm

I say riding as a pack...a band of amigos. Not just a bunch of people riding together for the convenience of it

[Ragingrob]

Anyone else? Interesting to see the perception people have of the two...

Sharing a common destination with the pack as a whole, then riding "with" a few of the people I know and feel comfortable riding with.

Pretty much riding by myself, but with the fun fact that there's a mate up ahead and in my mirror

[skidMark]

Sharing a common destination with the pack as a whole, then riding "with" a few of the people I know and feel comfortable riding with.

Pretty much riding by myself, but with the fun fact that there's a mate up ahead and in my mirror

Does this make us friends now then, although i was never in your mirror... lol

[rocketman1]

I always find group rides faster than I would normally ride with close mates or solo.I am not young, but find that pack mentality does take over, when riding in large groups and you easily get caught up in the "race".
I think I am experienced and wise enough to "check" myself and say to myself "hey dude your not as good as the guy in front, dont try to stay with him" but its a hard thing to do.
If I think back to when I was in my twenties, I would have really struggled to check myself, peer pressure would reign supreme, and bugger the consequences would more than likely have taken over my brain.
I have run wide on corners once or twice, and been in situations where if a car had been coming it would have been history for me.I look on those times of lunacy real hard, and thank god luck was on my side. I have decided ( and it has taken a few years to sink in) that you dont have to ride like those up front, you check yourself constantly and think often of your loved ones at home who will suffer if you stuff up.
Ride your own ride, and tell yourself before each ride that you are determined to make it back home . I think it helps

[Squiggles]

I always find group rides faster than I would normally ride with close mates or solo.I am not young, but find that pack mentality does take over, when riding in large groups and you easily get caught up in the "race".

Do you think group rides are faster when you're riding in a pack, or when everyone is more spread out (i.e. doing the same route with the common destination but you might end up following one or two people / being passed and left by others)?

[cowboyz]

i would consider myself to be a skilled rider, and a fast one.
i rarely feel panicked or stressed when riding, i just relax and ride by feel and consistency.
but i will never be a safety nazi, a holier than thou, you all take responsiblity for yourselves, and you should all be able to think for yourselves.

I agree with personal responsibility. I dont expect to spend my weekends babysitting. I go on group rides but to be fair most of the group riding I do these days are with the same group of riders and we know each other well enough that we know we have nothing to prove. Sure someone might beat me downa stretch of road but it doesnt change the fact that I look better doing it...............

I have said for a long time, I am not a fast rider, I just ride a fast bike. The problem with riding slower is it is difficult to judge how slow is slow just to accomodate someone else. I have been down stretches of road in the front of a group and thought I was pootling to find others well behind. I have also been well behind the group. Depends how *I* feel on the day, and I expect everyone else I ride with to judge how *they* feel on the day and adjust their riding accordingly.

I've said it before and I'll say it again........

Sites like this have a lot to answer for. It is far too easy for like minded fuckheads to organise a ride that is destined for sadness.

should there be a CV and interview process, and maybe a little ride round the block for each rider before the ride to decide who is the most appropriate and skilled rider to judge the riding of all the others to access what speeds the group will ride during the day?

A valid point if a ride is posted up as "learner friendly" or "newbie" or such like. But when its posted up as "Fast blast by experienced riders, other such welcome to join", the I don't think any imputation can be made. Those whpo join in must make their own call: either "keep up" (and all that entails) , or accept being the "arrives at the pub as everyone else is finishing their lunch". Like me. No harm done, if you're slow enough, the kitchen has finished all the fast riders' orders and you don't have to wait.

Sometimes, shit just happens. Things can be overanalyzed.

If a ride is posted as a learner or newbie ride then one expects learners or newbies to attend. This doesnt stop fast riders getting out the front and waiting at the stop. That doesnt bother me at all. What does bother me is fast riders who bait slower riders or brag because they got so far ahead. I just dont care.

[Brett]

rules for any MFSC ride are No Rules
your expected to look after yourself, as you know best.

And that is how it should be. However, apparently new riders/other riders need to be told how to think (according to Katman), which is BS. If you cant think things through and ride your own ride, then you don't belong on a motorbike, or on the road at all.
No one else is going to look out for your own best interests like you can. Use your head, that is why God gave you a brain.

[Qkkid]

I would just like to say it is sad that a wife and two kids have no dad anymore.
We need to realise we have partners ,riding sometimes becomes a very selfish thing. It just is. I have heard the facts and have made mistakes of my own. We must all think about when we hop on our bikes about the loved ones we leave to pick up the pieces when something goes wrong. Sometimes we need to think about "what if" maybe gravel or car on wrong side of road or maybe shit i fucked up my line. My Condolences to the family.

[Ragingrob]

And that is how it should be. However, apparently new riders/other riders need to be told how to think (according to Katman), which is BS. If you cant think things through and ride your own ride, then you don't belong on a motorbike, or on the road at all.
No one else is going to look out for your own best interests like you can. Use your head, that is why God gave you a brain.

Well I would make an exception for the new riders. They do need to be told to ride their own ride, otherwise sometimes monkey see monkey do as they don't realise the extent of skill others have and may try to match the wrong person's riding.

But that is mainly concerning learner-focused rides, where responsibility is still individual overall but the newer riders do have somewhat of an expectation of the experienced to lead the way safely (from the newbies point of view).

Anyway that's a different story.

Anyway squiggles after chattin with ya I know what ya mean by 'pack'. And yes, on a group ride I would rather be riding with my comrades within view when I come around the corner than riding by myself with others miles ahead but going to the same destination. As you said, rides are much more enjoyable when they are split into a few groups which ride at the group's preferred pace, as opposed to one large group riding at the individual's pace.

[smoky]

Does this make us friends now then, although i was never in your mirror... lol

Do you know how desperate that sounds

[Genestho]

I would just like to say it is sad that a wife and two kids have no dad anymore.....
... My Condolences to the family.

My condolences to the family also.

[Brett]

Well I would make an exception for the new riders. They do need to be told to ride their own ride, otherwise sometimes monkey see monkey do as they don't realise the extent of skill others have and may try to match the wrong person's riding.

But that is mainly concerning learner-focused rides, where responsibility is still individual overall but the newer riders do have somewhat of an expectation of the experienced to lead the way safely (from the newbies point of view).

Anyway that's a different story.

Anyway squiggles after chattin with ya I know what ya mean by 'pack'. And yes, on a group ride I would rather be riding with my comrades within view when I come around the corner than riding by myself with others miles ahead but going to the same destination. As you said, rides are much more enjoyable when they are split into a few groups which ride at the group's preferred pace, as opposed to one large group riding at the individual's pace.

No, defintely.

I would always start a group ride off by saying that everyne should ride to their abilities and that it is not a race. Beyond that, it is their responsibility to ride within their limits. If they are dangerous on the ride and put other riders at risk, they will be spoken to, but you can only go so far in making people's decisions for them.

And as was noted earlier on, it only takes a momentary fuck up to make a good day end tragically. It only takes a small thing to make it happen.
I know that on group rides I am tempted to push the envelope harder than I do on my own, that is why I often ride alone and when I do go out on a ride, I am careful about keeping my head space clear...
Every time I ride, I am slowly growing a little further away from road riding....(Because things bother me now that never used to)

[smoky]

My condolences to the family also.

Is this turning into a condolence thread? I don't think it should - out of respect
there's too much other crap on here that would reflect insensitively if we start using it as a condolence thread

I have notice no one has made us aware of the deceaseds handle on KB, so there is no where to post condolences - perhaps one of his riding mates may want to start one?

Or should the blog his mother started be the appropriate place, but then not everyone on here new his real name?

Perhaps a Mod could sort this out and clean this thread up afterwards

AS one of the few who saw the accident happen, I'd like to put a lid on this bullshit now!

The rider who crashed was NOT racing, nor was he even going fast. .....and I believe his skill level was at least average. ...... it was an accident and NOT due to any outrageous behaviour.

If you want to talk about group ride accidents or racing on the road, don't use this example because you are clutching at straws and quite wrong. It's insulting and disrespectful.

[Laxi]

Is this turning into a condolence thread? I don't think it should - out of respect
there's too much other crap on here that would reflect insensitively if we start using it as a condolence thread

I have notice no one has made us aware of the deceaseds handle on KB, so there is no where to post condolences - perhaps one of his riding mates may want to start one?

Or should the blog his mother started be the appropriate place, but then not everyone on here new his real name?

Perhaps a Mod could sort this out and clean this thread up afterwards

ther is a funeral notice for him

[smoky]

ther is a funeral notice for him

Where is the notice posted?