Bikers - Communal Loners?

[Mom]

I love being out by myself. As a rule I generally ride alone, often because I dont keep up with the quicker riders in the group. I love it! Actually, I think I prefer to be in my own space, in my own head, doing it all for me. No body behind me that expects a certain level of skill. No one ahead of me hanging back for me to catch up, or worse waiting impatiently for me to turn up.

Actually the nicest way to ride is with a few riders that allow you to simply sit and ride your ride. The comfort of a headlight behind you is immeasurable, specially when your blue lovely plays up. Having someone turn back to find TEC (bloody free thinking wing mirrors) is also a lovely feeling.

[Highlander]

I often ride on my own because I ride during day time mid week while most people are at work.

The rest of the time I ride alone because those I started riding with have dissapeared into the distance. If they get sick of waiting for me they will stop inviting me to ride with them.

[sunhuntin]

As for riding with other bikers who happen to be "going my way", I would never "impose" myself on them. I've never had another biker come up and sit with me on the road and I'd feel awkward latching onto another bike. Maybe a different story if there was some verbal arrangement e.g. chatting with another rider at an eating stop and agreeing to co-ride for at least part of your shared journey.

ive had a few riders tag along behind me, and ive tagged along with a few as well. when someone comes up behind me, i automatically shift left to allow them room to pass if they wish, and it also forces a small staggered formation. i hate being followed so directly by someone behind me. prefer to allow the recommended gap. even in town i will shift.
when i do tag along with others, its mainly my pushing my skill level that gets me there. the boys i rode with down south, only reason i was able to stay so close was by bunny hopping cars. its not easy to stay close on a 250, lol.

i did meet up with _intense_ in wanaka, and we rode together until fox glacier. i enjoyed riding with him immensely as we both had the same interests... stop often and take lots of photos. i really doubt i would have stopped at some of the places had i been solo.
while his speed and skill level were much better than mine, there was no expectation for him to slow down or me to go faster. if there was too big a gap, he would pull over, take some photos and wait.
i also met up with zapf and someone else at the ferry, only to find i had missed them at a town by a day. would have been good to ride for a few k with them as well.

[CookMySock]

when someone comes up behind me, i automatically shift left to allow them room to pass if they wish, and it also forces a small staggered formation. i hate being followed so directly by someone behind me. prefer to allow the recommended gap.

If I join another motorcylist or a group, I will sit back and behave in the left half-lane, unless I don't want to be there and then I will pass and leave with a wave.

So please feel free to remain in your position of authority out in front. Your right-half-lane position is the safest place for all of us. So stay out in front and enjoy your leader of the pack position.

Don't worry about more experienced riders behind you UNLESS some retard starts placing his front wheel inline with or ahead of your rear wheel - dangerous - do not permit this - carefully pull to the left and wave them on.

when i do tag along with others, its mainly my pushing my skill level that gets me there. [....] only reason i was able to stay so close was by bunny hopping cars. its not easy to stay close on a 250, lol.

Thats fun, and maybe a good way to learn more, but be careful doing that.

Steve

[Babelfish]

I know exactly what you mean and miss it heaps!
Maybe that might all change this summer...
Piekok hill here I come! You still up for it mate?

Yeah, I'll be there again...although its been nice saving my tyres for a while and being able to use the saved money for other important things

It is for me. Riding alone is my time out. It's the only time out I get. Which is maybe why I ride nearly every day...

The medatative, time out apects of riding is key. To the point that its one of the reasons I dislike having a pillion (if I ride with another person I prefer her to be HOT....and not on a bike) ()

But part of this thread is how this medatative state reacts to the stimulus of another biker. From this thread, this stimulus (you can tell I have my vulcan hat on) comes in three forms; bike passing in opposite direction, bike travelling in same direction, biker stationary.

The first tends to be a brief blipvert. Not really a intrusion to the loner status. I brief wave...maybe a thought about their bike or their aesthetics and we're back to humming and chanting mantras.

The latter two tend to be more lengthy and involve further etiquett. I find the key in both situations is how easy the people are to deal with. Meeting new or known bikers while stationary is fun and easy if they feel like spinning a yarn. Sitting behind another biker travelling the same direction, I soon figure out whether they are feeling sociable or not. Body language is quickly accepting, not accepting, or completely fecking ignorant to any other animal, mineral or vegitable (I'm probably the third category) on the road. If its the latter two, I breeze on by with a wave. I enjoy the accepting type though, and there is something to be said about voicelessly bonding with another biker, who has also been in a medatative state up to the point of contact. Something to ponder.

I guess my interest, and what I have often centred a medadative ride state on, is that transitional moment between just me and my voices and redirection of focus to someone else with possibly the only linking factor being our bikes.

[wysper]

in a car you are a spectator watching the world happen around you in your steel and glass cocoon, on a bike we are taking part in that world.

I think you put that really well Pedrostt.

It is like a strange dichotomy... separate and alone from the world but also connected in a way you can't be in a car.

I like the brief connection with a biker passing in the opposite direction.

The slightly longer meeting of the biker travelling in the same direction. Sometimes (usually) they are travelling much quicker than I am and it is a brief encounter, but always leaves a smile as I think it is someone else that 'gets it' and is probably doing something the really enjoy.

I don't often chat to stopped bikers, I am a seriously anti social bastard, but I always like to acknowledge them.

Biking is a great way of being part of a big diverse group, but always being your own person, and able to do you own thing. Together alone.

[slofox]

Is for me too, and certainly a lot easier to do than sitting cross-legged on a cushion.

Lots more fun too...

Same here, it helps keep me sane.

Not sure I can be sane any more...but as you say, it helps.

" its the closest you can get to flying while still on the ground"

Yep. I say that often...

[ready4whatever]

yeh there is a bond between all bikers. they pull over and help if you need help etc when cars wont

[Conquiztador]

I guess my interest, and what I have often centred a medadative ride state on, is that transitional moment between just me and my voices and redirection of focus to someone else with possibly the only linking factor being our bikes.

When out riding I take that to a higher level (higher???). As when I stop and walk in to a pub for my JD & Dry I will then sit slowly sipping on the tall glass alone at a window table staring on my bike, not actually seeing anything but resting my eyes on something I love (that does not argue or need something done now) while my mind travles to everywhere and nowhere.

[Fatt Max]

Great thread..

I like riding alone, I'm a writer and musician and must admit, my best ideas come to me whilst riding. I always bring a notebook and pen with me anyway and I've lost count of the times when I have had to stop in a layby (or bakery) and jotted down whatever crap has catapulted into my cranium.

Saying that, I always wave to fellow bikers on the road and love it when they acknowledge my existance.

As I said, great thread with some fascinating outlooks on riding, cheers my dears

[MaxB]

Definitely agree that solo riding is theraputic.

Plus maybe theres a case of 'what happens on tour, stays on tour.'

Also I think it is good for city dwellers to spend time in the backblocks (if that doesn't sound too stupid) and talk to the locals. City people tend to get wrapped up in their little worlds. I know it does me good to get a few different attitudes and viewpoints from round the place.

[YellowDog]

After a day in the office spent trying to shove your own head up your arse for other people; I agree that riding home has to be the perfect therapy to unwind and put a smile back on your face.

When I used to drive home from the city, I needed a large Scotch when I got home (no, not the wife).

After biking home, I would even consider 30 minutes on the cross trainer before dinner but would generally settle for a beer and to crash in front of the TV to watch the news.

[Babelfish]

When out riding I take that to a higher level (higher???). As when I stop and walk in to a pub for my JD & Dry I will then sit slowly sipping on the tall glass alone at a window table staring on my bike, not actually seeing anything but resting my eyes on something I love (that does not argue or need something done now) while my mind travles to everywhere and nowhere.

Damn it, I'm thirsty now...that throws me into another line of thought, around what we see when we look at the bike....but thats another thread looking into the classical/romantic approach a la Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

...

Plus maybe theres a case of 'what happens on tour, stays on tour.'

...um, when I said "connect with other riders"....

[MyGSXF:Me]

Great thread!

I am very much a lone biker.. most of my riding buddies are in ChCh.. so I ride to a destination, party with them.. them ride home again alone. The riding home alone bit can be a bit disheartening sometimes.. because I hate having to say goodbye to my friends, & ride off in the other direction. But then, it's usually been a full on weekend.. so the ride home is a nice quiet time for me.

I generally always wave at bikes coming from the opposite direction to me.. & have tagged onto another bike or bikes traveling in the same direction. & have been tagged onto as well. I don't mind it. Its a nice interlude & some companionship for a while. I like it more if it is just one other bike.. & would guess (& hope) that they are in a similar sort of peaceful bliss that I am in at that time.. & that we can "share" in that for a while. 2 separate people, but together.

Being a solo parent (with a full on noisy ADHD child ) my bike is my peaceful haven. I can physically feel all the stress & tension melt away when I ride. I have a chance to ponder on my life, what's going on & to bounce around ideas of where I want to go. Riding with a group, I don't get to do that. I'm full on focused.

When stopping for a coffee break.. I too love to sit where I can see my bike. I especially love it when she is loaded up with gear & tent etc. She speaks of special memories, friends, great roads traveled.. of freedom & adventure. I feel at my absolute happiest when I am in my leathers & with my bike, whether anyone else is with me, or not. She is my heart & soul. I not only love her.. I am in love with her