Group rides - Here's a question or two

**Urano** · 23rd September 2011, 09:09

Originally Posted by BuckBuck#1

There appears little organisation,

go home.

15 bikes with safety issues and little organization? that's all you need for a bad day.

up to 5 bikes, if you are a tight group of old friends will be all fun, but as soon as the company grows a bit and you have unknown people with unknown idea of safety, speed, route, takeover, rest and switchpoint... well that will be a mess and there are huge possibilities that someone will get hurt...
it take just an idiot to showover in the wrong place.

when we organize meetings with the italian forum we have an average of 40 to 60 bikes.
road captain, relays and tail have always a colored jacket to identify themselves, relays wait on every intersection, we supply route charts to everyone, point out times and fueling stops, we bring water and charms for sugar.
a week before the event you need to check the route and be prepared for a quick rerouting in case of last minute problems.
the speed is "medium": if there is someone wants to put the road on fire he has the chart and is free to go, we'll meet him at the end. if someone is particularly slow, the tail will take him to the rest point where everybody is waiting and smokin a cigarette...

'still we had problems, fortunately not for company's guys fault nor anything to serious, but with a messy organization you'll get a messy day...

**Maha** · 23rd September 2011, 09:58

Originally Posted by BuckBuck#1

Good to read and all the best for an enjoyable and rewarding daylight season ahead.

One observation I have noticed over the years is the groups will generally split into three: fast, medium, and cautious. The number of riders in any group does vary, however irrespective of which group, I feel most comfortable when there is only three other riders immediately around me (two ahead and one behind). I often drift back to the rear and focus on my own ride.

In all honesty, the three dont (and should not) mix.
You get fast riders carving up through the slower riders etc and that in its self, can be the very cause of a dumb decision being made.
A good ''group ride'' number is...3-5.
Once the numbers start getting up there, alot of unknowns come into play.

**Toaster** · 23rd September 2011, 10:03

Larger processions of bikes work well when the skill level and understanding of rules around group riding are well understood.

Used to have a large group that rode regularly and it worked well. We had ridden together enough to know each others strengths etc and rode accordingly.

It is often the riders new to group riding, new to riding in general, or the toss pot plonker show off that can cause problems if not well managed.

If the group is too big and too diverse in experience, simply split it up on the day. Let the fast riders go first, not filter through the group at a great rate of knots and upset the learners.

**tigertim20** · 23rd September 2011, 11:55

Originally Posted by Kickaha

It's bad etiquette to crash on a ride to

It's pretty dumb to ride at a speed outside your comfort zone with a bunch of people you don't know, you're better off dropping out of the ride or riding at your own pace and meeting them at the destination

did you read my whole post, or just the pisstake part?

Originally Posted by Murray

Doesn't make sense!!

.

read it again! slowly!

**Murray** · 23rd September 2011, 12:49

Originally Posted by tigertim20

1) you have to ride to the pace of everyone else, even if you dont like going that fast. dont hold the group up, its bad ettiquette.

RIDE YOUR OWN RIDE. dont be rushed.

Originally Posted by tigertim20

read it again! slowly!

No matter how slowly I read it 1) states "you have to ride to the pace of everyone else, even if you don't like going that fast" and then you state "RIDE YOUR OWN RIDE"

your facepalm and double it, these 2 comments obviously contradict each other and therefore do not make sense.

In case you still do not get it answer me how you can ride your own ride when you have to ride at a pace you dont like??

**tigertim20** · 23rd September 2011, 14:23

Originally Posted by Murray

No matter how slowly I read it 1) states "you have to ride to the pace of everyone else, even if you don't like going that fast" and then you state "RIDE YOUR OWN RIDE"

your facepalm and double it, these 2 comments obviously contradict each other and therefore do not make sense.

In case you still do not get it answer me how you can ride your own ride when you have to ride at a pace you dont like??

I will spell it out for you.
the first part is a pisstake.

the second part is an actual response to the first poster.

Now go back and read it a 3rd time.

get it yet?

**Lurch** · 23rd September 2011, 14:24

Originally Posted by Murray

your facepalm and double it

Here's an extra facepalm to show my solidarity in the face of KB 'logic' -

**tigertim20** · 23rd September 2011, 14:26

Originally Posted by Murray

Me no do understands??

Ive edited for clarity.
helpfull?

**baffa** · 23rd September 2011, 15:41

TIGER TIM ENDORSES SPEEDING AND BAD DRIVING!

So anyway, it all boils down to the individuals. Regardless of the speed, as long as everyone is riding within their limits, and trying to keep the person behind them in their mirrors, and not getting lost, It shouldnt be an issue.

**tigertim20** · 23rd September 2011, 17:16

Originally Posted by baffa

TIGER TIM ENDORSES SPEEDING AND BAD DRIVING!

So anyway, it all boils down to the individuals. Regardless of the speed, as long as everyone is riding within their limits, and trying to keep the person behind them in their mirrors, and not getting lost, It shouldnt be an issue.

thats tigertim20 to you buddy!!!

**BuckBuck#1** · 23rd September 2011, 22:47

Originally Posted by oneofsix

one problem with mates is a little thing called peer pressure. If your 'mates' are riding too fast for you let them go. Tail end Charlie, like all tail end Charlie's, is to stay at the back, not to hurry the slow guy but to be there to support anyone that gets into trouble. This thread is a timely reminder with daylight saving about to start
http://www.rideforever.co.nz/going-f.../group-riding/

Thanks for posting up the link, and to all that have responded in this thread, it is good to see the subject is out there leading into the daylight saving season.

Ride safe and enjoy.

**davebullet** · 25th September 2011, 15:48

"If you are new to these rides or haven't had much experience, introduce yourself to this guy" -> point to TEC. TEC can then take them under his / her wing.

The only other comment, is keep your following distances, and safe overtaking (= no overtaking in a single lane on a blind bend / corner).

**James Deuce** · 25th September 2011, 16:59

My definition of a group ride is three people. Any more than that is a cluster fuck. I'd like to see assembly laws introduced that ban more than three bikes being parked together let alone ridden in concert.

**tigertim20** · 25th September 2011, 17:08

Originally Posted by James Deuce

My definition of a group ride is three people. Any more than that is a cluster fuck. I'd like to see assembly laws introduced that ban more than three bikes being parked together let alone ridden in concert.

see I wanna disagree with that.
I do plenty of group rides, and up to 20 riders is fine... provided you know each other, each others expectations. The problems tend to come when you have an influx of new riders to the group. In that case you just have to think ahead. Split into more than one group if necessary.