BRONZ Slow Paced Social Rides 2012

[GDOBSSOR]

you raise a good point, amongst others in there, Dragon. With the late arrival of the little GN, after most of the bikes had in fact left, it was stuck at the back, whereas I am quite confident the rider leader would have preferred it right behind the leader if he had of had the chance, so she set the pace.

Sorry about arriving late... Again. I get off work around sixish, so it's like, if I get there, I get there, if I miss out one week, then that's life. Kaiwharawhara is probably not going to be too much of a problem getting there on time, but the Police College and Avalon, I may get there around 6.20-6.30.

[DrDarkMatter]

thats good to know, waiting a few more minutes so we are all together I dont think is going to be an issue for anyone, if it is I would hope they would speak up.

I know for me its all fine

[oneofsix]

Sorry about arriving late... Again. I get off work around sixish, so it's like, if I get there, I get there, if I miss out one week, then that's life. Kaiwharawhara is probably not going to be too much of a problem getting there on time, but the Police College and Avalon, I may get there around 6.20-6.30.

Didn't mean to make you feel guilty. It is a fact, it is what happened and an opportunity to adjust and perhaps improve the rides. A pause would also give a chance to re-arrange to accommodate, another idea as I type.

Back to general discussion.
Another point I am aware of as my pillion just got her L is the differing levels of abilities to be catered for even within the L riders. The day she sat another lady was waiting her turn and whereas me pillion only really rode for the first time on her BHS this other lady owned a HD, so not LAMS approved then, and had been riding for a while, Dragon himself - well he can speak for himself but lets just say not a raw beginner. Therefore some L-platers will be good riders and others will have only just worked out which end faces forward, all have to be safe and enjoy the experience, after all before long I want the lass that pillioned with me riding along with the group as this group is about gaining experience and ability.

[Bad Biker]

Seems to be a lot of discussion over a simple idea?

GTRMAN is correct it is SOOOOOO simple!

If you can’t see the bike in your mirror you find a safe place and pull over and stop!

two things will happen if everything is okay.

1) TEC will bring up the rear and we will re-group

2) LR will turn and ride back to pick up the group to check that there had been no accident.

It’s not rocket science all rider should be constantly checking mirrors regardless of experience or reason.

Obviously pulling over is not always a safe idea, like Makara, Wainui and the hill where there is no shoulder to stop on, so we wait for a safe place to stop.

The idea is to look after each other.

There are always going to be slower riders and learner hence the name “Slow Paced Ride”

Maybe spread the L, R & F riders through the group some more if able but it won't change the issue or rule.

Maybe I am slow but it appears to be a simple idea getting made complicated?

[DrDarkMatter]

It may very well be that simple but I am asking questions, I am asking to see if maybe there is a better way, there very well may not be but I am just askin..

[GTRMAN]

And there is nothing wrong with questions.

My take on the "keep the rider behind in sight" method is that it ensures everybody on the ride takes responsibility for keeping the group together. That to me is the whole essence of group riding

[Bald Eagle]

Ratti here. Signed in with BE's new widget. Brilliant discussion of a very common dilema in group rides. And one I rant about 5-6 times every season.
zit's really simple.....at a safe place, bloody well pull over and dnmmmmmwait for the riders behind you to catch up. Yes, it means a string of riders at times. Eventually everyone bunches up again & the group continues.
It's not hard and annoys me no end when it doesn't happen. How bloody hard is it to stop and wait ? Doesn't matter if a car or two gets between you and the rider behind you. If you know where the rider is, eventually the car will go away and there you are together again. Simple eh?
On a positive note, open discussion of problems and solutions is a fabulous thing to be seeing here. The mix of abilities is always a challenge for me and the senior riders to deal with. To be fair, I've been co-ordinating these rides for a few years now and used to the half dozen or so questions that come up every season. I've had to break in a completely new team of senior riders this season and have been forced to leave them largely to themselves to sort it out. Huge round of applause to how it's been going guys, tricky business this herding motorcyclists.
I'd rather herd chickens, it's a lot easier.

[oneofsix]

Chickens don't argue back, they just run off in all directions. Umm see your point

[DrDarkMatter]

This is not cool, If you are concerned with a riders performance then talk to them or the ride organiser or the senior riders, any of those would be the constructive option. Bagging a learner on KB is just a fast track way to kill whatever confidence they had to start with.

Would you like your riding discussed openly? or would you prefer someone to talk quietly to you about it in the first instance.

Sorry you see it that way, it was not my intention

[DrDarkMatter]

the way I worded it, I would take it as constructive criticism, but that's me judging it and I wrote it, I ended with "lets help her" if I remember correctly.

sigh..........

I dont need this honestly, I just want to ride and have fun.

I will not be making any further comments...

I dont mind the heat but just not worth it, I just want to ride...........

thats it and meet new people who feel the same........

[Bad Biker]

To change the topic!!!!

Who's looking like a starter next Tuesday????

Meet at Kaiwharawhara if my dates are correct.

[DrDarkMatter]

I am keen.....

in...

[BMWST?]

Ratti here. Signed in with BE's new widget. Brilliant discussion of a very common dilema in group rides. And one I rant about 5-6 times every season.
zit's really simple.....at a safe place, bloody well pull over and dnmmmmmwait for the riders behind you to catch up. Yes, it means a string of riders at times. Eventually everyone bunches up again & the group continues.
It's not hard and annoys me no end when it doesn't happen. How bloody hard is it to stop and wait ? Doesn't matter if a car or two gets between you and the rider behind you. If you know where the rider is, eventually the car will go away and there you are together again. Simple eh?
On a positive note, open discussion of problems and solutions is a fabulous thing to be seeing here. The mix of abilities is always a challenge for me and the senior riders to deal with. To be fair, I've been co-ordinating these rides for a few years now and used to the half dozen or so questions that come up every season. I've had to break in a completely new team of senior riders this season and have been forced to leave them largely to themselves to sort it out. Huge round of applause to how it's been going guys, tricky business this herding motorcyclists.
I'd rather herd chickens, it's a lot easier.

i cant beleive how hard being LR is....i have been riding for a very long time.I think that on the rides where splitting up is likely(like Wainui) a couple of pre agreed stopping places would be good.The lead rider can rarely see the whole line of riders.The tail end charlie should always wear a hi viz..be nice if no one else did or at least a different colour to tec

[Ratti]

[QUOTE=BMWST?;1130511787]i cant beleive how hard being LR is....i have been riding for a very long time.


In the years I've been running these rides, NO-ONE knows how hard it is being LR. It takes a lot of practice to keep a group together, and is a totally different way of thinking about riding. Your mind is on the road condition, who is behind me, how far back is the tail, making sure you are being an exemplar of correct lines...and so the list goes on. It's not easy and there is not a single LR who has not been taken aside by me and asked to change what he is doing. Sometimes gently, sometimes accompanied by a Ratt-slap.

I'd like to remind riders that these rides are specifically aimed at LEARNERS AND THOSE WITH VERY LITTLE EXPERIENCE. If you're becoming frustrated with the pace and the controlled nature of the ride, perhaps you need to explore other rides? I know there is a Thursday and Wednesday night blat over the hill that is not controlled and at a much faster pace. I believe leaving the duckpond in Avalon park about 6 or 6.30. Perhaps that might be more comfortable for some of you.

In the meantime...I'm hoping to have Henry back on the road in time for next weeks ride. I look forward to catching up with the new faces I'm seeing on the thread here and seeing the improvement in the less experienced riders. And mostly, having a bit of slowpaced fun.

[DrDarkMatter]

ok this is just getting out of hand, I started this with a question about how things get handled if riders get separated, this was never about pace. Its about rider separation and having the riders strung out over a long stretch of road and then having to regroup and start over again from some given point.

it was me just asking a question about how things are handled and if there was a little better way.

geez.....