Keeping up!

[Mom]

What is this thinking?

How do we stop this insane desire to friggen kill ourselves because we dont have the skills, BUT, we are made to feel we HAVE to keep up?

When did it become OK to have thrown your bike down ( and walked away ) acceptable and a right of some sort of passage?

Who the hell thinks it ok to encourage our new riders to think they HAVE to "keep up".

What is wrong with encouraging them to to ride their own ride, within their abilities, while assuring them they are safe to ride their own ride and NO ONE will offer a hurry up. On the contrary they will be congratulated on how well they are riding, with maybe the odd pointer on looking ahead


Nobody should be made to feel they have to keep up. EVER!

[yungatart]

I'm with you there sister.
Those who 'ride their own ride' should not be poked fun at or made to feel less than okay for not keeping up either.

[hayd3n]

yup ride your own ride ,
weather it be track road offroad , go at your own pace not someone elses

[Laava]

Did I miss something?

[Katman]

Afuckingmen.

[blackdog]

Personally, I don't mind sending the odd bike down the road. I am always fully geared up, and don't take lightly the consequences of fucking up in the wrong place at the wrong time.

It has helped me to learn where my limits, and those of my machines are.

The proviso is though, it's on the track or someplace where there is no risk to others. A time and place so to speak.

[FJRider]

Those who 'ride their own ride' should not be poked fun at or made to feel less than okay for not keeping up either.

The motorcyclist that rides with their safety ... (and the safety of other riders in the group) ... foremost in their mind ... will gain more respect, than those that endeavour to prove their awesomeness ... (and usually with the opposite result)

And live longer ....

[bosslady]

If you're in a group and feel you're being forced outsIde of your comfort zone or skill level to "keep up" for fear of ridicule or being left behind. Find another group. Who wants to associate with people who make you feel like you're doing badly? Not me. Fuck em. Ride with people who you gel well with both personally and on the road IMO. In saying that, I see no issue with say a newbie who goes out with someone more experienced. The more experienced rider wants to have fun, go fast on the straights, take the corners at speed, whatever. But as long as the slower person knows they're not expected nor wanted to do that and that after the experienced rider has had their fun they'll slow down and let you catch up, then no problem. I should take a spoon of my own medicine though. Anyway I've ridden with a group where at the end of the ride I felt like shit and wondered why I got into motorbikes in the first place, it's not a good place to be and it's a kick in the proverbial nuts to ones confidence. The truth is, I think most of these more experienced riders forgot what it's like when they first started out.

[Mom]

Personally, ...A time and place so to speak.

ABSOLUTELY! Opps!

But, I am talking about new riders, ones that are likely to be influenced by the people they ride with. Their Peers if you will. Where is it ok to expect them to balls out, at risk of turfing their ride down the tarmac OK?

Shirley we, as more experienced riders, have a responsibility to encourage gaining skills, before cutting loose?

What I see happening is rides that simply expect the new riders to "KEEP UP" or not. They ride alone.

[Zedder]

Did I miss something?

The "How to keep up on a small bike" thread started by Dragon earlier today. (keep up mate, hehe)

[blackdog]

ABSOLUTELY! Opps!

But, I am talking about new riders, ones that are likely to be influenced by the people they ride with. Their Peers if you will. Where is it ok to expect them to balls out, at risk of turfing their ride down the tarmac OK?

Shirley we, as more experienced riders, have a responsibility to encourage gaining skills, before cutting loose?

What I see happening is rides that simply expect the new riders to "KEEP UP" or not. They ride alone.

Agreed. I even participate in the BRONZ learners runs when I can down here.

In those terms, my sole intention is to pass on all the roadcraft experience I have while encouraging safe and sensible riding practice.

Fecking one bottle of cider and I'm way off track. Sorry about that.

[Road kill]

New riders "male" have always over ridden their skills in an effort to keep up or be shown up.
Always have and always will.
To many old people that have forgotten what it once was on this forum.
Time to re-enter the real world huh.

[merv]

What brought this on Mom?

[pzkpfw]

Apart from the Bikeoi, I've only been one real "group ride".

Before the "fun roads" a couple of guys left, who clearly thought the ride wasn't "hard enough". But that was all main road stuff, on which silly speeds in straight lines is just stupid.

Once we were on the "fun roads", the pace seemed quicker, but that was really just about "efficient" riding, on curvy roads. I learned a lot watching the folk in front of me.

On one corner, I got very spooked by a patch of gravel, screwed up and ran wide. The sort of thing where if there just happened to be on coming traffic I'd have been a mess.

There was a slight element in there of me trying to keep up with the people in front, and on the straight before that corner I'd overdone it (my choice) and that didn't help my reaction to the gravel.

The tail-end-Charlie was an experienced rider and saw my cock up. At the next stop, he got the guy who'd invited me along, and the two of them did a good job of querying my state, and making sure that I would keep in my comfort zone. They knew the hazards of trying to keep up with more experienced riders, and did their best to make sure that wouldn't bite me. Encouraging me to ride at my own pace etc. I was well looked after.

Moral of the story: we are responsible for our own actions, but it helps to be in the right group; and when the experienced people give the right advice it makes a huge difference.

[Grant`]

ABSOLUTELY! Opps!

But, I am talking about new riders, ones that are likely to be influenced by the people they ride with. Their Peers if you will. Where is it ok to expect them to balls out, at risk of turfing their ride down the tarmac OK?

Shirley we, as more experienced riders, have a responsibility to encourage gaining skills, before cutting loose?

What I see happening is rides that simply expect the new riders to "KEEP UP" or not. They ride alone.

Its not ok to expect someone will be able to keep up, but when you organise a ride (that isn't designated learner friendly) whose job is it to dictate how a new person rides there ride, if you even know there a new rider... If said new person wants to try and keep up with me for whatever reason is it my fault if they bin there bike....

Prime example was a person who kept up fine with me through Woodcocks road, going at a steady pace but then fell off while zigzagging from take off warming his tyres as well as dragging his brakes after leaving the pub from lunch....