To ride by yourself or not ride by yourself?

[Motu]

I much prefer to ride alone - me on the bike,at my pace,stopping when I want,for as long as I like,thinking my thoughts,I'm not a people person and a bike is time for me to be alone in the world.

In an earlier age it was a social thing,we all rode bikes,and we rode them everywhere - the bikes set us apart from mere mortals and gave us an identity.Then I rode with my wife,the two of us on bikes living in our own world.

I prefer to ride off road with others,it just doesn't seem right somehow to do it alone,a much more shared experiance then riding on the road.

[Monsterbishi]

I prefer riding alone, allows me to gather my thoughts, gets the blod pressure down to safe levels...

Having said that, if I didn't work weekends I wouldn't mind a trip or two with other KB'rs

[Virago]

I like riding with groups, it's a great feeling. Now that my wife likes the idea of going pillion, it wouldn't bother me if it was just the two of us.

As Zadok said, groups are a great buzz. And riding alone, with a pillion who knows the ropes and trusts your riding, can be a great feeling.

Mrs V and I love long rides together, sharing the rhythm of the ride, no need to communicate other than the occasional squeeze or pat for mutual reassurance.

It's the ultimate way to share the experience.

[Beemer]

I much prefer to ride alone - me on the bike, at my pace,stopping when I want,for as long as I like,thinking my thoughts, I'm not a people person and a bike is time for me to be alone in the world.

I pretty much agree with Motu's sentiments here, I like riding alone because I don't have any pressure to go faster or slower (very rare, I'm not exactly a fast rider!) and I can stop when I want, for as long as I want. Sometimes I like to ride somewhere and stop for a hot chocolate and a break, then turn around and ride home again. Other times I just feel like going out for a 30 minute ride rather than a long ride. I work from home, so if I feel like going for a ride at 10am on a Tuesday morning, it's not like I can call up many people and ask if they are keen on a ride either!

I hate riding with a group who are much better riders than me because I either feel I am slowing them down or I feel uncomfortable with trying to keep my pace up. I enjoy riding with my husband, he is happy to tailor his speed to mine, and if he feels like a bit of a blat, he will stop somewhere and wait for me.

I don't worry about being alone and crashing as a general rule because I am not the type to push the limits - I know I could get killed by someone who crosses the centre line or by a dog that runs out in front of me - but it doesn't make me stop riding alone. If I were riding somewhere at night it may push me towards having company though.

And Cowboyz, come along to the Central Districts Motorcycle Touring Club when you have a bike - or even before then! Meetings the first Monday of the month at the Awapuni Tavern back bar (behind the gaming room) at 7.30pm.

[Jackrat]

Most of the time I am by myself and prefer it that way.
Not to say I don't enjoy being with others a times but my time on the bike does tend to be the time I just want to be moving along,not going any place in particular or having anywhere to be.Often I go for a ride an end up ringing home to say "I'll see ya' tomorrow" because I got carryed away with just moving along an ended up way out there some where.
Having said that,there's been times I think I've got to know people a lot faster than I might have in another situation because we've done the same miles seen the same things an sat down at the end of the day an just enjoyed each others company,not much said just the shared expereince.
Good subject, Cheers

[SPman]

By myself, if Im going somewhere specific - like up and down the country - so I can set my own pace, not be constrained or incited by anothers.
Other times - like KB rides, generally happy to ride in groups, but I usually end up riding by myself anyway, coz I'm faster than some and slower than most others......

[cowboyz]

And Cowboyz, come along to the Central Districts Motorcycle Touring Club when you have a bike - or even before then! Meetings the first Monday of the month at the Awapuni Tavern back bar (behind the gaming room) at 7.30pm.

I would but timing doesnt suit. My partner works night shift weekdays so I am lookign after the kids. Myabe one of these days I will find a babysitter and come along for a look.

[mikey]

I like to ride with a small group of people I know very well. Namely Hayden, Jimbo, Deano, Cycosis, The Tazman. The reason is everbody knows that I go in front, so they don't even try and challenge.

oh is that whats supposed to happen!
shame about my dodgy overtake at the lights, but if that bus you were riding wasnt so fucking big we could of all fitted in nicely

[DemonWolf]

hmmm... I love riding alone.. helps with my personal space, creates the freedom needed to be sane! but I also like riding with groups.. as I'll sit back and watch other more experienced riders doing their thing... though i'm not keen on the 'got something to prove' ppl... ya tend to find them out and eventually ignore them anyhow.. being in this little sub-culture with alot of rides being organised is a great way to meet new people and go for group rides if you want... =)

[justsomeguy]

Riding by yourself is always great fun if you are kind of a loner...

Riding with (larger) groups is not too bad if you get over the frequent stops and riding with strangers.

However according to me the best type of riding is with a 3-6 (10 MAX) riders who you know well and trust their skills and judgement. If all of you are of similar riding abilities then thats a bonus. It's fun and safe in case you breakdown, crash or have to deal with a mad cager, etc.

[Bonez]

Prefer being by myself. Don't mind riding with a few mates. Don't mind the odd pack run like the Coast to Coast. I tend to vare off on radom routes at a wim that can frastrate fellow riders or stop in the middle of knowwhere and pick some random object off the road- 5m of arial cable for example last time. Tis all good.

[loosebruce]

I dont mind too bad, riding in a group is great for when shit goes wrong as i have found out, major big help.
If i want to go hard i like to ride by myself or with certain riders who can push me along, i learn alot this way to when i've got someone to aim for.
In my earlier days i only rode by myself, didn't know anyone with bikes and when i hooked up with trashy and bruns, will trashy didnt have his GSXR750 anymore and bruns had a racebike only, so the only time i really rode with anyone was the track.
But without a doubt since hooking up with KB i have learned a heck of alot in a short amount of time with riding with others.

[cowpoos]

I simply don't know anyone!!!


I should go for a ride with the welly lads someday...I hear them from time to time...my farm is only a short way off the road between featherston and martinbourgh....


And I'm not sure what I would do if I ended up on a group ride where they're all riding like nana's or riding to die...where as I ride rather briskly...

[Big Dave]

Co-pilot is 'over' group rides - Being the trauma nurse she is - she's sick of scraping people off the tarmac when they come off, which has happened several times lately. It always falls to her for the first aid and shes brilliant at it, but has done it once too often now.

Subsequently I'm not that keen for big groups any more either. We had 5 good years of rallies and rides and may come back after a break, but for now - it's close friends only or I'm off out front.

[Biff]

Im not fussed eitha way but at least if you go with others and you get chased by the cops chances are they will catch someone else b4 thay catch me, so i guess riding with others has it advantages.

That's why you always blat passed me on one wheel all the time.

Reminds me of a joke:

A film crew are in the Africa - filming lions. A male lion they're filming looks up and sees them, roars and starts walking towards them. The camera man starts putting on his Nike Air. The sound man says," I don't know why you're bothering putting those on, you'll never out run it."

"Fuck the lion", replied the cameraman. "As long as I outrun you I'm sweet".

Bastard.

In answer to the question Snipper - in a small group, unless any of them ride an R1.