Why I like to ride alone

**Goddess of Goof** · 22nd March 2003, 01:43

Don't get me wrong, it's great to have comrades on the road, especially when you arrive at chosen destination, and want to swap survival stories, share information, etc.
Or when things go bleh blarh bleeeeeer.... oh sheeet.

The point I want to make is that the best part of motorcycling
is the process of getting along the road. The physical melding of man (which includes woman in this case), machine, and road, as well as the mental process.
The process of synthesing all that sensory input
into one long and continuous stream of decisions ......
Thousands of decisions, large and small.

When you're riding well, these are automatic, and then your
over-all concentration can allow for:
admiring the long distance view
enjoying the short distance view - farm animals,
or kids looking up to watch you pass
or the lovely smell from summer-heated pine trees
and so on.....

I have actually slowed down on fast stretches just to enjoy the process, and the outdoors-ness of it all ........ and being there, on a lovely day, in a beautiful country, open road, bike singing, and so am I. And I will admit to slowing down or even God Forbid STOPPING to take in a particular view ....

We pass this way but once.

Slower rider ? Last in ? Where were ya ? What kept me ?

Bugger off.

**twistymover** · 22nd March 2003, 03:22

I agree.Go at your own pace. I'm a born again biker. I've been 3 months on the road again.I sold my last bike 10 years ago(GS450).Its been great getting back into it.I'm a bit slow with a group at the moment anyway.But if I want to look at the scenery,then 100-110kph or less is best.And what's wrong with that? Nothing of course, so it's" bye- byes"to those in front, but they wait at the next corner and everyone is together having a natter at the cafe anyway, which is great,so no probs.

**wkid_one** · 22nd March 2003, 09:00

Whilst I can certainly empathise with what you're saying - being someone to stop mid ride and whip the camera out etc....I disagree with not riding in a group because of it.

With all the riders I have ridden with, no one gives a damn who comes first and who comes last and which piggy was in the middle!

To me, riding is about a few things:

This one-ness of riding and the total escapism of doing it
The fact you DO see and smell more on the back of the bike than you would in a car
Doing it with friends - the laughing about cocked up corners, the ones you did well, how fast you went........
Scaring myself consistently

To NOT ride with friends to me is to miss out on one of the best parts of riding!! The comaraderie!

D

**wkid_one** · 22nd March 2003, 09:16

It is moments like these when it makes you gald you are riding in a group

**Slim** · 22nd March 2003, 15:58

Originally posted by twistymover
... so it's" bye- byes" to those in front, but they wait at the next corner and everyone is together having a natter at the cafe anyway, which is great, so no probs.

Ditto.

So long as everyone knows where we're going, and by which route, and regular stops for coffee or fuel or enjoying the sights (and doing head counts) are scheduled, then riding at your own pace is a much less stressful venture.

**Redstar** · 22nd March 2003, 21:16

Rideing alone? well I tend to disagree its a bit like sex really
there are times when you might want an intimate moment with yourself but bikes are all about family the comradeship. the common enemy weather and other road users.
We a have all been on a rally or to a meet and felt to power of combined brotherhood? I get a bit confused in a group like should I let the CBR 600 lead just because its a 6 and I have a 4 or should I piss on it like I know I can?.
I enjoy both on my one or in group.. yep

**wkid_one** · 23rd March 2003, 19:15

I agree Red....check out my post on the flat tyre......here is why it is good to ride in a group.....I know it is doom saying, but when (if??) something goes wrong.....you will regret riding by yourself.

And isn't it always good to have someone else see you 'fuckups'......and even better we they do it on the same corner (you don't feel so bad if someone else also cocked the corner up)....

But most important....that feeling riding off someones back wheel, knowing someone is off yours is the ultimate feeling of both freedom/individuality and comraderie at the same time....

Who wants to go to the fish and chip shop in Kaiaua or Coromandel Hotel and have a meal by themselves.....

I agree with riding your own ride, and stress my earlier point - no one I know even notices who came first or who came last - but only if you DON'T come at all.

**Goddess of Goof** · 26th March 2003, 22:41

Maybe I'm feeling a bit jaded or something. I didn't mean my post to sound quite as cold-shoulder and unfriendly as it came out.
What I mean is that sometimes it's enough to have your own experience of your ride, without any judgment or label from other rider(s). Or others' expectations, eh.
I'm not a misery gutz.... really, truly.
Of course I enjoy a group get-together and all the biker camaraderie. It's great, and bikers have the best jokes in the world.........
Heard the one about the two fleas and the sportsbiker's moustache ?
Luv yas all.

**twistymover** · 27th March 2003, 00:31

Two fleas....sportsbiker's moustache....yes, carry on.

**MikeL** · 27th March 2003, 09:34

Originally posted by BestFun
sometimes it's enough to have your own experience of your ride, without any judgment or label from other rider(s)

I agree. I enjoy riding in a group but however relaxed you are about it there's always some subtle pressure or temptation: to keep up, prove yourself, not be the last to arrive or whatever. And so you often ride on when you might have stopped to admire the view, or take a corner too fast because you don't want to be tail end charlie. It's just human nature. So when I think about it, the best rides I've had have been on my own. But it's not just about the physical ride. The companionship of a club or group outing is a different kind of pleasure and equally valued. So a balance is necessary.

**MikeL** · 27th March 2003, 09:38

P.S. Of course I've heard the one about the two fleas and the sportsbiker's moustache - who hasn't? But just for the record (and those people who remember all of a joke except the punchline) perhaps you'd better tell us.

**Goddess of Goof** · 28th March 2003, 00:26

Ok Ok Ok
Are there any of you out there who have not heard
this joke ?
Make a post and let me know.
I don't want to bore anyone.
If you say you want to hear it, I'll tell it again.

SPMan told me this one.
Heh heh heh He's got good taste...

Anyone heard from SPMan lately ?
I heard his computer was ill and the doctor said
take it to hospital. Sore tummy apparently. Needs an op.
Aw.

**Kwaka-Kid** · 10th April 2003, 08:32

You lost me @ Anyone sorry buddy. :P haha.

Well my personal opinion/preference is to ride in a group, i dont just ride the bike ever, infact im actually struggling to think of anytime (apart from when i first buy a bike) that i efver just ride a 100km by myself for no apparent reason, and if i did, shit i wouldnt go spend money @ a cafe on food or anything, id rather go home, the whole idea i feel is the social side of things and the comraderie is great! even ifi am @ the end riding by myself, having a group is like my excuse to get out on that ride, but its always in my mind that i will catch up to them no matter what. Mind you i do prefer to ride actually within sight of eachother, when i ride with my old man and his mates, on their big old GS1000's and that, beleive it or not they can leave me for dust between any lights or anything in city, that blimmin GS with smoothebores just carves anything from 1000 rpm - 3000rpm, so much low down torque. Anyways what im trying to say is he will always wait for me @ the next set of lights, or if we get split by more then one car, hell pull over and let it overtake if i cant find a line around it (on the most underpowerd 400 youve ever seen). So personally id far rather be riding beside sombody then anything, but the next best thing is at least being on the same ride as somebody else and having a common goal/meeting point. Just cant do it alone, its most likly because i jet between my 2 jobs every single day of the week clocking up so many lone-km's.

And even then, if i see a bike ahead, or behind, ill slow or speed just to keep with it and give them a wave, see how long we can ride together till my offramp etc

Thanks to whoever the other day was on the Suzuki RGV250 if you read these forums, but we both knew i blew you away going onto the waterveiw 240degree onramp! :P (more bullshitting about how far ahead i got/etc, its just so much fun)

anyways thats my rant, off to work, hope to see a bike on the way.

TTYL

**750Y** · 11th April 2003, 12:08

I prefer to ride alone. for my own reasons.
As for that photo that showed the bikes lined up at the Coromandel pub. That don't impress me much. That's a bad look in my book, but then hey each to their own. I hope it was OJ all the way.
If You like the comoraderie etc. ride in a group. Riding is about riding. socialising is about people. some like both at the same time. some don't.
It's all personal preference and it's all good

**merv** · 11th April 2003, 13:09

The look is fine with me because that doesn't tell me what the guys drink. On our rides down this way we regularly go to Hotels like Lake Ferry, Buckhorn (Carterton), Herbertville, Tinui and others - food is fine and I normally drink Sprite, Coke or have a hot chocolate. No one forces me to drink alcohol and I never do when I'm riding the bike.

This page of photos sees us parked outside Lake Ferry and the Buckhorn and not a drop of alcohol was consumed by the team I was with http://bikemerv.topcities.com/road0502.html