Cmon guys, Get Biker Wise!

[Skyryder]

Been reading these with some interest. Seems there are a few valid points here. I've been riding off and on for a long time (I still see myself as a begginer. I do not ride fast anymore) and while the 'rides' are rides they are also social occasions. But here's a tip for you newer guys. It is better to get lost (no pun intended) than to get dead.

Skyryder

[FROSTY:Me]

Yer but it's cool seeing him behind you trying to put his knee down he needs some need pads

PS: Ant's got some fabric gloves now. Girlfriend is working on him to get some decent ones (like leather or kevlar).

Ive got a pair of gloves for him at my place Good quality gloves -leather
$20 I forgot all about em -better send him an e mail
Um yea --anybody got a set of kne sliders small enough for a 5 year old?? -HRumph

[Antallica]

Ive got a pair of gloves for him at my place Good quality gloves -leather
$20 I forgot all about em -better send him an e mail
Um yea --anybody got a set of kne sliders small enough for a 5 year old?? -HRumph

Got pics kind sir?

[Devil]

Um yea --anybody got a set of kne sliders small enough for a 5 year old?? -HRumph

Anything thats 2 weeks old from Dunkin Donuts should be tough enough

[Ms Piggy]

Being a new rider myself I know that the 1st time I went out with a mixed group I initially tired to "keep up", this is a really stoopid idea (well for me it was) b/c it meant I was riding beyond my own abilities & taking silly risks. I realised very soon into the ride I was doing this and calmed down & started riding at my own pace - that meant I was waaaaay behind the rest of the group but, one of the faster riders waited for me to make sure I wasn't getting lost.

The next group ride I went on I had a more expereinced rider who was willing to stay with me & it felt good. Also on my 2nd group ride we had a bit of a chat before we left so that everyone kinda knew everyone & their riding abilities and what was happening.

My opinion is that on any group ride (more so with real new riders) someone needs to take responsibility, I reckon there needs to be a leader & a follower, it sux I know but at the end of that day if you organise a group ride things run a lot smoother if there is a little bit of responsibility taken - ummmm, especially if it's supposed to be a slow ride for beginners.

Anyway that's my 2 cents woth.

[merv]

Even on a group ride it is best if you effectively team up with one or two others that you are happy with and then ride together always keeping each other in view. 2, 3 or 4 together are all easy combinations as long as you are all happy with each others company.

[FROSTY:Me]

Got pics kind sir?

Have a look at a sorta oldish thread--of gloves and stuff--I have a pic in there

[Cajun]

Personally when riding in groups, i never stay to close to the person infront of me, also i do not like someone to close behind me, if they are to close for my comfort, i will slow down and to the left to make them pass. Thats just my personal perfence, i have also just about hit someone coming out of a corner, dude on an cbr 900rr followed by his wife rg150 followed by me, 40km/h corner we took it at 80km/h cbr went around fine, rg went around, foot pegs hit ground, and off she go, and i just about about ran her over, just missed her, and just about down a big 3 foot drop bank, before i stoped i just stoped in time. okay, following someone to close might not stop this happening, but might give little more time to slow down or miss them.

Other reason i do like riding closey to people, is that i don't know how they ride, i don't know how they react to road conditions, etc etc, the only reason i brake this is when i ride with the wife, cause we always ride together, we know how each other react and each other riding style very very well(i helped teach her to ride).

And if i am riding people leaving for me dead on a ride, i don't try and keep up i rather come in last than not come in all, i can't afford to pay to fix my bike/get another one. I guess, it really depends on age i guess, the younger person might try and keep up were an older one might know better.

I'm starting to sound old how,

[Kwaka-Kid]

cheers for the support guys! i was initially a little concerned the response was not going to flow this way!

Anyway i think it was frosty up there with a point, which was along the lines of having a predetirmend point that EVERYBODY knows about, and how to get to without ever feeling like they could get lost! (trust me, big thing!) And often even if they say "yeah yeah i just stay on this road and end up at that gas station after the last right" or whatever, it doesnt mean they often feel really comfortable being left on their own. We have had posts of guys saying "as long as we all arrive at the end destination and blah blah about the ride regardless of who was with who and who was at the back, its all good!" which is just fine by me! so long as the newer ones really do understand this etc - again harping on.

So about the responsibility thing? i think not.. In america after an event like this there is a high chance the "organiser" of the ride, or even those out front "leading" the newer riders could be charged! NZ is heading more and more the way of the US unfortunatly - yeah it sounds OTT etc but hey - thats america and soon to be us!

So without being an organiser or anything like that, I was considering taking my little 400 out for a ride on the 26th or 27th with shade, just a genuine slow ride yet again up through old north road and peaks road, to improve skills and enjoy the corners! if some newer bikers wanted to head round to my place before hand and talk for a bit then work on their bikes then happen to follow us out i sure wouldnt mind following some new riders through the roads and giving them some pointers using the knowledge from the limited experience ive had on the racetrack etc.

Maybe we could do this a little more often? i often have shade, (YourMostWantedbefore his bike was totalled) and PutMan over here to work on their bikes (even just to teach basic oil change/chain maintenence, its hard when your flatting like these guys!) then out for a smooth ride in the sun through some of the still-unknowen-to-me westauckland roads! - i dont mind letting the loop get a little bigger so long as it doesnt get outta hand! -got too many bloody bikes in the garages as it is :S - just gimmie an MSN or something.
cheers guys - im glad there is support for improving our rides.

[Quasievil]

This isn't that hard, guys. There's LOTS of stuff on the interweb about riding in groups - how to organise it, how to make it safe, how to make sure people don't get left behind, etc.
Someone yesterday suggested dividing the group into subgroups of equal abilities or preferred riding speed - a good idea, and one that most organised groups follow.
Check this link:
The Pace
Or this one:
How to Ride a Motorcycle with a Group
Or this:
Group Riding

Great Stuff Firestormer, this bit from your links look the best to me. ive Cut and Pasted (hope ya dont mind)
Quote...
This is popular with groups going on long rides and allows overtaking within the group without upsetting the group. Understanding the system is important, as every rider needs to do their part to avoid anyone getting lost. One leader is responsible for navigating the route, at every junction, the rider immediately behind, marks the junction. All other riders pass the marker except the back marker who signals that he/she is the last in the group. The marker than re-joins the group 2nd from the back. This approach involves all the group and as the marker gets rotated front to back. It also allows riders to overtake other riders without confusing the group. The method works providing that everyone makes clear, safe markings and doesn't forget they are in the No.2 position, when it is their turn to mark. It can be difficult to find the best place to mark, particularly right hand turns etc. Often the safest place to stop is by the road sign itself and point in the direction. This means everyone has plenty of time to prepare for the turn. It is also vital that markers do not leave their post until they are sure the back marker has come through. In the event of a brake down the back marker mast stop and assist, the lead rider will then eventually run out of markers and stop. This method can fail if another biker (not in the group) stops next to a junction and leaves before the back marker comes through (thus falsely directing some of the group off.
Motorway exits and the hard shoulder are dangerous places to stop (and illegal unless in an emergency). If your ride includes sections of Motorways, you will need to regroup before and after the ride. It is also useful to keep the motorway speed down as well as encouraging everyone to stay together.
... end quote

Ive been on a few rides where this works brilliantly. I think KB rides should adopt it

[vifferman]

Like I said, there's lots of stuff on the Interweb, and those 3 links I posted were just some I quickly trawled on Google while writing my message.
We shouldn't be having rides where nearly every ride someone craps out. It might make for some interesting reading, but sooner or later there's likely to be a serious injury or worse still, a fatality and even having an accident with a minor injury is unacceptable, in my opinion.

[MadDuck]

Well I have read all the comments with interest. KK has made a valid point.

BUT on Sunday there was always someone at the back of the pack all the way - ME!!!!!

I am never keen on having a rider behind me in a group if I think they are faster than me and I will hold them up and on Sunday that was just about everyone so I putted along at the rear. The first bin happened in a suburban street where the limit is 50kms dammit NOT on the open road.

The second appeared to be just one of those (as everyone says) "oh fuck" moments.

SpankMe was at every turning in the road to wait for the tailender - ME!!!! I am not sure much else could be done to improve the way the day was run.

Valid point KK but wouldnt have made a diff on this ride I IMHO anyways.
MD

[Posh Tourer :P]

Like I said, there's lots of stuff on the Interweb, and those 3 links I posted were just some I quickly trawled on Google while writing my message.
We shouldn't be having rides where nearly every ride someone craps out. It might make for some interesting reading, but sooner or later there's likely to be a serious injury or worse still, a fatality and even having an accident with a minor injury is unacceptable, in my opinion.

Well put. I've said this before, and it puts me off going on KB rides. However, I'm considering organising a SLOW ride sometime soon, given the support this topic has received this time and also the last time it blew up (18th april)

[Posh Tourer :P]

Well I have read all the comments with interest. KK has made a valid point.

BUT on Sunday there was always someone at the back of the pack all the way - ME!!!!!

I am never keen on having a rider behind me in a group if I think they are faster than me and I will hold them up and on Sunday that was just about everyone so I putted along at the rear. The first bin happened in a suburban street where the limit is 50kms dammit NOT on the open road.

The second appeared to be just one of those (as everyone says) "oh fuck" moments.

SpankMe was at every turning in the road to wait for the tailender - ME!!!! I am not sure much else could be done to improve the way the day was run.

Valid point KK but wouldnt have made a diff on this ride I IMHO anyways.
MD

Yes it would have. You are taking firestormers links and I agree with you that those principles seem to have been well followed.
KK also made other points such as the fast guys dragging the slower guys along, slower guys being out of their depth because the faster guys were setting too fast a pace. If there are differing abilities, there ought to be a pace setter in each ability group or at least for the less experienced riders. These rides that are organised with inexperienced riders in mind or coming along are obviously different to anyone who wants to organise a blat with mates through the site, such as FF and MR do often. It is important to distinguish, in my opinion, between rides for different functions. Large rides essentially ought to be run as separate rides for different abilities, not as one big ride. You can all meet up at the same point and have a yarn at the end, in any case, thats what big rides are about anyway isnt it? If it wasnt, why not ride on your own?

[Two Smoker]

Well put KK, all of its right, except the me being fast bit, odnt know where you were going with that one........

Yep im keen to go on a slow ride with PT, my licnece wont last too long otherwise

I reakon the first bin MIGHT have been avoided, if we had slowed a little, but we werent going quick as it was....... it was a tricky left hander that if you took at 60kmh you had too be quick onto the brakes to stop for the roundabout.....

But the second bin was one of those aaahhhh fuck moments.... bit of a bugger because ive had some of them but with better consequences luckily......

Id be keen to show some slower riders some lines (although i dont know much being slow myself) as i do this with Milky too increase his pace.... Mad Duck if you keen ill do it with you