Riding in groups - Some of you have no idea!

**Ocean1** · 11th November 2008, 19:06

Originally Posted by jrandom

Most Wellington bikers are complete twats.

Suppose finess from trolls is some sort of generic oxymoron...

**jrandom** · 11th November 2008, 19:08

Originally Posted by Ocean1

Suppose finess from trolls is some sort of generic oxymoron...

That'd be 'finesse'. With an 'e'.

'strue though!

There's plenty of Grumpy Old Men to offset the twats, of course.

**Ocean1** · 11th November 2008, 19:14

Originally Posted by jrandom

There's plenty of Grumpy Old Men to offset the twats, of course.

I like to practice both, on alternate days.

**pritch** · 11th November 2008, 19:26

Originally Posted by Ocean1

I like to practice both, on alternate days.

It can all be done in one: grumpy old twat.
(Don't ask me how I know...)

**Ocean1** · 11th November 2008, 19:29

Originally Posted by pritch

It can all be done in one: grumpy old twat.
(Don't ask me how I know...)

We've met?

**Bonez** · 11th November 2008, 19:45

Originally Posted by pritch

It can all be done in one: grumpy old twat.
(Don't ask me how I know...)

I prefer grumpy twat.

**Forest** · 11th November 2008, 19:51

Originally Posted by MSTRS

The BDOTGNZA would like to state for the record that if the encapsulated 'statement' is a question in its own right, then ? comes before closing the quote.
However the first letter of the first word should normally be a capital...

Yes. Question marks and exclamation marks are always placed inside or outside quoted material on the basis of logic.

The confusion comes from full-stops and commas - which can be placed either inside or outside the closing quotation mark (depending on which style you prefer).

**outlawtorn** · 11th November 2008, 21:09

Originally Posted by Nagash

Well that was a big let down.. another straggered formation post.

When I was reading about how shocked your mates from SA were about our group rides, I was expecting a little bit more than just how poorly NZ'ers ride staggered. They do heaps more stupid shit than that when I go on group rides!

- Corner markers getting bored and just taking off, causing half the group to get lost.

- Dragging away from lights

- Passing with no indication what-so-ever, alot of the time in the same lane, either side depending on how much room there is at the time.

- Rarely is a TEC assigned, and most of the time the slowest rider becomes the TEC

- Some people try to stay in formation even round corners, that's always a laugh

- People not staying in staggered formation and it becomes staggered, staggered formation. With some people following directly behind, some people in the right position, and some just sitting in the road

---

Following too closely during staggered formation has been done.. move onto something else.

Last years Westpac was an eye opener with people passing people on one wheel through groups of bikes..

I was being polite, and sorry that I was 'only' griping about staggerred riding being dangerous......just thought that may have been enough....

**Jantar** · 11th November 2008, 21:36

Originally Posted by James Deuce

All KB groups rides end up races. Without exception.

Strange: Of all the KB group rides I've been on not a single one turned into a race. Maybe you perceive it as a race, but no-one else other than yourself is trying to be faster than any other rider?

**outlawtorn** · 11th November 2008, 21:44

Originally Posted by Jantar

Strange: Of all the KB group rides I've been on not a single one turned into a race. Maybe you perceive it as a race, but no-one else other than yourself is trying to be faster than any other rider?

I second that, never seen or felt like any kind of race was going down....

**PrincessBandit** · 11th November 2008, 21:50

Think it's been said earlier on (my eyes are watering after wading through all the pages in this thread) that a lot depends on what the expectation of those on the group ride are. Are there "rules" agreed upon before heading off e.g. no overtaking the ride leader etc., or is it a general "free for all" with eveyone just jumping in the saddle and taking off to a pre arranged destination etc.
People have posted about the virtues of riding with others you know and this might be the key for some. Riding with unknowns is a bit like trying to dance with a complete stranger - neither of you really knows quite what the other one is up to, and the risks are arguably higher than on the dance floor! When you know the riding style of those in your group you shirley will ride more as a homogenous (yeah yeah homogenous) unit instead of a bunch of highly unpredicatable individuals.

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 11th November 2008, 22:05

Originally Posted by Jantar

Strange: Of all the KB group rides I've been on not a single one turned into a race. Maybe you perceive it as a race, but no-one else other than yourself is trying to be faster than any other rider?

It seems to be a north Island thing...

**98tls** · 11th November 2008, 22:06

Originally Posted by PrincessBandit

Think it's been said earlier on (my eyes are watering after wading through all the pages in this thread) that a lot depends on what the expectation of those on the group ride are. Are there "rules" agreed upon before heading off e.g. no overtaking the ride leader etc., or is it a general "free for all" with eveyone just jumping in the saddle and taking off to a pre arranged destination etc.
People have posted about the virtues of riding with others you know and this might be the key for some. Riding with unknowns is a bit like trying to dance with a complete stranger - neither of you really knows quite what the other one is up to, and the risks are arguably higher than on the dance floor! When you know the riding style of those in your group you shirley will ride more as a homogenous (yeah yeah homogenous) unit instead of a bunch of highly unpredicatable individuals.

Good post PB,i to have gone back through this whole thread and ended up back here (obviously)Other than say a funeral ride i still cant work out why anyone would want to ride a motorcycle in some kind of close knit group,staggered,upside down or any other formation someone cares to suggest as following some rule

pre arranged destinations are logical if heading away with mates but following someone whilst maintaining a specified distance and position on the road seems to defy everything ive always loved about motorcycles,mind you i guess times are a changin,when next i hit the road with other motorcyclists best i pack a sturdy tape measure on the off chance i stray.:niceone

**James Deuce** · 11th November 2008, 22:08

Originally Posted by Jantar

Strange: Of all the KB group rides I've been on not a single one turned into a race. Maybe you perceive it as a race, but no-one else other than yourself is trying to be faster than any other rider?

Yeah. It's all my fault. That's the problem with discussing different groups of riders, from different parts of the country on an Internet forum. Your experience of KB rides is obviously vastly different to mine. I enjoy riding with Mike Angell and his wife, along with Mooch and his wife. Predictable and skilled, completely unlike the rest of the Wellington KB crowd.

I've been overtaken on both sides on the way into a corner by kbers on a Wednesday "Cruisy" ride. I'm not supposed to complain about it though. I'm a pussy apparently. I went on a couple of the Thursday rides a few years ago. Not my cup of tea.

Of all the KB rides I've been on there are 4 that didn't involve crashes, at least that I was aware of.

One of my biggest bugbears is acouple of the guys who are apparently regarded as good riders who insist on traveling 3cms off your rear tyre. If you ask them to politely desist you get a lecture that either revolves around racing or the length of time they've been riding, as if that makes them immune to the vagaries of riding on the road.