South Auckland Thursday Night Ride

**Wolfrider** · 12th June 2009, 19:57

I think that scott has the right idea, maybe there should be two groups, I know last night i felt that i was holding people up,( my apoligies to those that were behind me), I don't like holding people up, as those with more skill and knowlege tend to get pissed off with us "slower" riders. Having one experience night rider opting to "watch out" for us newbies would really go a long way with encourging more new people to join the night rides. By the way, was I on the right road trying to find the group last night, i beleve i had my spill at the Awhitu/Brook Rd corner. I was going about 60-70 km.

Thanks scott for the advice last night. Would like to go for a ride with you sometime during the day when I'm riding again.

I think this group is great, and would like to get to know you people a bit more, but it is a bit daunting when you get left behind, and not knowing if you are going the right way. I am not saying we should ride the same roads every week, as that is just boring after awile, just that if there is a place that we can all meet up, so the ones that want to go fast, can go fast, and those like me that are "slower", with an experienced night rider, dont feel like we are holding everyone up and not worry about getting lost.

Those are just my thoughts as a newbie.

**Gummie** · 12th June 2009, 20:25

Wolfrider looks like we need to do some shopping. lol
Oh no you need to see how your bike is first i suppose.
Sorry to hear about your bin.
I know im not riding at the mo but when i was, i was just happy to know where i was going, as in the final destination.
My bin was on the way home and i was the only one with water at our stop.
You guys always waited for me and i was happy to do my pace as the lights of the experienced disappered into the distance.

Just be causous that we dont over regulate and make this a boring ride.

Stay upright and i will be rejoining the ranks soon.

**caseye** · 12th June 2009, 20:33

Hey Gummie, good to see ya back up and about, find that bike boyo and hurry up.

**Gummie** · 12th June 2009, 20:41

Hard to keep me down. Think i got off lightly compaired to wolfrider.
I am counting the days till i can start test riding.
Thanks caseye

**oldguy** · 12th June 2009, 21:24

A lot has changed since I logged on this morning, sorry to hear of your Off wolfrider, heal up mate hope to see you soon.

I was TEC for the ride, you were in front of scottpalmer, i could see the tail end of the main group from where I was, so when I saw you turn off toward the steel mill, I thought you knew where you were going I knew scottpalmer was heading to work so tooted as i passed.

As for splitting the group, NO ive been with this ride since its beginnings, its had its teething problems, but hey shit happens.
What need to be established.

1 Destination, where we are going on the ride, everyone must know this, so at lest if someone does get lost they can just head too the Destination.

2 route, Idea on which direction we want to go, and any side routes or loops we want to add to the ride

3 Stops, Where we going to wait for the rest to catchup, or cigy stop

4 TEC, so those who are new to the ride, don't panic when they see the faster riders disappear out of site, and think they are going to get lost if they can't keep up

The most important thing and it has been said time and time again

RIDE WITHIN YOUR OWN ABILITY

The reason I don't lead anymore is I'm ether too fast or too slow, in the last year its been more of the lat_er.

**scottjpalmer** · 12th June 2009, 21:29

Yeah it's all my fault, I put him crook by indicating to turn off to work which he saw in his rear view mirror. I stopped and told him the story and told him to carry on as the group would be waiting for him at the next intersection (in Waiuku). That was the last he saw of the group.

My bad, I should have made sure EVERYONE knew what I was up to.

**sharper_XB** · 12th June 2009, 21:32

Originally Posted by caseye

No one is ever expected to ride as hard or as fast as the lead bikes.
The lead bikes have and always will, stop and wait at major intersections if required.
Speed is not the reason they're the lead bikes, their skills and proficency mean they' are simply quicker and as safe as they can be doing it, than new riders with no experience.
Night riding is a skill that needs to be practiced, how fast is entirely up to the individual riders concerened.
If SATNR has a or any rule , it's essentially that!
"Individuals ride at their own pace and no one is left behind".
I've ridden behind the main bunch for almost a year now and never had any problems with how fast or slow the riders in front were going.As the last one to the next major intersection, when I roll in it's usually taken as read that everyone is present.
The system (loose as it is) works, it has as long as I've ridden with SATNR.
The bins that have happened lately are reminders that inattention and inexperience will get you, so watch what you are doing,(this includes speed if it worries you) watch the road in front, the oncoming cars and look! hard for centre lines wet bits etc.
This is probably one of the more important reasons why we still ride at the same time on a Thursday night.
So those who feel they want to get better and more proficient at night riding can, in as safe an environment as possible.
Certainly it's why I'm never worried about taking the tail end charlie role, to see the newbies who arrive and ride and do it thier way and improve outa sight is awesome.
We ride together, we foster the youngsters and the newbies and if advice is sought we offer it to the best of our abilities.
So come on you lot, lets try and make sure that the riding experience is good for all and that as we always try to achive, we all get home safe and sound with some more experience and after having a damn fine time riding/socialising with our friends.

Well Said Caseye, I don't really have the right to go on about whats right and wrong on these rides as I've only been on the past 2, but it should be all about riding to your ability and improving on your existing skill set, a little communication to the entire group at the start would go a long way to ensure that everyone will end up at the destination if they do get misplaced along the way, yes TEC is there to try to ensure everyone gets there, but ya know things happen people miss turns etc and sometimes people get overlooked especially when the weather conditions turn to shite like they did.

**scottjpalmer** · 12th June 2009, 21:34

I appreciate the efforts to keep the group as one big group, but it does seem all us slower folk have the same feeling on the situation.

How about, at least on the rides I am on, I make sure I know where the group is going (as I said previously I have a pretty good idea of the roads in this area) and we can be a sub-group with the faster riders only stopping 2 or 3 times along the way for us to catch up rather than at every intersection?

Or would you all prefer multiple shorter stops than 2 or 3 longer ones?

**oldguy** · 12th June 2009, 21:38

No its not mate, Its just shit happens, i could see the tail of the main group from where I was so i assumed he knew where he was going. MY Bad

I was TEC.

**Starky307** · 13th June 2009, 09:30

Originally Posted by oldguy

As for splitting the group, NO ive been with this ride since its beginnings, its had its teething problems, but hey shit happens.
What need to be established.

1 Destination, where we are going on the ride, everyone must know this, so at lest if someone does get lost they can just head too the Destination.

2 route, Idea on which direction we want to go, and any side routes or loops we want to add to the ride

3 Stops, Where we going to wait for the rest to catchup, or cigy stop

4 TEC, so those who are new to the ride, don't panic when they see the faster riders disappear out of site, and think they are going to get lost if they can't keep up

The most important thing and it has been said time and time again

RIDE WITHIN YOUR OWN ABILITY

The reason I don't lead anymore is I'm ether too fast or too slow, in the last year its been more of the lat_er.

Well said OldGuy, this solves all the issues, end of story.

As formal as it is, a brief of the ride needs to be given by whoever is going to lead, a TEC should be identified so we all know who that person is.
The basic route of the ride should be given so everybody knows where they are going and as mentioned, major intersections should be used as areas to bunch everyone up.

Thats my $0.02

**idleidolidyll** · 13th June 2009, 16:15

Don't care where as long as there's more corners than straights.

Meet between 8am and 10am at the BP?

I favour meet at 8.30 leave at 9 on the dot.

Any road south where the weather looks good.

Who's in?