Wednesday Night Ride

[SpeedMonger]

I hope all you old farts enjoyed watching Bathurst today. Had a great ride over the hill today, with Mr C, and even met Mully Clown over the hill.

I appreciate Subikes sentiments of minimum rules, and that it is the ride that is important, and that is why there just need to be a couple of things in place to keep the momentum of the ride going, thereby preventing people from going "troppo" and / or awol in the process - as happened last week.

If I have a breakdown, or an off (heaven forbid), then I would not want to hold up the ride, but I would hope that there would be some assistance rendered as well, even if it was just to check that AA was on it's way, or transport to somewhere with phone reception ( something often lacking in the hills), and most importantly getting medical help if needed.

I give my highest commendation to GloPlg aka GP, your dedication and commitment to making the WNR a success deserves respect - even when you use such vertigo inducing fonts

[Dave-]

Well I for one are happy to do a U turn and fuck off if we are pulled over in bulk by the rozza. Always wanted to be pulled over in this case and explain I am the designated decoy........

they're only going to do it once or twice, much more and it's harassment.

I wouldn't worry too much about it guys, they'd effectively have to close a road to check everyone.

[phoenixgtr]

Yawn...

I tire of all this jibber jabber. All anyone wants from these rides is...well...a ride, on an interesting road, with other riders, to a destination, where they can talk shit with said other riders. When you complicate it too much people get frustrated. We've tried things in the past for various reasons, but in the end people just want to go for a ride.

As for the cops you only need to worry about them if you're doing something wrong and if you get stopped and you were doing something wrong then that's your problem, not the group. We've had rumours and even threats of the cops coming along and putting a dampner on things since the beginning of these rides. The police know about them, we've even had a few come along for a ride (off duty). Three years of them leaving us alone would suggest they're not concerned about us and they won't be, as long as we are sensible.

Whew... gonna need a beer after that one

[helenoftroy]

Yawn...

I tire of all this jibber jabber. All anyone wants from these rides is...well...a ride, on an interesting road, with other riders, to a destination, where they can talk shit with said other riders. When you complicate it too much people get frustrated. We've tried things in the past for various reasons, but in the end people just want to go for a ride.

As for the cops you only need to worry about them if you're doing something wrong and if you get stopped and you were doing something wrong then that's your problem, not the group. We've had rumours and even threats of the cops coming along and putting a dampner on things since the beginning of these rides. The police know about them, we've even had a few come along for a ride (off duty). Three years of them leaving us alone would suggest they're not concerned about us and they won't be, as long as we are sensible.

Whew... gonna need a beer after that one

Well said young one!

Totally agree

[cruza]

I hope all you old farts enjoyed watching Bathurst today. Had a great ride over the hill today, with Mr C, and even met Mully Clown over the hill.

Was pretty good aye . Traffic wasn't heavy and not a lot of people in akaroa either. Sad to see our local stop off on wnr ride with fences round it and lots of structual damage.

Seems to be alot of p/d last few pages .........

[maxf]

Always wanted to be pulled over in this case and explain I am the designated decoy........

Ahhh - like Chris Farley in Coneheads? Just don't crash after the first 20 feet (but he was on a Hog too).

Also - just an idea, I know Phoenix will want me to keep it short lest he tire unduly - would it be worth thinking of a formalized two wave approach for the WNR? eg

First wave are the fasties/advanced who may decide to do without a TEC
Second wave are the slowies / cruisers/ learners with a TEC.
Same destination
Possibly different paths depending on difficulty
Still plenty of time to gasbag before departure and at destination

Also gives some degree of riders choosing what's right for them on the night, but then noone feels as if they're in the wrong bunch and we all get a good ride... might also break up the group size a bit if we keep on getting the great turnouts.

(Go on, shoot me down now....)

Whoops - Dave CAN shoot me down now, he's already suggested the core of this. Must have tuned out with all the discussions on the pros/cons of the Hot Fuzz.

[SMOKEU]

they're only going to do it once or twice, much more and it's harassment.

I wouldn't worry too much about it guys, they'd effectively have to close a road to check everyone.

The cops don't see it as harassment when they set up checkpoints at the same spot every week in an ordinary residential area.

[FJRider]

The cops don't see it as harassment when they set up checkpoints at the same spot every week in an ordinary residential area.

And ... those that have been hit by a drunk driver ... or know somebody who has ... dont see it as harassment either ...

[Gareth123]

And ... those that have been hit by a drunk driver ... or know somebody who has ... dont see it as harassment either ...

[helenoftroy]

............... let me talk to the officer, he'll understand.

...and you did and saved me!!

My hero

[Dave-]

The cops don't see it as harassment when they set up checkpoints at the same spot every week in an ordinary residential area.

judge will though.

but it wont come to that cause they're simply not going to pull over 50 well behaved, registered, warrented, sober riders just to check them.

logic dictates the best way to check the ride out would be to just come along, which they've done many times, neither the police or we had any concerns.

the only thing that might possibly happen would be a random encounter where plod pulls up a learner/restricted rider who's broken from the main group on their way home, anyone with concerns about this feel free to aproach me and I'll ride home with you as a "guide".

there we go, all police related matters delt with.

weather's looking alrightish for this wednesday huh? I prefer to ride overcast, shadows are shit.

[Gibbo89]

the only thing that might possibly happen would be a random encounter where plod pulls up a learner/restricted rider who's broken from the main group on their way home, anyone with concerns about this feel free to aproach me and I'll ride home with you as a "guide".

are you gifted with the art of persuasion? or do you just 'put out'?

[SMOKEU]

I might make an appearance this Wednesday, weather permitting.

[Dave-]

are you gifted with the art of persuasion? or do you just 'put out'?

neither, I just treat them with respect and they've always given it back.

[Subike]

neither, I just treat them with respect and they've always given it back.

Your 100% correct there Dave.
From personal experiances, both side of the track, your first approach to the plod when you get stopped by them dictates the result.
You come across as a smart ass, know it all, or an agressive person, expect a ticket.
Come across humble and polite, then a discussion will follow with a higher probability of being warned.
If you think you have a story or excuse that will change the event from the facts, just remeber they deal with offenders 24/7, do you think they have not heard the story before?
As Dave has said, If the police were concerned about our rides then they would hassel us into oblivion, just as they are the Boy Racers.
But we have the appearance of a well behaved group, have recieved good feedback from the public, the pubs we visit always welcome us as a group of well behaved people....remember the police will only act upon complaints from the public.
And the police know that we assist learners with real training, teaching them good riding habits, good safe riding skills, so why distroy a good thing.
We try to educate all our riders on the safest ways to get places at a good pace with saftey being the first rule.
Like stated before, if the police really wanted to target any of us they would do it on our return rides from the destination, when they are more likley to catch some riding a bit more loose.

We operate a good road healty ride, lets keep it that way and enjoy the ride...