Canterbury Wednesday Night Ride

**neels** · 8th March 2012, 17:19

Originally Posted by Subike

Ride to the conditions, ride your own ride, dont ride to your EGO.

That sums it up, unfortunately the nature of group rides can mean people will try and keep up with the guy in front, whereas I'm quite happy for them to wait for me to eventually turn up...still in one piece

**Transalper** · 8th March 2012, 19:50

Originally Posted by Subike

When you ride as often as we do, and in so many differing conditions, differing styles of bikes and differing skill levels,
Incidents will happen more so than if you are riding alone.....

You almost make it sound like you're ok with people crashing. I'm sorry but I'm not ok with it.
I'm a little doubtful that we can stop it, but surely we can do something to minimise it as it feels like it is happening far to often.

Originally Posted by Subike

..... Nobody can ever learn it all, no matter how many miles they ride.
You are foolish to think you ever will.

I totally agree, it's a point they usually make when you do rider training courses, even the professionals don't proclaim to know it all.
I'll assume you aren't suggesting I think I know it all, now that would be stupid.
I would however suggest a lot of riders know less than they think they do and rely on luck far more than they actually realise.

Originally Posted by Subike

Ride to the conditions, ride your own ride, dont ride to your EGO.

Never a truer word spoken.
Something that's often easier to say than do.

**gloplg** · 8th March 2012, 23:33

Originally Posted by Transalper

Saddens me that on this Wednesday Night Ride, a ride that was meant to help learners pick up some knowledge, that another rider appears to have run out of road yet again.

Are you sad enough to come to the WNR on a regular basis and teach the learners from your fount of knowledge???

We do need someone to take the learners under their wing!!!

Also I would point out post 1 first sentence of "rule 1".

**Spuds1234** · 9th March 2012, 06:30

Guys stop your bickering.

Invariably when you get a bunch of riders together with different skill levels ranging from newbie to experienced your going to see the odd time when people run out of skill and then sadly road.

It happens. Those of us that have been riding a while generally notice the signs that we are running out of skill sooner (such as running wide in a corner) than the newbies and back it off a bit and continue to ride safely.

The newbies (and this was me at one point) just keep pushing it. They think whoops took that a bit wide (still using running wide as an example), never mind I'll carry on doing what Im doing. It isn't until they run into bigger trouble occasionally running wide for example that they realize "Hey this might be a sign" and then start slowing down. Its called experience, and no amount of warning will ever be as good as first hand experience.

It always sucks to be in a group ride and finding yourself attending an accident. I've been on 3 such rides and none of them were much fun. But its a risk you take and must accept when you join a group ride. You dont know what other peoples skill levels are like until you see them ride and its hard to tell someone to slow down when your not regularly stopping.

So what do we do about it? Continue to stress the mantra of "Ride your own ride" and make sure there is an experienced rider playing tail end charlie so no one gets left behind. Stress that its more important to arrive in one piece an get there as fast as you can. And continue to give out advice where its appropriate.

Beyond that you may as well tell new riders to piss off because they are more likely to crash which isn't going to help our cause in the slightest.

Right there's my caffeine fueled rant for the day. Can you lot now get back to discussing where your going to ride to next without me so I can feel feel like stink for breaking my collar bone (stupid fragile fucking thing).

**gloplg** · 9th March 2012, 11:34

Originally Posted by Spuds1234

Guys stop your bickering.

Are you trying to stop us having fun Alex??????

I agree with the rest of what you are saying . However it is only by pushing the boundaries that all of us gain experience. (even an old fart like me)

On the last WNR the roads were wet and dry. Which for the less experienced rider makes reading the conditions awkward. Dan came to grief about quarter way into the Scargill Valley road. I think (correct me if I am wrong) Dan may have been leading the second group.

One of my pet hates is having a sub-group of riders lead by a newby. Some of our riders appear to think that the L plate stands for LEADER!!!! For heavens sake if you are an experienced rider, in a sub-group, being led by an inexperienced rider, go to the front of the group. When at the front adjust your speed to stay 50 or so metres in front of the newby. With someone to follow, newbies have a guide as to corner entry speeds, braking points and cornering angles. It may take a while but when they get the hang of following you the whole group will travel more quickly and safely. And the newby will be gaining EXPERIENCE because YOU were proactive.

Think yourselves how much easier it is to follow an experienced rider rather than "break ground" yourself.

Yes I know "Shut up Garry"!!!!

Next WNR Little River Pub via Barrys Bay anyone???????

**Spuds1234** · 9th March 2012, 14:25

Are you trying to stop us having fun Alex??????

If I cant have fun then no one can.

Originally Posted by gloplg

However it is only by pushing the boundaries that all of us gain experience. (even an old fart like me)

Indeed, and as a rider I push my boundaries all the time. However when I find myself starting to make mistakes I back off and carry on with the rest of my ride. Some days I can push the envelope for an hour or two, others only 5 minutes. Knowing also when to push the envelope and when its time to stop comes with experience.

That in my opinion is the difference between a good rider and a new rider.

Even having a newbie follow an experienced rider is fraught with problems. A new rider my initially be keeping up, but as fatigue sets in they may find their skill level falling, then they make a mistake because they were following you, the rider infront and not riding their own ride, and then your back in accident territory.

So your back to square one again. You either ride alone or you accept the risks of riding in a group. Your always going to have accidents when people travel on the roads, we are after all only human. If you can lead a bunch of newbies then thats great but its hard to give constructive feedback to anyone when they are behind you, then they may and crash when they are on their own (which is arguably much worse than if they were traveling in a group). You have to trust yourself the riders around you to make the right decisions about their riding while you are riding with them. If you cant trust those you ride with then dont ride with them. Its that easy.

Im not going to comment on Dans accident. I wasn't on the ride, I didn't see it, and quite frankly I dont care (Im not really that heartless but he walked away and he's still riding his bike so there is nothing to care about IMO). I only posted because I was sick of reading pages of arguing.

Now back to your usual program of "Where shall we ride to" and "When Spuds gets better we should go for on a Jacksons Pie run (I dont care if its going to be winter time when that comes around, fuck you I want a pie)".

**neels** · 9th March 2012, 14:36

Originally Posted by Spuds1234

"When Spuds gets better we should go for on a Jacksons Pie run (I dont care if its going to be winter time when that comes around, fuck you I want a pie)".

mmmmm, pie.....

**cruza** · 9th March 2012, 17:48

Originally Posted by neels

mmmmm, pie.....

First interesting post in a page or so .........Pie run sat ? Sun weather sounds crap ......

**Spuds1234** · 9th March 2012, 17:50

Originally Posted by cruza

First interesting post in a page or so .........Pie run sat ? Sun weather sounds crap ......

Screw Saturday. Didn't you read my other post. No pie run until Im better lol.

If you do go on a pie run tomorrow be sure to eat a pie or two for me.

**Oakie** · 9th March 2012, 18:09

Now play nice kids and I might even drag the Bandit out with you folk this Wednesday. I'm at a loose end with Mrs Oakie away next week so if work and weather play ball I just might come along. Any other old farts (i.e. over 40) still attending regularly?

**Box of riddles** · 9th March 2012, 18:15

Originally Posted by Oakie

Now play nice kids and I might even drag the Bandit out with you folk this Wednesday. I'm at a loose end with Mrs Oakie away next week so if work and weather play ball I just might come along. Any other old farts (i.e. over 40) still attending regularly?

Everyones old on the WNR

Or maybe it's just my perspective, haha.
I'll be along if I can figure out a way to stick mirrors on my poor bike.