Keeping up!

[Katman]

Thats an interesting skill that I'm still tyring to get better at. I look through the corner when I ride but on those long tight bends where you can see the whole bend and beyond I find it slightly nerve wracking to look so far ahead and lose vision of where your bike is actually going....Theoretically because you've already seen the patch of road it should be fine but in practise.....Ass clenching at times.

Looking too far ahead? or just needa man up and practise more?

Don't be concentrating so hard on a point in the distance that you fail to notice things on the side of the road.

[Banditbandit]

Don't be concentrating so hard on a point in the distance that you fail to notice things on the side of the road.

Especially Camera Vans !!!

[FJRider]

Especially Camera Vans !!!

Armco ... sheep ... the edge of the road ... the list goes on ...

[TheTengTheory]

Armco ... sheep ... the edge of the road ... the list goes on ...

What about the beeaauutiful girl in the car you're overtaking?

[FJRider]

What about the beeaauutiful girl in the car you're overtaking?

What are you thinking ... you ride a honda (think of your reputation). Leave her for the Yamaha riders ...

[ducatilover]

What are you thinking ... you ride a honda (think of your reputation). Leave her for the Yamaha riders ...

You Yamaha fellas always think you're cool. Get a Kawasaki, they get all the box

[SPman]

Learn to ride properly first - road craft before speed - the road is an unforgiving mistress!

[Mom]

I regularly ride as TEC or Momma Duck behind learner riders. Sure, sometimes you can get "held up" even though you are trying to ride at learner pace. I tend to drop right back and let them get on with it. This technique allows me to have a bit of fun in the curves (my styles understand), without making them feel under any pressure to go faster. I will sometimes sit behind and observe, and as many will attest, offer my comments regarding looking through corners at where you want to go, or think about the gear you select approaching corners and the like, and I always comment on how well they are doing (if they are).

I will be all over their arses if a car is being bothersome, and offer up a bit of a buffer if required. We have a ride rule that says if that happens as soon as you can, indicate left, pull over and let said car get past, so as soon as is safe that is what I will do. That surprisingly does not happen very often, which is nice.

What you should never do is pressure someone, by riding their tail pipe, and you should certainly never make them feel they HAVE to go faster.

I understand the testosterone/not wanting to look like a dick etc thing.

I actually believe that we should be much more proactive in encouraging supportive riding.

You look like a soft cock, and really do look like a dick if you ride outside your ability. It is not cool.

Trying to emulate someone who rides faster/betterer or what have you than you, is simply stupid, foolhardy and reckless. That is what I think we need to be addressing. I think we all have a responsibility to encourage people to learn at their own pace, ride at their own pace and get some decent training to boot.

Providing learner friendly rides, is a way for new riders to gain a bit of road craft, in a non threatening environment.

Thankfully our rides are well respected, and we have been fortunate enough to only attract level learners/returners and really cool experienced riders that are happy to join us, and respect our rules.

[Katman]

I actually believe that we should be much more proactive in encouraging supportive riding.

I've always felt the whole 'brotherhood' thing to be a crock of shit.

The manner in which most group rides are conducted (L Angel rides excluded) confirms that.

Instead of being concerned that everyone completes the ride with no adverse issues, deep down people are more concerned with giving others 'the learn'.

Until there is a concerted move towards a group effort to ensure the safety and enjoyment of everyone taking part in a group ride, I'll continue to regard the 'brotherhood' concept as bullshit.

[ducatilover]

Instead of being concerned that everyone completes the ride with no adverse issues, deep down people are more concerned with giving others 'the learn'.

'tis why I ride alone.

And something to do with having no mates

[Mom]

I've always felt the whole 'brotherhood' thing to be a crock of shit.

The manner in which most group rides are conducted (L Angel rides excluded) confirms that.

Instead of being concerned that everyone completes the ride with no adverse issues, deep down people are more conderned with giving others the learn.

Until there is a concerted move towards a group effort to ensure the safety and enjoyment of everyone taking part in a group ride, I'll continue to regard the 'brotherhood' concept as bullshit.

What a concession! And yes I agree with you (probably why we have clased heads so often, you have been preaching to the converted).

You have actually summed up our philosophy really well.

Everyone on the ride has to have had a magic time, and be bursting to get back out there and do it all again. We do everything we possibly can to ensure that happens, right down to putting like riders with like riders and Maha and me taking the real newbies, or the ones that have said they want to ride in the "slow group". We dont ride really slowly infact, we just ride to the ability of our slowest rider. Mostly that is sort of speed limit. No complaints here.

I still support the brotherhood of bikers ideal though

[sugilite:Me]

I'm with Drew ... I thought I'd get slower when I got older ... I didn't.

I'm getting slower, and slower, and yet slower on the road. I think the longer I live out rural, the more I see how much actually happens on rural roads is the main driver for me slowing my pace. I have been working constantly on technique and consider myself a better rider now, despite getting slower. Did a track day and Hampton Downs last year, and still seemed to go ok on the track, riding mid pack in group one on a bike made the 80's haha.

I see a few people saying track days do not teach them much, I'd disagree. While money maybe better spent on doing official ride safe type courses, track days do teach skills that may come in handy in scenarios such as running unexpectedly hot into a corner, you will have a better idea of what your bike can achieve in regards to more lean angle and so on. A car pulls out on you? You will have a better idea just how hard you can hit those brakes. So track days are not a complete waste of time imho.

As for the thread title, "Keeping Up". I like the sound of the rides being organized that nurture a culture of riding your own pace as being the epitome of cool and hats off to those investing in the time to organize them, though I suspect these rides will likely attract people predisposed to being quite sensible, or on the edge of being sensible. I feel Katman has got it right, for the most part lots of noobs, and more experienced riders alike will always be out looking to give someone else "the learn", and I'm not sure that culture will ever completely go away.

[Katman]

...and I'm not sure that culture will ever completely go away.

I've got a few years left in me yet Anthony.

[nerrrd]

I see a few people saying track days do not teach them much, I'd disagree. While money maybe better spent on doing official ride safe type courses, track days do teach skills that may come in handy in scenarios such as running unexpectedly hot into a corner, you will have a better idea of what your bike can achieve in regards to more lean angle and so on. A car pulls out on you? You will have a better idea just how hard you can hit those brakes. So track days are not a complete waste of time imho.

I've done a couple of prorider saferider courses on tracks where they covered this - learning how much further you can lean / how much harder you can brake than you might think you can if you find yourself needing to.

"A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing" I suppose, but for me this was extremely helpful.

[Zedder]

'tis why I ride alone.

And something to do with having no mates

Lol, most of the mates I used to ride with crashed but it's a lot less hassle riding by yourself alright.