Keeping up!

[Banditbandit]

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.

Meeh ... I got much faster when I lived rurally - no cops for around 50ks of windy rural roads ... much fun going to work every day. Now I live within 1.5ks of state highweay two I am slowing down ..

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.

No it won't - but then in group rides I ride with groups that acknowledge the culture of mutual support and care on the road - or I don't ride with that group. I've witnessed groups with the as-fast-as-possible mentality - those are the groups when people dump bikes - often hard .. and those groups are dangerous .. I won't ride with them ..

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.

You've seen the wrong groups mate - there are a few out there who don't ride to compete ...

[ducatilover]

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

Yeah I can't be bothered riding with mental bastards, you never know if you'll be running their helmet over through the next corner...

[george formby]

Yeah I can't be bothered riding with mental bastards, you never know if you'll be running their helmet over through the next corner...

Yup.
Somebody said they ride slower with a group like this, shattered bike & rider round the corner is probably the reason. If I get a whiff that I have a Sunday hero in front of me I back right off.
Sticking up their chuff seems to make them ride worse.

[Drew]

I find the only group ride I go on, staying out front is the best way to avoid possible carnage.

Plus I keep the safety brigade happy by not trying to keep up.

[Zedder]

Yeah I can't be bothered riding with mental bastards, you never know if you'll be running their helmet over through the next corner...

Not wanting to start a series of posts about bike crashes, but I don't think anything's worse than coming around a corner to find your mate has crashed.

A guy I know still talks about the one he came across on Coromandel's Kopu-Hikuai road last year.

[ducatilover]

I find the only group ride I go on, staying out front is the best way to avoid possible carnage.

Plus I keep the safety brigade happy by not trying to keep up.

I think you might actually be able to ride though? (or not, we are on KB)

Not wanting to start a series of posts about bike crashes, but I don't think anything's worse than coming around a corner to find your mate has crashed.

A guy I know still talks about the one he came across on Coromandel's Kopu-Hikuai road last year.

I've come across a mate and a stretch of road covered in bike, real downer on a ride eh? Bloody selfish of them to go and crash

[Katman]

Bloody selfish of them to go and crash

Many a true word is said in jest.

How many riders have had their day fucked up beyond belief by having to deal with injuries, or worse, trying to keep a mate alive as he bleeds to death in a ditch beside the road, then having to organise a recovery vehicle, then having to deal with the ongoing trauma, simply because someone couldn't keep it in their pants?

[ducatilover]

Many a true word is said in jest.

How many riders have had their day fucked up beyond belief by having to deal with injuries, or worse, trying to keep a mate alive as he bleeds to death in a ditch beside the road, then having to organise a recovery vehicle, then having to deal with the ongoing trauma, simply because someone couldn't keep it in their pants?

Exactly.


Stop making sense, or I'll have to say something sensible. Or worse, somebody might learn something.

[Banditbandit]

Yeah - it's a real downer on a ride to come around a corner and see heaps of flashing lights (popo, ambo and fire) bent bikes and a big tarpaulin covering someone lying on the road ...

The question is not ARE they dead, but WHO is dead ???

[iYRe]

Yeah ... but then ... we have all learnt (I hope) that there is always a faster bike or rider otut here .. so at some point we are all going to come second.

true

Yes .. and we need to be sure that we are not contributing to that ...

I had a bike come up behind me a coupe of weeks ago - so of course I opened the throttle ... I'll play with other bikes ay time at all ...

But two corners later he/she wasn't there ... so I backed off .. and was relieved to see the bike come round the corner ... I was worried they had pushed too hard to keep up ... I did stay in front - at about 120 klicks .. rahtrer than the 140 klicks I had been up to when I dropped them off ..

We have an unwritten rule amongst the guys I ride with, that the guys who want to go balls out, choose where and when and do it. Those who cant or dont want to catch up, and if they havent caught up, we stop and wait at a convenient and safe location.
Since I tend to be the one organising, if there is someone new, I will have a quiet word and just let them know to ride comfortably and dont worry, we'll wait.

In saying that, we have had dudes on expensive 150+ HP sports bikes turn up, and assume that they can keep up with us old fellas on our ancient old machines.. So now I just crack a chat with any one new, regardless.


A guy once said to me; "I'm kinda picky who I ride with. I can ride fast/mental, but that is my choice. How can I know that you are not going to kill yourself, or me for that matter?" And he was right. Those people who cant keep up by try to, might not just hurt themselves, they might kill themselves, or you...
An anecdote: Was riding out to Kaiaua in the 80's on a GSX1100 with about 10 other guys. Most of the bikes were 750 or less, but there was one other guy on a yamaha 1100 (XS1.1 I think ). He was mental, and a crap rider, and was trying to keep up with an equally mental guy on a Honda 750. The 750 guy passed all 10 of us at warp speed just before some windy bits. The 1.1 guy decided to pass us all ON the windy bits. At one point he was sliding sideways directly into 2 other guys in front of him (who had to come to a complete stop after avoiding him, to prevent ending up in a rock face), and at another point nearly hit a truck coming the other way because he was on the wrong side of a corner. Suffice it to say, he did not get to ride home, or anywhere else, ever, with us. That was a guy, trying to keep up with someone else whom was on a faster betting handling bike, and nearly causing serious injury to other people. THAT is why we should be responsible and make sure people ride within their limits in groups. It's not just them who might get hurt.

[wysper]

Most of the advice here is pretty darn good. This thread hasn't devolved into a slanging match and civility has prevailed.

However I think it will be irrelevant to about 90% of new riders and for a pretty simple reason. A reason that has nothing to do with skill, or machine or talent or anything like that. I believe the biggest reason new riders don't and won't ride their own ride is self confidence (not even riding confidence).
Until a person is strong enough in and of them selves to be the rider they want to be they will be swayed by others and how they think others will perceive them. I am an old grumpy stubborn git now so I will ride at a pace I am happy with all the time. Slows almost everyone else down. So usually I don't ride with anyone else. We live in a beautiful country and I like to see it as I ride by, not just a blur of white and yellow lines.

If you browse here (and any other motorcycle forum) you learn bikes are fast, they split traffic, they are a bit rebellious and dangerous. The talk is of speed, injuries, wheelies, close calls, most bins wins (occassionally). So the expectations of the new riders will be along those lines, even if that isn't why the started. Of course some are naturally inclined thrill seekers and a motorbike can supply that in spades. However it can also be cruisy, smooth, slow, relaxing and a nice way to travel. You will hear much less about that side. (at least that is true in my reading of forums)

So the impression can be that a motorcyclist should be fast, take no shit for any other road user, take risks and finish first.

Is it any wonder the new rider feels the need to 'keep up' regardless of the 'ride your own ride' comments?

Shhesh, I am getting old huh!

[Zedder]

Most of the advice here is pretty darn good. This thread hasn't devolved into a slanging match and civility has prevailed.

However I think it will be irrelevant to about 90% of new riders and for a pretty simple reason. A reason that has nothing to do with skill, or machine or talent or anything like that. I believe the biggest reason new riders don't and won't ride their own ride is self confidence (not even riding confidence).
Until a person is strong enough in and of them selves to be the rider they want to be they will be swayed by others and how they think others will perceive them. I am an old grumpy stubborn git now so I will ride at a pace I am happy with all the time. Slows almost everyone else down. So usually I don't ride with anyone else. We live in a beautiful country and I like to see it as I ride by, not just a blur of white and yellow lines.

If you browse here (and any other motorcycle forum) you learn bikes are fast, they split traffic, they are a bit rebellious and dangerous. The talk is of speed, injuries, wheelies, close calls, most bins wins (occassionally). So the expectations of the new riders will be along those lines, even if that isn't why the started. Of course some are naturally inclined thrill seekers and a motorbike can supply that in spades. However it can also be cruisy, smooth, slow, relaxing and a nice way to travel. You will hear much less about that side. (at least that is true in my reading of forums)

So the impression can be that a motorcyclist should be fast, take no shit for any other road user, take risks and finish first.

Is it any wonder the new rider feels the need to 'keep up' regardless of the 'ride your own ride' comments?

Shhesh, I am getting old huh!

It could be something to do with the type of people attracted to motorbikes also.

[Drew]

Just go faster. Stay out in front, and no one can whine that you're trying to keep up.

[Geeen]

Most of the advice here is pretty darn good. ................
Shhesh, I am getting old huh!

When did you get so smart??

[Kickaha]

I find the only group ride I go on, staying out front is the best way to avoid possible carnage.

I thought it was so when you did crash you knew it wouldn't be to long before someone turned up to help you out of the ditch you rode into

Not wanting to start a series of posts about bike crashes, but I don't think anything's worse than coming around a corner to find your mate has crashed.

I dunno, coming a round a corner to find a van filling your lane and knowing you'll be the one crashing would be right up there

This thread hasn't devolved into a slanging match and civility has prevailed.!

I'm sure we can fix that