Riding in groups/with others

[idleidolidyll]

Hmmm maybe one of those she-pee tube things (whatever they were called?) along with a custom hole in the seat.....

Hmmm, some kind of dehydrator needed. Piss contains nitrate, one of the constituents of gunpowder doesn't it?

add sulphur and carbon in the right quantities and you might get some bang for your coffee

[Unit:Me]

My pet hate on a group ride is people who leave the group and head off in their own direction without telling anyone. First there were 9, then there were 8? next stop, so do we backtrack and start looking in bushes etc?
The part I love the most is when a far more experienced rider chats to me at the next stop and tells me how smooth I was and that my lines were good. I crave this information as I attempt to improve my riding, little by little. Have one hell of a beast to control now, so I need to pay attention 100% of the time.

[Unit:Me]

Edit

I get a bit intimidated (probably why I don't join the Tauranga rides ... I've seen the videos).
The BADD ride was supposed to be an organised orderly legal speed cruise, but once we hit the State Highway all hell broke loose. I was just over 110 km'h going up the Kaimais but was being passed as if I was standing still. Someone went by on their rear wheel. I felt out of my zone on the roads through to Okoroire, and as a result didn't enjoy it that much.
I guess I'm still a nana.

As DMNTD said, the Tauranga bunch are actually mature riders, dont be put off by the video's, thats staged for the Camera's
Shame about your experience on the BADD ride, especially given the reason for the ride.
If you are looking for a great day out in a small group, give DMNTD a pm, Im sure you will enjoy the experience.

[pritch]

When you get older you will realise that your bladder is "always" full!

LOL gotta share the love...

The Doctor gave me some good pills for that. probably get me thrown out of the Olympics though

[uNople]

I've only ever ridden in a large group once - the Rolling thunder cruise the weekend before last. I found it was awesome, as it was constant collision avoidance. You really have to have a complete knowledge of what the hell EVERYONE is doing around you. In that cruise, we were side-by side, so we all had less of the road to turn corners. It was definitely a learning experience, and I recommend doing it at least once.

However. I prefer to ride with my old man. Or at least, follow him. He is fantastic at reading the road, and the current conditions (something I'm still learning). I also find that I go a shit-load faster while following him, because he's a way better rider than I am. If he goes round a corner at a certain speed, then I know I can follow him at the same speed.

I also like riding by myself as well. Always trying to lean the bike more, and be more precise around corners. Learning acceleration control, braking control, leaning control. Trying to be the best I can be. That's what I like doing by myself on my bike.

[BMW]

I perfer riding alone or with one other that matches my speed etc.

But I can put up with a small group.

[discotex]

In that cruise, we were side-by side, so we all had less of the road to turn corners. It was definitely a learning experience, and I recommend doing it at least once.

What sort of speeds were you doing? Anything over 15km/h and you'd think you'd stagger. Riding side by side around corners is asking for trouble and a group that rides that way at speed isn't something I'd want to be part of!

[EZAS]

its strange to be in a group where there is more motorcyles than cars on the road. I've only been in this situation once (as a pillion).
It always pays to be cautious around cars, but you have to be extra careful when your surround by a few hundred bikes.

[sunhuntin]

What sort of speeds were you doing? Anything over 15km/h and you'd think you'd stagger. Riding side by side around corners is asking for trouble and a group that rides that way at speed isn't something I'd want to be part of!

agreed. the big triumph ride i take part in, we ride in very close formation until we cross the river. but even in such a tight knit group, we stagger as much as possible, side by side is automatically avoided. only real side by side is when we pull out into line, but even then the forward bikes adjust so they stagger automatically, and that forces the following to stagger as well.
once we can spread out, the stagger remains, just gets wider and easier to ride in. usually the group will then get split between slower and faster riders, at times being broken all together by overtaking cars etc. most times, there ends up being about 4 groups.

[uNople]

What sort of speeds were you doing? Anything over 15km/h and you'd think you'd stagger. Riding side by side around corners is asking for trouble and a group that rides that way at speed isn't something I'd want to be part of!

Well, we were on the road from the Lyttleton tunnel, over past governor's bay, and over Gebbie's pass. When the road narrowed and we sped up we staggered, but we were mostly side-by side. We were going the speed limit - we were being led by the rolling thunder ute, and it set a safe pace.

[discotex]

Well, we were on the road from the Lyttleton tunnel, over past governor's bay, and over Gebbie's pass. When the road narrowed and we sped up we staggered, but we were mostly side-by side. We were going the speed limit - we were being led by the rolling thunder ute, and it set a safe pace.

Wow

I know that road well and I'm surprised any club would ride side by side through there at the speed limit. Not so much for the corners (of which there are plenty and a few tight ones at road legal speed) but purely hazard avoidance. The lanes aren't wide and you have nowhere to go if there's a bike next to you and a manhole cover has been removed etc.

[uNople]

Wow

I know that road well and I'm surprised any club would ride side by side through there at the speed limit. Not so much for the corners (of which there are plenty and a few tight ones at road legal speed) but purely hazard avoidance. The lanes aren't wide and you have nowhere to go if there's a bike next to you and a manhole cover has been removed etc.

Yes. That's why it was a constant collision avoidance. I think I'll be sticking to smaller groups though, because a big long ride like that would have been hard.

[Dave_G]

[QUOTE=Bob;1248863]So... what are your feelings about riding in groups?

Do you love it? Or hate it? Or somewhere in between?

Personally, I prefer to ride alone. I like to set my own agenda, set my own pace and not have to worry about what others are doing.


Me, I'll only ride with others if I know them and trust them, and that takes time and I'm more interested in their attitude than their riding experience. Otherwise I'm a loner, that way if I do F**k it up I only take myself out......

[Kelem]

I haven't ever ridden in a group - I don't think they are slow enough for me

[chanceyy]

Interesting being a relative newbie myself

when i started riding rode in a small group of 4 of us the other 3 experienced and they watched out for me & it was up to them to pass me safely .. this gave me confidence to ride the distances of those early rides

since then I ride regularly with the Ashhurst crew, & most of the time end up riding by myself behind the faster riders once we get underway, which is fine, although it is a bonus if one of the experience riders are in front gives me the opportunity to follow lines & some of the guys are really great about looking after the newbie riders...

Also bonus if one of the experienced riders hang about at the back & give out tips ... but that does not happen that often

I have no probs riding my own ride & if the group is quite small 2-4 bikes then yes I will ride slightly harder/ faster on occasions depending on circumstances, however in a larger group quite happy to hang about towards the middle/rear of the group .. I have nothing to prove & have actually slowed down to improve my riding