Cruisy Night Rides

**imdying** · 29th November 2007, 06:26

Don't undertake cars. Ever. Especially when you're at the front of the group... lets face it, where are you going to go. Besides which, all the stories you hear about road rage from cagers, that's the sort of shite that brings it on. You know who you were :tsk:

**SVboy** · 29th November 2007, 07:51

Some good points made-but lets not undermine the cruisy wednesday rides concept-lets face it, what a great turn-out. It was a shame we all love Deviant so much and follow him like the riding God that he is, and it did lead to the group being split. Not D's fault really,we didnt communicate as a group before leaving.
SO,perhaps we need to congregate before leaving and clearly decide whats going to happen. That suggests a bit of leadership might be required to create consensus, and I suggest some of the experienced bikers like OAB or Dangerous might consider raising their voices so all riders are in the know as to what the route is going to be, and if there is to be two groups[fast & slow] I enjoyed last night, but didnt feel good about leaving the others, because the whole ethos behind these rides is KB support and fun, not "us and them".
I also think meeting at Princess Margeret hospital makes good sense-less lights to split the group. Personal rider discipline-bit of a toughy really-we dont want to be regulated like sheep, we dont want to project a negative public image-I guess it comes down to personal common sense and if someones being an ass, then I quiet word in the ear would not go astray....

**SpeedyGirl** · 29th November 2007, 07:55

I went last night on the ride and have a couple of thoughts for this

Being one of the ones left behind last night it was frustrating, my understanding of the rides on Wednesdays was to just cruise and also a chance for some new riders to get some experience and learn from some of the 'better' riders. Being that I still have a lot to learn and am still fairly slow I like to be able to relax and practise and I’m sure some of the newer riders would appreciate the help as well. It’s no fun being slower than the rest of the group and feel like you are left behind and not part fun, this can also make you feel like not joining the ride! How are we meant to encourage new riders if we won’t help them learn???!!!!!!

It’s all fun to go for a blat and go fast, so maybe we need to split the group slightly at the beginning of the ride so that the more experienced riders that don’t mind helping stay with the slower riders and the ones that want to go fast go first.

We also need clear discussion on where we are all heading and the stop points.....just in case we do lose someone on the way, I thought the reason we all meet up is to ride together, what’s the point if no-one waits?????

Last thought.... the meeting place is great and central but we lose the entire group in the lights...... and at that time of night BK is fairly busy with people getting tea. We need a new meeting spot that is central and easy to get out of......... somewhere like the Hagley Park Car Park (between the parks where the Tennis Courts are) or Princess Margaret Hospital or even the Powerstore Carpark, just away from BK?????

Rant over

**imdying** · 29th November 2007, 08:08

I cruised a lot of the way out behind a VFR400, was a nice jaunt up over the staircase out to little river. We just ambled along somewhere in the middle, let the faster guys get on with their thing, let the slower guys cruise at their own pace too.

Had a bit of a problem going over the hilltop though... I'm clearly waaay too fat and too tall for an RGV250. I'm up and down the box like a mad thing all the time, but on left handers I've gotta be setup for the corner so I've time to move my foot back on the peg, else it's all (i.e. my foot) decking out. Hanging off like a monkey will help the ground clearance, but really it was just shitty body positioning (that and a bike that is clearly under sprung for my weight). Mucho concentration needed to be smooth

How are we meant to encourage new riders if we won’t help them learn???!!!!!!

Well, nobody asked me to follow them and see how they're getting on... and given my bike is suited to running, that's what I'll be doing if nobody indicates to me that they'd like a hand

I know for sure that either oab or roadkill would never turn down anyone who asked for their help

**Transalper** · 29th November 2007, 08:22

Can be a bit hard to know who's who and who knows what.
Maybe some people should be offering to help if they think they can contribute to a novices experience instead of waiting to be asked.
When I hang back a bit I usually come up behind slower riders and can see if they look like they are lagging and could use a hand, I often pop round them and back off to stay just in front of them to help guide them, if they get closer I speed up a bit too, if I start loosing them, I'll back off again. If they want to go past and make their own lines I hope they'll use their blinker as they close the gap and I'll let them go.

**Transalper** · 29th November 2007, 08:34

Guess it could be a bit intimidating going up to someone you don't really know and asking them to hang back with you, also guess it might feel a bit like your risking insulting someone if you go up and offer them help just because they turned up on a 250.
Maybe that needs to be part of the group hug, hands up the volunteers, hands up the people who'd like a bit of guidance.

**imdying** · 29th November 2007, 08:37

Originally Posted by Transalper

Guess it could be a bit intimidating going up to someone you don't really know and asking them to hang back with you, also guess it might feel a bit like your risking insulting someone if you go up and offer them help just because they turned up on a 250.

I was on a 250 and nobody offered to help me

**cruza** · 29th November 2007, 08:45

OK OK ,don't bitch

to much Last nite was a good ride , nice turn out ,nice distance. You'll never get everyone riding at the some speed, but as the norm people of similar speeds group up. Main thing is agreed route before leaving(group yak), and if your not taking it----don't go in the FRONT

.There would have been a regroup in halswell if that the dyers pass detour didn't happen. Agree pmh is a bit quieter maybe a better place, but as long as a regroup is planned ie halswell etc ,theres no real issue with lights. As with leaving times sorry speedy girl

, 830pm exit for us was to hit halswell on dusk, we still had 3/4hr at the pub

and a fun ride both ways in daylight. I had a social cruisy ride ,

**helenoftroy** · 29th November 2007, 08:47

Originally Posted by Dave-

mope...all the best rides happen when i cant come

Yeah Casualty and I missed last night too

Originally Posted by Transalper

Can be a bit hard to know who's who and who knows what.
Maybe some people should be offering to help if they think they can contribute to a novices experience instead of waiting to be asked.
When I hang back a bit I usually come up behind slower riders and can see if they look like they are lagging and could use a hand, I often pop round them and back off to stay just in front of them to help guide them, if they get closer I speed up a bit too, if I start loosing them, I'll back off again. If they want to go past and make their own lines I hope they'll use their blinker as they close the gap and I'll let them go.

That sounds excellent
Both of us need all the help we can get.Any guidance/advise & help gratefully accepted

**imdying** · 29th November 2007, 08:51