Wellington Wednesday Night Cruisy Summer Rides -- 2008/09

[Bullitt]

Im interested whether anyone who is slower and/or learning is concerned? I know this year is faster than last year which is probably because so many people have gone from 250s to 600s this year.

Two weeks ago I had a pillion so was probably the slowest person there but it didnt matter. At the top everyone was waiting then when we got into Featherston I wasnt sure if we were going to the red pub or tin hutt, but there was a group waiting at the turn off to make it clear. Not a problem.

[No FX]

Hey everyone i just moved up from Chch 2 weeks ago so will try make it to a ride this week. I am flying down to pick up my bike on monday (i miss it sooo much) so I need to be shown where the best roads are up here! I hear a lot of talk about the Rimas? I wonder if it is as good as a run over to Akaroa
Hopefully see you all soon

Jay

[DingoZ]

Yeah I think you are possibly missing something.

The initial intent was to go for a gentle pootle, roughly as a group, and have a meal, or an ale, or coke or whatever takes your fancy, talk "biker" and then a gentle ride home.

The last one I went on was ridiculous.

There was no group ethic, just a bunch of people riding far enough beyond the speed limit down the motorway to make a ticket unpleasant, and then the very odd experience of riding over the hill at a gentle pace, sometimes too gentle, and then people buggering off in three directions once at Featherston.

I dunno, maybe I'm expecting too much, but I saw a few stressed people riding just beyond themselves, and some people riding in an annoyingly erratic fashion. It's just supposed to be fun, with an emphasis on the sort of fun you have spending time with people at the pub. It's now more like an NCEA subject you have to get an "achieved" in before you can buy a "real' bike and go on a "real" ride on Thursday.

Fundamentally, I don't like riding with a bunch of people who are riding just hard enough to be unpredictable because they are riding just into their discomfort zone. I also don't like the fact that there just isn't ANY discussion AT ALL about adhering to any sort of protocol in terms of riding formation, leader and TEC, and expectations around getting L-Platers home before 10.

The Wednesday rides were started by a guy, now dead, who could see that people needed to learn a bit about riding with other people, and developing some good habits that you need to do that.

It's just a free-for all-now, and worse for it I feel.

Agree 100% with all you ave said in regards to this one guv'nor....

Seems to me Jim that you're amongst the best qualified of the local crustyoldcunts to do something about that...

Once again Ocean, spot on the money with that....

I'm not saying anyone is. I'm saying they could set some sort example on the wedensday night by riding at a "gentle pace". That is what the the wedensday nights are about.
As you said, if the faster riders want to ride at their own pace, which in this case is a bit faster, then they maybe they should ride on the thursday night.


The C in TCWNR stands for Cruisie.

Sadly the cruise part has been forgotten about.

Im interested whether anyone who is slower and/or learning is concerned? I know this year is faster than last year which is probably because so many people have gone from 250s to 600s this year.

Two weeks ago I had a pillion so was probably the slowest person there but it didnt matter. At the top everyone was waiting then when we got into Featherston I wasnt sure if we were going to the red pub or tin hutt, but there was a group waiting at the turn off to make it clear. Not a problem.

Yup I stopped going on the Wednesday Night Rides, due to some of the unpredictability of some of the riders. And at times some of the riding behaviour in close proximity to me bordered on dangerous. Also did not enjoy certain aspects of the atmosphere, in regards to being pushed to go faster, and feeling pressured to keep up..

I have always ridden my own ride, and I go for a weekly fix, when I can. I fill up and just ride. I enjoy the whole experience, and I get off the bike at home and go yeah I enjoyed that.....

[davebullet]

I went riding on it a couple of weeks ago. I rode "cruisily" over to featherston and we did all stop at the top. Introduced myself to a few people (quite shy types us bikers). I did notice a few tear off from the duck pond a lot quicker than I was capable... but it didn't make me feel pressured to keep up. My initial thoughts were "maybe I turned up on Thursday by mistake?".

I suppose it would be nice to travel in a tighter pack. We were quite spread out even leaving the duck pond. We never had that pack feel (well to me anyway).

From Featherston, things did lose their shape. On the way back I did push myself. My apologies to both ukiwi and Lilly2Wheels - I should have stuck with you guys in the spirit of the ride... like we did a few sunday's back where we cruised all day.... that was great.

Maybe what is needed are some clear rules (and I don't mean etiquette as that is too soft and people will deviate again) about what is acceptable behaviour on these sorts of things.... Or maybe that would just kill the fun.

Dave.

[Trudes]

These rides used to be rather well structured.
I can't comment as I haven't been able to make one for ages, but is there still discussion before departing the Duck Pond about re-grouping points, TEC etc?? If not, maybe one of the old TCWNR crew needs to put there hand up and wander along one Wednesday night soon and help out.... before it's too late and it turns into The Carnage Wednesday Night Ride, or people lose interest and stop going, which would be sad considering how this ride started in the first place.

[Maki]

Maybe it needs to be clear to everyone what is expected. I was there last Wednesday and just rode at my own pace. I was overtaken by people, but since I am a new rider on a 250 I thought that was something to expect.

So do we want a ride where everyone rides at the pace of the slowest rider and sticks in a group, or do we want to be more flexible and just decide to regroup and some points to allow the slow to catch up with the fast? Either way is ok, as long as people don't feel the need to race each other...

I don't really mind one way or another, all I am after is some company and a nice ride.

See you guys next time the wife lets me out

[Pedrostt500]

I'm happy to sit at the back with the Newbies and slower riders, I'll be the ugly old bugger on the black DR 650, or PM me the day before, as I won't always be able to check the thread just before the ride.

[Lilly2w]

I don't mind the pack spreading out, i'd rather ride at the back at my own slow pace than feel that I was ruining the ride for others who want to ride faster, I know I don't have the skill or grunt to keep up on the twisties but that's o.k it's still fun to me. And thanks for being my tec peddro!

[James Deuce]

No one is ruining the ride for anyone else. The focus just needs to shift back a little to the point of these rides, and that was to humanise people who normally ride at warp speed and make other people who normally wouldn't approach them understand that the skills the "crusties", "racers", and "stunters" are just as relevant for them. Observation is a good part of the learning process, and you aren't learning when you're full of adrenalin and pupils have turned into pinholes.

The other focus was to help people who normally just sneer at "slow" riders develop some disciplines around learning how to ride in a group with people who cover a broad spectrum of "pace". Develop a little maturity as it were.

Most of all we want people like Lilly to feel included, not a burden on the "good" riders.

[Lilly2w]

Well i'm still in regardless, i've met some top people so far who love to ride bikes and i'd be happy to benefit from others experience. Weather permiting I'll be there next Wednesday, so come and say hi!

[henry]

Seems to me Jim that you're amongst the best qualified of the local crustyoldcunts to do something about that...

+1

How about it dude. You give guys shit for being too scared to ride the hill but when they do you give them shit for that too.

It seems to me that the only difference between this year and last is a complete lack of organisation.

[James Deuce]

+1

How about it dude. You give guys shit for being too scared to ride the hill but when they do you give them shit for that too.

Do I? I thought I was chiding gently.

Oh well.

[quallman1234]

I went on out on Wednesday and it was very cruisey. Speeds weren't excessive at all so I'm not sure what every one is on about. quallman1234 was giving it some but he was on a RG150, it was all noise and elbows.

Too be honest, i wasn't really. In fact i was going quite slow. Just a reasonable "cruise" pace.my cruise pace is probably slightly quicker than most people on the ride, but thats what pace i feel most comfortable at.
I do not at all mind waiting a pre-assigned spots.
E.g. We always stop at the top of the taka's, if we are going that way.
Next Wednesday, we shall have a small discussion before leaving, were to regroup. And possibly assign learners a person to follow/be followed by.

[325rocket]

Next Wednesday, we shall have a small discussion before leaving, were to regroup. And possibly assign learners a person to follow/be followed by.

or just leave in two groups. were all going to the same place anyway and if the faster riders can cause stress let them go first. just an idea.

[Hitcher]

or just leave in two groups. were all going to the same place anyway and if the faster riders can cause stress let them go first. just an idea.

The Wednesday night ride is intended to be a "cruisy" ride. People wanting to let their balls fly free should participate in the Thursday night ride.

The purpose of a cruisy ride is for people not to feel intimidated by riding in groups and for a group ride to succeed in getting all of its members to a destination and home again without resulting in any Liberaces or stultifying displays of riding "skill". Motorcycling should be about having fun. Scaring the living bejeezes out of people isn't my idea of fun.