Where have all the group rides gone?

[uksteve]

I have posted a couple of rides in the past. Very little responce, which was dissapointing. I think there are plenty of bikers out there who want to go out in small groups, that haven't got mates who are into bikes. I think we should try and support these guys. I've been on a couple of the Two wheels rides, nice roads, plenty of scenery, plenty of open spaces to open the bikes up. These are small groups of 5 or 6, pretty laid back and no hastles. We need more of this in Auckland.

[Motoracer]

Oh theres pleanty of them Steve. You just have to get to know the people and they will join you for sure. I'm sure when you have spent a bit more time here, you'll meet many folks you can ride with. Go along to other meets first and introduce yourself.

[_intense_]

that, and that some ppls riding can be scarey, esp if unfamiliar. and its kinda hard to ride when ur babys stil not o nthe road..

[erik]

I haven't been going on many rides lately mostly because of lack of money.

Fear of the cops, and lack of confidence in myself since my last bin make me want to ride more cautiously. But that won't stop me from riding or from participating in rides provided they're suitable for slower riders too.

I just need to find myself a job.

[Lucy]

I've never done KB group rides , except for the training/mentoring things. Because I don't have a bike that will do 250+kph; or the skills or balls to make up for the missing 50kph.

And rightly or wrongly, my perception is that KB rides , no matter how good trhe intention is at the start, turn into races. Yeah , I know, ride at your own pace blah blah. But I'm no more resistant to the "must keep up" syndrome than anyone else.

.

I've only been on the 250 rides organized by Maverick and McJim, and musta been doing them wrong, because they weren't races at all.

[idleidolidyll]

I've never done KB group rides , except for the training/mentoring things. Because I don't have a bike that will do 250+kph; or the skills or balls to make up for the missing 50kph.

And rightly or wrongly, my perception is that KB rides , no matter how good trhe intention is at the start, turn into races. Yeah , I know, ride at your own pace blah blah. But I'm no more resistant to the "must keep up" syndrome than anyone else.

Apart from not wanting to end up in a ditch, mangled, my licence is important to me. I don't minding risking a fine and some points. But I don't want to be walking, so time over 140kph has to be very carefully considered. And it seems (maybe wrongly, but that;s trhe perception) that KB rides never dip UNDER 140. Realistically, I think I have enough self control not to end in the ditch. But when the pace is sitting on the ton for the slow riders, it's jolly hard not to ease the throttle open that bit more :" Everyone's going this fast or faster - we can't all get pinged". Um, yeah.

I've noticed that other areas seem to have more in the way of "social rides at a cruisey/ decent (not exactly law abiding) but not licence losing speed". Auckland doesn't.Which is a pity. However, it's not something that worries me.

perhaps you should go south on thursdays then: few riders maintain a speed over 130 for any length of time and given the number of corners, probably average below 100. Sure, there are a few who wind it up on the long straights but there's no imperitive to copy as they will always be waiting at the next intersection after which they are unlikely to be able to hit high speeds (cause those corners come around again).

if they did 200+ everywhere or 'rarely less than 140', contrary to the opinion of some who don't even turn up, i'd be outta there in no time looking for rides with less straights and a safer place for my licence.

[idleidolidyll]

I have posted a couple of rides in the past. Very little responce, which was dissapointing. I think there are plenty of bikers out there who want to go out in small groups, that haven't got mates who are into bikes. I think we should try and support these guys. I've been on a couple of the Two wheels rides, nice roads, plenty of scenery, plenty of open spaces to open the bikes up. These are small groups of 5 or 6, pretty laid back and no hastles. We need more of this in Auckland.

i reckon that's right.
the big rides can be very intimidating and even downright scary.
most of my friends prefer rides of 3-6 bikes and we arrange those by phone or txt
that said, when i have the chance i like the thursday ride in sth auckland. it's usually not more than 10-12 bikes and doesn't seem to suffer the same complaints as the auckland ride

[Blackbird]

I'm like a lot of the other posters here. I prefer to ride with up to 4 or 5 others that I've ridden with for years and trust implicitly. Takes the stress off no end. Big group rides tend to take on a life of their own. I also love riding on my own. Solo riding for me is a different sort of ride, generally at an easier pace and a bit more contemplative and appreciating the scenery and conditions.

[Motu]

What is this compulsion to ride with others? It goes back to the early days of bike gangs....individuals all riding and living together....single entities in a group conscious.Maybe even back to the wild west - outlaw gangs riding horses....and Man With No Name riding alone.I'm definatly with Blondie on this one - ever since I got on a bike it's been me me me,to hell with anyone else.

[stify]

What is this compulsion to ride with others?

it was a safety in numbers thing for me when i first started riding, an sometimes i'd learn a thing or two if i was lucky, now much prefer smaller groups(5-15), normally a lot less drama, a lot more fun, and you don't spend so much time waitin for lunch

["D" FZ1]

I prefer to ride with a small group of people that I know, and know how they ride.

[Blackbird]

What is this compulsion to ride with others? It goes back to the early days of bike gangs....individuals all riding and living together....single entities in a group conscious.Maybe even back to the wild west - outlaw gangs riding horses....and Man With No Name riding alone.I'm definatly with Blondie on this one - ever since I got on a bike it's been me me me,to hell with anyone else.

In my case, the people I ride with are first and foremost good friends who's company I enjoy and value. The fact that we ride bikes is a bonus but we get together for non-bike-related stuff too.

[White trash]

I will still do group rides, but only with my mates. It just works out that for some reason, every fuckin ride lately, I've been working.

Also, prefer to ride with 10 mates than 50 people I hardley know.

And I'll never organise a public group ride after the abortion that was my Easter ride 3 years ago.

[Panther]

I'm still bad buzz about group rides.

althou it was a good memory when i got passed by a few blokes on one wheel doing 200+kms and shat myself!

i always manage to find and excuse not to attend group rides.
i tell myself that im still trying to find my niche.
i can handle my 250, i still have a lot of learning to do with the 600.
i find the cruisy rides are annoying and i dont learn anything
when i ride with bigger bikes they just fuck off and and cant keep up on the 250. i dont wanna take the 600 out with big bikes cos i dont want to be encouraged to push myself out of my personal limits.
and for the record i miss the 2am rides!

[Matt Bleck]

I love group rides, if it weren't for these I would not have met most of the cool people on here i now call friends....

As soon as I'm able I'm there Andy!