group riding

[zedx11]

I'm re-reading a book called Sport Riding Techniques by Nick Ienatsch

something that I just read I think it really pertinent to this time of year for most of us.

Quit riding with the wrong people - the riders who can't stay to the right of the yellow line, the riders who run horrendous straightaway speeds, the riders who can't or won't be cohesive members of the group. they will hurt you badly. Practice these words: " You ride dangerously and aren't welcome in this group," or "You make too many riding mistakes, and one of them is going to hurt someone else, We don't want you riding with our group," or "We have a riding group with certain rules that you don't adhere to. You aren't included in this group." If you're invited to ride with a group that contains members with questionable judgment, try "No thanks, I'd rather ride alone." It's imperative that you find the words to control and mold the human side of the riding environment before it hurts you. Motorcycles aren't necessarily dangerous, but some riders are.

[alstensby]

Agreed. Common sense things that need to be remembered. People some times worry about keeping up with those around them instead of staying in their comfort zone. Always remember: Stupid hurts.

[mcneese5]

Good post I agree.

[rldowns3]

There was one guy I used to work with that invited me to ride with him, the guy just could not hold a strait line or a steady speed. I was constantly off and back on the gas and brake and shifting which side of the lane I was on to try to not get clipped by his bike. I tried to spread out the formation but it was still bad so without any warning I rolled off the formation and hit the exit ramp for I-526 from I-26 in charleston and took off in another direction and never went ridin' with "shaky jake" again. LOL

[Michael600r]

I learned that on my first large group ride. It was an open invitation, word of mouth, ride that would end with some stunting in a large parking lot. Well, it never made it that far. We took off, gassed up and as soon as we hit the highway the wheelies started. We made it to our first stop and tried to talk some sense into the worst of the offenders. We thought the situation was corrected until we took off again. We are now on the back roads and the idiots turned right back into idiots, this time thinking they were Nicky Hayden.
They ended up getting off course, then a couple of crashes. The police show up, several have no insurance or licenses. We waited at the second stop for about an hour then just went home.

[A2rider]

This is what happened on a ride several years ago in SW Missouri. The rider that caused this was told at several stops to please calm down, and stop riding over his skills. It was a group ride that was almost 150 miles from the house.

[antiq]

Squidly can often be deadly. I'm happy to let them tear off on their own. There are old riders and bold riders but there are no old bold riders!

[A2rider]

Three people ended up hurt because of one persons decision to ride irresponsibly. It was sad, to say the least.

[antiq]

Did all survive?

[stefano]

Darrell, that's a great post and a good reminder as the season is opening.

Personally I distinguish between 2 types of riders in group rides:

1. riders who are not used to riding in groups or don't know how - these are the ones who can't hold their line and weave from left to right, brake and accelerate suddenly etc. There is "hope" for these riders as you can take them aside, teach them the right way, and reintegrate them when they are ready.

2. irresponsible riders - these are the ones who know how to ride, but just go over the top: wheelies, overtaking within the group, crossing the yellow line, maintaining a ridiculously high pace in the twisties on the limits of their or their bikes' capabilities.

There is NO hope for these riders as, no matter how hard you try to make them understand that their behaviour puts other peoples' lives at risk, they just don't care or don't want to understand - otherwise they wouldn't be riding like that in the first place.

With the first set of these riders, if you have patience you can teach them. The second set are to be avoided at all costs, they will most probably get you into trouble as well.

A2 that shot is horrific... can't believe they all survived?!?!?! Especially Bo

[zedx11]

Originally Posted by antiq

Did all survive?

yes, the one that was under the truck has a prosthetic arm now but still alive.

[sdbrit68]

Originally Posted by A2rider

Three people ended up hurt because of one persons decision to ride irresponsibly. It was sad, to say the least.

can you run down what happened, its confusing the way its laid out

[sdbrit68]

keep in mind guys.................its not just the sporties guys,there are squids in the cruiser set.

so far in socal, we have never,ever had to ask a rider to leave. We do the ride meeting,go over signals, and lay out the way we ride.

we also make it a point to invite brand new riders so we can show them how much fun group riding can be, and some of the veterans can give them tips

Rich and I both love group riding,so this is how we give back.............then of course there is the race home to wait for gary to post his videos.

we might just have been lucky with the people we go out with

[SilverEagle]

I'm perhaps one of the few that prefer to ride by myself, but group rides once and awhile is fun for the social aspect. But it does demand more from the rider, and a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link.

I am not considering myself an experienced group rider, but the rally to red Lodge last year was extremely fun.

[trikebubble]

Good stuff Darrell.

I prefer to ride in small groups or with Tracy only. We've ridden in the Toy Run's and stuff, but we participate in those more out of a charitable contribution than for pure enjoyment.

I prefer, if I'm involved in a large group ride, that we break down the group into smaller more manageable groups.

[fretbuzz]

There's nothing wrong with falling behind the group and riding a safe distance behind. You still get there at about the same time and can hang out with them if you like.

Excellent post, Zed.

[spitfire9]

Looks to me like either Bo lost it on the curve and forced Paul down, or vice-versa. Bo slid into/under the Chevy, who locked it up and forced the old Ford behind him with crappy brakes to cross the yellow line, hitting Jason.
looks like Paul was the luckiest one and laid it down between the 2 trucks.

[jaseman]

This is why I'm very particular about who I'll ride with. When I do go on a group ride, it's usually with a select group of friends who I know and trust. And rarely more than 4 of us on a ride.

We all know our own, and each others limits. And while spirited riding is tolerated (even encouraged), stupidity is highly frowned upon.

[zedx11]

Originally Posted by spitfire9

Looks to me like either Bo lost it on the curve. Bo slid into/under the Chevy, who locked it up and forced the old Ford behind him to cross the yellow line to keep from hitting the stopped truck, hitting Jason.
looks like Paul was the luckiest one and laid it down between the 2 trucks.

really close, I fixed it for ya.

Paul was the only one that wasn't flown out that day, he still ended up with some metal in his leg I think. I haven't rode with many of these guys since then and not now that I have moved.

[CycleDude]

That is just grizzley.....