Ride safe everyone

[John Schmidt]

Good points Pete and Tex, I have to echo your feelings. That's the main reason I usually will meet the group at the destination, that way no harm...no foul, nobody should feel pressed to ride as others do. Personally, I no longer feel the need to do the "spirited" ride and I've tagged along on a couple but don't enjoy it. I can still scrape the pegs but seldom find it either necessary or satisfying. But, that's just me and I know others like to really twist the throttle. Think back to these days in 30-40 yrs. and you'll find you're riding the same way I do now, and you'll get there just a few minutes later compared to all the rest. 

Up til now, the Florida group hasn't had any structure when taking a ride. Up til now, it's worked out fine, everyone knew their limits and the destination. If someone suggested a stop after lunch, it was usually "ok, it's your idea, you lead."  And off we'd go with no planned route, speed, formation....nothing of that sort, just the destination involved. We just rode and if someone was having trouble keeping up, the world didn't end by slowing down a bit.

I'll continue to hit some of our RTE's when possible, but when it comes to riding in groups I don't care for it. One or two with me is fine, but I like to click on the cruise control, feet on the highway pegs, lean back(or forward) and set a steady pace. That never happens in a group ride, I'm always on/off the CC so finally just kick if off. Not fun, not relaxing. But....that's just me, and I find I'm not alone. 

[Grumpy]

Pete and John, I totally agree. I am not comfortable on the spirited rides as they are called. I will go to the destination at my pace.  I have rode with a lot of different groups over the years, one that comes to mind is one Tennessee member . I have been on many rides with him, if you are slower than the rest, no problem. Where ever there was a turn off etc, he would wait till every one caught up, nothing said, no bad mouthing because you were slower than the rest etc. I have seen that happen in our bunch a few times, some one being slower is told to keep up with the group. I will not do it, I have been riding bikes for over 57 years, and now I do it at my own pace, if some one don't like it , sorry that is the way it is.

[texaninsouthfl]

As someone new to the region and having only met most of you a couple of times during the Leesburg Bikefest, I have been reluctant to comment. But... as one who hopes to join y'all on rides when possible, I will weigh in on the structured vs unstructured ride issue. I really dislike group rides with a bunch of rules and plans.  Maybe it's just the part of me that doesn't like to be told what to do. I don't care if some one else wants to ride point... and I don't care if some one else wants the six. If the group is riding unbearably slow, I'm going around... if I want to slow down and sight see... I'm going to slow down and enjoy the view and catch up later. I don't begrudge anyone else the same and if you pester me about it, I'm likely to tell the you to go fornicate with yourself.

Which is pretty much the same reaction I'd have to someone ragging on my ride. Jerry, it's YOUR bike... YOU love it and that's what matters. If someone came up and offered an unsolicited opinion, I'd probably say, "Well, I think your wife is ugly too but she's yours so my opinion doesn't matter does it?  

For what's it's worth, I don't enjoy being told what to do either.   BUT...when you go on a group ride there are a lot of safety issues involved. Such as keeping spacing to stop other vehicles from disrupting the group by seperating it. Also, keeping pace with the group is important. Another big No-No is passing everyone up , since doing that endangers everyone else. Slowing up or stopping, and having the sweep rider pass you by is also a dumb thing to do. There are a lot of books and articles written on the subject of group rides. They have been written for a reason.

It sounds to me like you should just get the groups destination, go there at your own pace and whichever way you prefer to go, and then just meet up with them at wherever they are going.

Edit: As Pappy has said, around where you, he, and I are, it's usually just a couple of us doing exactly that, at our own pace.

That would be less frustrating for you, and safer for the group. Riding as a group means just that - you ride in a group. When done correctly it is safer than solo, but when done to suit everyone else's whims it's a mess at best, and a dangerous thing at worst. I often will not ride with a group either, unless I know what the skill level and habbits of the riders in the group.

I've got a couple of riding buddies that I can trust to not run into me, crowd me off the road, and or do things that endanger me or themselves. Since we are on the subject of group rides, IF you find yourself in a group that makes you feel like you are riding over your head from a speed or skill standpoint, do the SAFE thing and tell them you are not comfortable at the pace they are setting, and proceed on your own. Also those riding point have the responsibility to be sure that those following can do so safely. For this reason, knowing the skills of those in the group is important.

What every rider needs to know is that they themselves are ultimately responsible for their own safety. DO NOT RIDE OVER YOUR HEAD OR SKILL LEVEL, DON'T BLINDLY RUN RED LIGHTS TO "KEEP UP", AND DON'T ASSUME THAT YOU CAN CRUISE THROUGH THE SAME STOP SIGN AS THE GUY AHEAD OF YOU WITHOUT LOOKING AND STOPPING IF NEEDED.  

I've been on too many large group rides to even count with Patriot Guard and others.  I know and follow good group riding etiquette and safety discipline in larger group rides.  What I was referring to was smaller groups and situations like where you're in the six and the leader is so slow on the highway that you've constantly got cages running up your ass. Or the less common case of lead who rides like his hair is on fire.

That said,  it's precisely the reason I hardly do large groups anymore.  It's a lot more fun  (and safer)  to ride with a handful instead of a horde. Although I have to confess riding through downtown Leesburg with 30+ other Valks was really fun.

[Valkahuna]

As someone new to the region and having only met most of you a couple of times during the Leesburg Bikefest, I have been reluctant to comment. But... as one who hopes to join y'all on rides when possible, I will weigh in on the structured vs unstructured ride issue. I really dislike group rides with a bunch of rules and plans.  Maybe it's just the part of me that doesn't like to be told what to do. I don't care if some one else wants to ride point... and I don't care if some one else wants the six. If the group is riding unbearably slow, I'm going around... if I want to slow down and sight see... I'm going to slow down and enjoy the view and catch up later. I don't begrudge anyone else the same and if you pester me about it, I'm likely to tell the you to go fornicate with yourself.

Which is pretty much the same reaction I'd have to someone ragging on my ride. Jerry, it's YOUR bike... YOU love it and that's what matters. If someone came up and offered an unsolicited opinion, I'd probably say, "Well, I think your wife is ugly too but she's yours so my opinion doesn't matter does it?  

For what's it's worth, I don't enjoy being told what to do either.   BUT...when you go on a group ride there are a lot of safety issues involved. Such as keeping spacing to stop other vehicles from disrupting the group by seperating it. Also, keeping pace with the group is important. Another big No-No is passing everyone up , since doing that endangers everyone else. Slowing up or stopping, and having the sweep rider pass you by is also a dumb thing to do. There are a lot of books and articles written on the subject of group rides. They have been written for a reason.

It sounds to me like you should just get the groups destination, go there at your own pace and whichever way you prefer to go, and then just meet up with them at wherever they are going.

Edit: As Pappy has said, around where you, he, and I are, it's usually just a couple of us doing exactly that, at our own pace.

That would be less frustrating for you, and safer for the group. Riding as a group means just that - you ride in a group. When done correctly it is safer than solo, but when done to suit everyone else's whims it's a mess at best, and a dangerous thing at worst. I often will not ride with a group either, unless I know what the skill level and habbits of the riders in the group.

I've got a couple of riding buddies that I can trust to not run into me, crowd me off the road, and or do things that endanger me or themselves. Since we are on the subject of group rides, IF you find yourself in a group that makes you feel like you are riding over your head from a speed or skill standpoint, do the SAFE thing and tell them you are not comfortable at the pace they are setting, and proceed on your own. Also those riding point have the responsibility to be sure that those following can do so safely. For this reason, knowing the skills of those in the group is important.

What every rider needs to know is that they themselves are ultimately responsible for their own safety. DO NOT RIDE OVER YOUR HEAD OR SKILL LEVEL, DON'T BLINDLY RUN RED LIGHTS TO "KEEP UP", AND DON'T ASSUME THAT YOU CAN CRUISE THROUGH THE SAME STOP SIGN AS THE GUY AHEAD OF YOU WITHOUT LOOKING AND STOPPING IF NEEDED.  

I've been on too many large group rides to even count with Patriot Guard and others.  I know and follow good group riding etiquette and safety discipline in larger group rides.  What I was referring to was smaller groups and situations like where you're in the six and the leader is so slow on the highway that you've constantly got cages running up your ass. Or the less common case of lead who rides like his hair is on fire.

That said,  it's precisely the reason I hardly do large groups anymore.  It's a lot more fun  (and safer)  to ride with a handful instead of a horde. Although I have to confess riding through downtown Leesburg with 30+ other Valks was really fun.

+1  I think you'll get along just fine here.