I don't know where I am

[bigfish_Oh]

look at those titles------

bluejob -Colonoscopy -cover your butt -things that make you go hmmmm -take a ride to the pine bush -my big peeve

then I post and it says -Go Down

[Skeeter (Va)]

I'm not in the Valk "Click" on the web or on trips and now, only tune into this site once a month or so....These titles you mentioned are disturbing , yes.

Clicks are hard to crack if that's what one needs to "blend".  I just rode last weekend for two days and was shunned by weekend Harley  warriors.  I'm 74 yrs old and have been riding all sorts of bike for 55 years , God knows, how many miles.  My "98 Valk has 100K plus.

Ride,  be happy and keep the blood pressure down. Do your thing, even if it's by yourself and a Honey on the back seat.

Skeeter .. VA.....As there are other Skeeters on the web that have said things that screwed me big time.  Anyway , I have had good rides in the past with the club.     

[Cruzen]

Give someone a public forum and a key board and they'll get up on their soap box and express themselves about just about anything no matter how irrelevant. 

I am also beginning to understand that some may not even ride or have an interest in Valks but at times I think we've been hijacked by the HD contingency

[solo1]

I, for one,  have not seen any 'cliques' in the VRCC as in the negative sense.  Even though I no longer ride a Valkyrie, I'm still welcomed here and at Inzane (OH YES!).

A clique by definition is what we have.  A clique by common definition is what we don't have.  In all these years I've never seen a rider snubbed because he didn't fit in, ie ride a Valk. In all the VRCC events that I've attended and here on the board, no one has been ignored because of what he(she) rides.

As far as the off topic subjects talked about here, that is part of the VRCC.  We have concerned riders here with different opinions and those opinions are expressed on this board.  I realize that  this board is different than some in that regard, but it is not, IMHO,  an exclusive clique.

I ride a 2006 Vstrom now because my Valk was too heavy for my arthriitic knees.   For those that don't know me, I've been riding off and on since 1948 and I'm 83.

[Jess Tolbirt]

well lets see now, 3 years ago I took Bev to deals gap on our newly acquired Valk,, when we arrived at the store there were about 5 Valks there,, I have been on the board for many years,,,I introduced her to one of our prominent members here and he had better things than to say glad to meet you,,so from that point on we ride alone,, she was very hurt that one of our own wouldnt give her the time of day,,now i just read the boards and get ideas about rides and participate on the forums,,,

[Stanley Steamer]

Dang Jess.....that's a shame.....I try to treat the local bag boy the same way I would a VIP.....Is there really any other way?......I don't care what a person does as long as they try their best at it.....

[sugerbear]

yep, same thing happened to me at the covered bridge ride a few years ago.
a few, Willow, his wife, and another (forgot his handle but he rides an HD and lives in Indiana) were very nice. also the rider from germany?. others not so much.
i tried to get involved in some of the conversations but was snubbed really bad. both at the bbq and at the motel later.
guess i don't fit in either.

had one rider who was an absolute ASS during the ride, but he fits in really well and everyone likes him.

[czuch]

I see regular posters and folks that live close together talkin and joshin each other.
Just like the radio and TV iffn ya see something ya dont like, change the channel.
Saying you had a colonoscopy or a prostate exam may break the ice and take the psychological discomfort away enough to save a stranger's life.
There are folks here that go against the grain, are abrasive and even inspire members to delete the posts from their screen. They are still welcome.
 Soooo if youre an occasional visitor and rare poster whats your worry?

[Hef]

We want to be careful not to lump everyone in the same class because of a few. When it comes to group activities though, I think some people tend to take on a different personality. There seems to be a lot of very close-knit groups within the VRCC and I think that's a good thing. I tend to do a lot of the small group riding with three or four friends on a dinner run, etc. For long trips which we do quite a bit of, I like to have at least one other bike with us. I like people and I like to talk. It's usually pretty easy for me to meet and talk to people. I went to my first and last VRCC gathering about three years ago and found it pretty difficult to get in on a conversation anywhere. On the group ride we felt like real outsiders and so we left early. That said, I still appreciate this group and all the valuable information I have received from this board. I have no grudges or dislike for anyone in this group and if I see you on the road, I'll probably make an attempt to chat with you. Ride Safe. Hef

[Art708]

 As a rule I don't have a problem meshing with people if I go to a motorcycle gathering. However, upon thinking more about this, I've come to realize that it's because I'm so handsome, charming, and witty...........and FOS.

[Stanley Steamer]

As a rule I don't have a problem meshing with people if I go to a motorcycle gathering. However, upon thinking more about this, I've come to realize that it's because I'm so handsome, charming, and witty...........and FOS.

I'm so shy an introverted that I have a hard time fitting into crowds

[Willow]

... it's because I'm so handsome, charming, and witty...........and FOS.

FOS has always worked for me.    

I'm really sorry to hear that some have attended a VRCC event and not felt included.  It can happen, I'm sure, but I don't like it when it does.

If you see me at an event and you're a first timer, please give me a chance to not let you feel excluded.

[bigfish_Oh]

... it's because I'm so handsome, charming, and witty...........and FOS.

FOS has always worked for me.    

I'm really sorry to hear that some have attended a VRCC event and not felt included.  It can happen, I'm sure, but I don't like it when it does.

If you see me at an event and you're a first timer, please give me a chance to not let you feel excluded.

Me and my wife both noticed a great difference in the Valk events and the CBX events we went to years ago. years ago we were immediately part of the group and felt like family, we never stood for a minute and were ignored. We decided that back then we were practically all strangers and less of us with one common interest and no one had formed their "cliches" . Today we realize many have know each other for years and we are new guys jumping in. Besides I don't talk much, at first.
   I will tell you the special ones that took us right in are very dear to us in this short time and we wish we weren't 400 miles away for those rides.

I don't know what happened to this post, but that page with those titles in a row was what I was commenting about was "humor", you never know what's next, no boredom

those titles aren't disturbing, but humorous, entertaining, informative, (not spiteful or disrespectful)

I don't know where I am, but I like being here

[fudgie]

I just have fun no matter where I'm at. Whether folks like me or not. 

[bigfish_Oh]

I'm pretty sure I'll see for myself in 10 days

[fudgie]

I'm pretty sure I'll see for myself in 10 days

So ya coming over?

[POPS 57]

My wife and i attended our first Insane this year. We met so many new people that i can't remember all the names. Everyone i talked to was fun,nice ect. But i am kind of like Fudgie when it comes to big gatherings.

[Ice]

I am not sure how this turned into a clique thread, but I for one can only say that no matter what event I have ridden with the VRCC folks here, I have always been accepted, that said we (wife and me) have not had the oppertunity to get to Inzane (next year for sure) but no matter what event, wether here or in Europe, we have always been welcomed by the other VRCC folks. I believe that some instances you have to be a bit patient for folks to feel comfortable talking to you, but I have never been left out. Even though my Wife is very shy, she loves going to any VRCC event because no matter that she has an accent, she is accepted and people talk to her and make her feel welcome. I hate to see any of the folks here feel like they did not belong.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

well lets see now, 3 years ago I took Bev to deals gap on our newly acquired Valk,, when we arrived at the store there were about 5 Valks there,, I have been on the board for many years,,,I introduced her to one of our prominent members here and he had better things than to say glad to meet you,,so from that point on we ride alone,, she was very hurt that one of our own wouldnt give her the time of day,,now i just read the boards and get ideas about rides and participate on the forums,,,

If you talking about me and I'm pretty sure you are....I said " Hi " to her ....What did you want me to do hold her hand and skip ? We waited around on y'all a hour and a half ( you claimed you forgot about the time change to eastern time at Deals Gap ) we was ready to ride not stand around anymore bullshittin' ....Maybe you should show-up on time when you tell someone you will be there and not make a group of riders stand around a hour and a half waiting on you then we could have time to CHAT   

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

I will just say that LOCALLY here I don't get to ride with some as often as they get together. Very seldom as a matter of fact as schedules vary greatly from there's, BUT I have ALWAYS been made to feel welcome and invited to be a part whenever I am able to. When I do get a chance, I'm treated as if I'm one of the bunch and will always appreciate that. Thanks Joe, Al,Gordon,and  Paul, Etc !!!!!!!  

[Jess Tolbirt]

well lets see now, 3 years ago I took Bev to deals gap on our newly acquired Valk,, when we arrived at the store there were about 5 Valks there,, I have been on the board for many years,,,I introduced her to one of our prominent members here and he had better things than to say glad to meet you,,so from that point on we ride alone,, she was very hurt that one of our own wouldnt give her the time of day,,now i just read the boards and get ideas about rides and participate on the forums,,,

If you talking about me and I'm pretty sure you are....I said " Hi " to her ....What did you want me to do hold her hand and skip ? We waited around on y'all a hour and a half ( you claimed you forgot about the time change to eastern time at Deals Gap ) we was ready to ride not stand around anymore bullshittin' ....Maybe you should show-up on time when you tell someone you will be there and not make a group of riders stand around a hour and a half waiting on you then we could have time to CHAT    

nope that wasnt me,,, why do you feel the need to get so defensive?
I dont remember ever planning a ride with anyone,,,other than the SCRC..
the day i am talking about we just happened to pull in...
that was a long time ago.

[Valkahuna]

Sorry, but I can't let this go without a comment.

I did attend my first InZane this year, and met a lot of the folks that are on the board here. I have to say that the reception we got was excellent.

Were there some awkward moments? Sure, but then again I am not naive enough to think that I am going to introduce myself and have the same rapport as friends that have known each other for years.

Yes, I am an outgoing individual, and yes, I am also FOS, but I have to say that generally speaking, I have never joined a group that was as outgoing as the VRCC! Most of you guys do "feel like" (figuratively, before I start getting some crap over "feeling my family") family.

Keep in mind the fact that I live in two far apart locations, I have three groups to deal with: the VRCC Board; the Florida Chapter; and recently I found contact wth the New England Group, and all have made me feel welcome.

Sorry, but I had to say that. In many cases, "friendship" and that is really what we are talking about when we talk about "cliques" has to be developed, and that takes time. So give things a chance before you start thinking that you aren't fitting in! I am pretty selective about who I make friends with, but not at all about who I consider "acquaintances". Obviously the friends group is much smaller, and that's the case with most people.

[Gryphon]

[quote author=Willow link=topic=33015.msg305239#msg305239 date=1316016251I'm really sorry to hear that some have attended a VRCC event and not felt included.  It can happen, I'm sure, but I don't like it when it does.

If you see me at an event and you're a first timer, please give me a chance to not let you feel excluded.[/i]
[/quote]

My first VRCC event was at Robber's Cave a few years ago.  I was new to the group and the bike and my wife had never even been to the board.  I have to say that within a few minutes of being there, it felt like we had been long time members.  Carl and Lori are two of the friendliest people you are ever going to meet.  They go out of their way to make newcomers feel welcome.  I can personally say the same about Highbinder, Lacy Draco, Scott, Joanie............

Some of the local Valk owners, not so much.  They aren't VRCC members and will nod when we encounter them at other venues.   I'm sorry to hear about anyone having a bad encounter with another Valk rider, let alone a VRCC member.  It happens.  Maybe they were having a bad day.  I hope your future encounters are better.