I don't like to ride in groups...

[hubcapsc]

I was just reading a thread where someone claimed to dislike riding in groups... sure, I like
to noodle around here and there and my intermittent solo rides to work are a great way
to start and end the day... I spent ten or eleven hours riding alone on back roads on the
way back from West Virginia last year, that was a fun ride, but...















-Mike "I've got a million of them  "

[The emperor has no clothes]

I could probably count on one hand the group rides I'd been on until I started riding with the SoCal chapter a few years ago. For me riding with people that are experienced riders is what makes the difference. Group rides with inexperienced riders is still not fun for me. But I'm really glad for the rides with the VRCC guys. 

[Patrick]

Nice pics, I particularly like the tail lights on that one.

I don't ride with large groups, what constitutes a large group though. I ride only on 2 occasions, alone or with someone.  I do ride with a small group of friends that are good experienced riders.

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

 

[Alpha Dog]

I could probably count on one hand the group rides I'd been on until I started riding with the SoCal chapter a few years ago. For me riding with people that are experienced riders is what makes the difference. Group rides with inexperienced riders is still not fun for me. But I'm really glad for the rides with the VRCC guys. 

Could not agree more.  Experienced and respectful riders and no hot dogs make all the diff.  And if they are on Valks it is always good.
Chuck

[KG]

Riding with a group of people is not a problem for me BUT going on a bike run sponsored by a dealer or bike club with a hundred or so bikes just will not happen anymore for me.

2 poker runs and a ride  for a woman with cancer last year  and I spent more time in the ambulance helping my  coworkers than I did riding.

[old2soon]

Kinda got that Lone Wolf thingy myself. On the other hand most-NOT ALL-but MOST of my P G R ridin buds are experienced riders. I've been on some good rides at the Inzanes. The "Lost Lunch Ride" at Asheville comes immediately to mind!  There was 7 of us that rode from South Sioux City Ne last year to ground zero at Spearfish. There would have been 8 cept fer a tire eatin rodent!  I ride with my Brother as much as we can but those other 6 going to Spearfish last year-Y'all NOW who you are-I'd share wind with any of them ANYWHERE ANYTIME. That goes for everyone I've had the pleasure of meeting here-share wind ANYWHERE ANYTME. I've been on "organized" rides that WERE anything but.  Ross and I got behind a newbie on The Dragon couple years ago.  On a large ride-over 20 M/Cs-a newbie is more dangerous than a site seeing fool in a cage-I M H O.  Course everyone of us here KNOW how Quickly a beautiful day in the wind can turn to kaka.  BUT I wouldn't trade riding for ANYTHING else I do!  RIDE SAFE.

[Hooter]

  I know better than to ride poker runs or charity runs around here. Most are bar related and the alcohol starts to flow. The two fisted drinkers come out and I start to rethink if I wanna go any further with drinking people I don't know. I usually bow out and take off on my own.

   The more people there are the more potential for problems there are in these types of gatherings. I prefer to ride with no more than 1 or 2 other people IF I have to. I really prefer to ride alone and do so 99% of the time. I can set my own pace, stop when I want to, and don't have stop if someone doesn't make a traffic light. Pulling off and having to wait for the same people while they dilly dally instead of paying attention ruins a ride for me. I guess I'm a loner. I used to think that riding with others was safer, but have changed my mind about that to after the past couple of years and entire groups gettin hit. I guess when it's your time it's your time. But, I don't want to be included in someone elses time. Like an airline pilots time.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I've met some good folks some I'll call friends to the end of my days because of getting out and riding.













Joe - I've got a million of them.

[Mr Whiskey]

BUT I wouldn't trade riding for ANYTHING else I do! 

Hear, hear & Amen Brother!
4377, I'll ride with anybody, long as we RIDE!
(I rarely get outta the saddle.)
If they've got new roads, I'm definitely in!
(Crankin' & bankin' baby, it's what life's all about!)
If they're good riders I don't mind to lead or follow.
If they're so-so I prefer to keep 'em where I can see 'em.
(Behind me they're a hazard, in front they're jus' cheap entertainment!)
I'm still too much of a "hot dog"! I know it & I try to rein it in.
I jus' get excited, can't help it! (In the wind with my friends!)
To any I've ever offended I apologize, sincerely!
For me, motorcycle riding isn't a safe (sane?) endeavor. It's inherently dangerous from the moment I swing that leg.
I fully expect (always have) that sooner or later there's a #9 bus gonna clock my fat a$$ & no amount of atgatt's gonna save me.
'Till then, I'll pretty much ride anywhere, anytime, with anybody, as long as I'm able

[Skinhead]

BUT I wouldn't trade riding for ANYTHING else I do! 

Hear, hear & Amen Brother!
4377, I'll ride with anybody, long as we RIDE!
(I rarely get outta the saddle.)
If they've got new roads, I'm definitely in!
(Crankin' & bankin' baby, it's what life's all about!)
If they're good riders I don't mind to lead or follow.
If they're so-so I prefer to keep 'em where I can see 'em.
(Behind me they're a hazard, in front they're jus' cheap entertainment!)
I'm still too much of a "hot dog"! I know it & I try to rein it in.
I jus' get excited, can't help it! (In the wind with my friends!)
To any I've ever offended I apologize, sincerely!
For me, motorcycle riding isn't a safe (sane?) endeavor. It's inherently dangerous from the moment I swing that leg.
I fully expect (always have) that sooner or later there's a #9 bus gonna clock my fat a$$ & no amount of atgatt's gonna save me.
'Till then, I'll pretty much ride anywhere, anytime, with anybody, as long as I'm able

Right there with ya, dude!  (except for all the crazy stuff)

[Misfit]

I've ridden with all levels of riders. I won't ride in toy runs and such with a bunch of strangers but I don't mind a few new accaintences. If you never ride with newbies or those with less experience how are they ever going to learn. I have also ridden with self proclaimed experts that claim that they know everything. Those are the ones that you have to watch out for. At least with a beginner they are willing to learn and usually leave the ego behind. If the lone wolf expert riders would take the time to help and teach those with less experience they might just make a life long friend and riding partner. I have met and ridden with lots of folks from this club that I am proud to call friends and others that do not belong to the VRCC . If I would have never given them a chance or if they had never given me a chance to ride together I would be missing out on some great friendships. On the other hand I have ridden with some that I never care to ride with again. The point is you won't ever know unless you at least give them the chance. I have ridden for over 40 years and I still try to learn something everytime I'm out. Riding is riding, solo or group I most always have fun. Don't short yourself by being afraid to ride with others. 

[Moonshot_1]

Everybody is different and this applies to groups too.

Riding in a group of experienced friends is a joy.
Riding in a group with newbies can be challenging.
Riding in a group of drunken dolts on a poker run can be more than a little frustrating.

Got a group that I ride with on dinner rides during the summer. Most are pretty good at the group riding thing. Some not so much. Got some that will ride solo to the restaurant. Might think of doing that as well.

Am a PGR ride captain and this aspect has driven me crazy sometimes but we seem to have done well.
You don't know whether the guys that are on the escort have 30 years experience or 30 minutes.
And we are only as good as the worse rider we have in the group.

Gawd I worry about that. Particularly in urban traffic.

But the kicker is that in the group rides you do meet folks with the same passion that you have and it's nice to share that and the experiences you have. Of course, preferably the good experiences. But even the challenging ones have their place.

And we get to show off our awesome bikes.

[MarcusS]

Good post. I ride with a local group of sport riders that have the dual sport BMW and know how to ride. They even have a couple on a large scooter that joins occasionally.  They limit our rides to 10 people and it works. The smaller the group the harder we can push the curves.

What I have found on the mega group rides are the 1000 mile a year group that do not ride enough to get the feel of their bikes. They use them as transportation to the bars. I purchased a 900 mile a year IS two years ago and have put over 30K on it. From 13 K on the bike to 50 K has been a blast.

Open country and less than 10 and I am in.  Did a nice ride out west to Blanco a couple of weeks ago with another valk, a HD trike and an HD sport and we had a blast.  No real speed but enjoyable ride. Companionship is great but an unruly crowd sucks.

[AJ4Fun]

I agree especially with SmokinJoe and Misfit, mainly because their responses were ones I identified with when I first read them.

I have ridden in large rides (like Bikers for Babies) and you really have to be on your A game because you never know how others will ride and/or if they will  follow traffic rules or try to showboat. I've also ridden in large groups (5-8) when we are riding to a rally destination and I compromise (longer rest stops and understanding not everyone rides at the same level) because sometimes it is safer (not trying to be sexist but sometimes there's safety in numbers especially when it's a group of all females).

Yet, I have ridden with some riders that I will choose not to ride with again because their riding style was not as safe as I would have liked. However, in my eight years of riding, I started out as the newbie rider and learned from the veterans, then moved to being one of the more experienced riders (and continue to learn from others).   I will always enjoy the camaraderie of those who enjoy the same passion (thanks SmokinJoe for letting me join your group riding to InZane in SD). And, sometimes, I will ride solo and just enjoy the ride.

As the saying goes, to each his/her own. Each situation is unique.

[scooperhsd]

After riding 30+ years - I feel I'm pretty experianced -  - but I'm also aware that when you get too comfortable / complacent something comes up to bite you in the a _ _.

I rode with a bunch of friends in college - all of us were enthusiasts, even if we didn't have a bunch of experiance, Being college students - we took it seriously and did not drink when we rode. After one episode when my future wife and I had a few beers and rode home and I didn't have the control I felt comfortable with - I have never again drank alcohol and rode, I don't even let my passengers imbibe.

I rode in my first organized ride after I got my Valk . I was with some people who were pretty good and weren't a bunch of a-- holes. Also, the marshalls laid out the rules and hotdogging / showboating were grounds to go home.

[Firefighter]

I am experienced, have been riding all my life. But it was only a few years ago that I ever rode in a large group. This was different than riding alone, I had to work at keeping distances from other riders, I remember  locking my brakes and almost rear ended a fellow rider who swerved in front of me to turn down a side road. So I was experienced at riding alone, but inexperienced at riding in a group.

[old2soon]

I have TRIED to share some experience with some newbies willing to listen. Have had a lot of good luck sharing but have had one or three that felt with 2 days and one hundred miles under their butt they knew more than me!  On a "safety" ride last year Something looked WRONG with the crotch rocket ahead of me. When we stopped at a fuel stop I managed to park next to him and got his attention before he went inside. Turns out he had steel showing in the rear tire! As in the steel belts! He saw that turned a bit pale and called his buddy with a pickup truck and ramps.  Course had he decided to keep riding I would have made cursed SURE I wuz NO WHERE near him. RIDE SAFE.

[cookiedough]

smaller groups are fine with as good or better riders than myself.  Problem I have is I am not the fastest, nor the slowest, but middle of the pack or near the back.  Some riders in front of me have rode their brakes way too much in the corners slowing down way, way too much and even me further back behind them, have had to slam on my brakes for they were still braking coming out of the turn still.   Best to keep longer distances when riding in a group not known well.  I have no issues with the front speedy runners busting loose for I know I will never keep up, just within eyesight usually is all would be nice so as to not be lost in the group. 

I for one will NEVER, EVER ride with a bunch of drunken HD fools bar hopping, once was enough.  Driving 5-8 miles to every town nearby for a drink is not my cup of tea with drunks doing stupid stuff right next to me on the road.   Was the worst cycle riding experience of my entire life vowed to never do that again and instead go ride alone the rest of the day breaking off from the pack of drunks.

[Ken Tarver]

Personally I enjoy the comeradery of riding with others...small groups is a favorite.
Worse experience ever though was a Viet Nam traveling wall escort. The ride started in west AL at a rest stop on U S 72, going to Oxford MS. Initial ride instructions by the bike road captains was that we would be in the right lane, staggered formation at X mph. Well lead and escort was taken over by MS Highway Patrol, 4 lane divided hwy, patrol put us in the hammer lane doing 45 mph. Vehicles in the right lane would not pass and the truckers were blowing their stacks on the CB. I was to the point of fearing a trucker would just start bumping folks out of the way. I voiced my concern on the CB, but got no response or change in riding situation. Me and a buddy soon took an exit and abandoned the ride.
We went to Oxford the next day to view the wall and pay our respects to our fallen Hero's.

I still enjoy riding with old and new friends. No more wall escorts or huge poker run groups.
(makes my skin crawl seeing the young lady in the flip flops though)
Ken

[Fazer]

I made my first group ride last September at the Dragon Round Up which originated in Madison, IN.  Appreciated very much the advice received from more experienced riders.  About 65 bikes in all, mostly Valks, and easy riding thru some beautiful Indiana country.  Thanks to the guys that organized and ran it.

[old2soon]

I got turned off of poker runs BECAUSE of the 2 fisted drinkers that seem to populate the runs. One poker run in particular had beer in the follow truck.  I am the furthest thing from an old fuddy duddy and I have been known to imbibe-AFTER the motors or cages are parked. Course my absofrikkinlutey favorite part was when certain members of he "noisy pipe" group backed up to a long tall brick wall and commenced to rev the crap out of their motors!  IF and ONLY IF it's a good cause I'll go down and donate before the ride leaves and then ride where ever they ain't.  RIDE SAFE.

[cookiedough]

yah, my HD nut neighbor also quit doing poker runs after he learned first hand showing off his ultra classic to the group was not worth going down in a flame of glory since a couple years in a row the local poker run in our town had serious accidents needing ambulance attention.   Going from bar to bar to bar and bar drinking all the way is not worth the risk dealing with a bunch of drunks on cycles close by. 

Plus, most are HD owners and I hate being stuck behind a slow poke HD rider doing the potatoe potatoe sound for miles on end, gets very annoying....   

Being in between a group of Valk riders though is music to my ears just hearing the engine whirling sound if no one has cobra exhaust which breaks the whirling sound up for sure!   

[Skinhead]

I like to ride in small groups, not large.  The only thing I don't like about ridning in a group of Valks is the Valk drone we generate when in a group.  But with the right folks, I can live with it.  I've never had a problem with the Valk groups (knock on wood) and always had fun.  But if it is a large ride, I prefer to ride with a smaller group and socialize at the fire at night. 

No offense to to brother riders, just my preference.

[Hooter]

   I really think that nobody will dispute group riding will make you friends.  I think the point is riding with drunks, stoned or idiot riders isn't preferred. It doesn't matter what they ride. Fools come on all makes of bikes. But, to each his own, and know what  you may be getting into when you ride with strangers, poker runs, and charity rides especially after the first bar stop.

   I strongly believe in doing the charity thing. But, I don't want the next ride to be for my wifes benefit. When I do ride with people I pretty much know who they are. I like to ride for enjoyment not being uneasy.

[Safety Steve]

I still consider myself a new rider, I have been riding going on 4 years now, once I got my endorsement a friend of mine let me ride his HD Sportster for 2 months I but 2000 miles on that bike, I rode with my friends that had been riding for years and they were/are safe riders and if or when I did something that was unsafe they would point it out to me.  One time we where all going down to Bend, OR. My friend Charlie with his wife Tebbie was leading, Barb was behind him, I was behind her and Rodger was behind me, we came up to a truck pulling a 5th- wheel and his awning flapping in the wind, Charlie goes by him and we follow, Charlie slows down to try and get the drivers attention the problem is the awning breaks away and starts to fall and all this stuff is flying out at both Rodger and myself, I lock up my brakes it keep from hitting Barb who slowed down because Charlie slowed down to talk to the driver.  Once we stopped I thought Rodger was going to kill Charlie, he was yelling at him telling him that " you hung Steve and I out to dry, we both almost got hit by debris coming off the 5th wheel". 
So even if someone has been riding most of there lives like my friend Charlie they can still make mistakes.
Now I still ride with these friends and I feel safe doing it and we all learn something.   

[Stanley Steamer]

I don't much like riding in big groups anymore.....afraid some Lil Ol Lady on a scooter might pass me........

[The emperor has no clothes]

I still consider myself a new rider, I have been riding going on 4 years now, once I got my endorsement a friend of mine let me ride his HD Sportster for 2 months I but 2000 miles on that bike, I rode with my friends that had been riding for years and they were/are safe riders and if or when I did something that was unsafe they would point it out to me.  One time we where all going down to Bend, OR. My friend Charlie with his wife Tebbie was leading, Barb was behind him, I was behind her and Rodger was behind me, we came up to a truck pulling a 5th- wheel and his awning flapping in the wind, Charlie goes by him and we follow, Charlie slows down to try and get the drivers attention the problem is the awning breaks away and starts to fall and all this stuff is flying out at both Rodger and myself, I lock up my brakes it keep from hitting Barb who slowed down because Charlie slowed down to talk to the driver.  Once we stopped I thought Rodger was going to kill Charlie, he was yelling at him telling him that " you hung Steve and I out to dry, we both almost got hit by debris coming off the 5th wheel". 
So even if someone has been riding most of there lives like my friend Charlie they can still make mistakes.
Now I still ride with these friends and I feel safe doing it and we all learn something.   

This is just my opinion but I think it was unsafe for 4 bikes to be passing anything at once.

[Hoser]

Only time I didn't enjoy a group ride was at Inzaine in Michigan a few years ago.  I blame it on the police escort that drove way to fast and did not wait at stop signs until the group caught up.  I left the group and proceeded to the hotel at ground zero, glad nothing bad happened.  Hoser 

[Cracker Jack]

I don't much like riding in big groups anymore.....afraid some Lil Ol Lady on a scooter might pass me........

It's really bad if the Lil Ol Lady has on a tee shirt that says, "You just got passed by a girl".

[Tundra]

It's not the "group ride" but the people in the group ride that make or break your group ride experience. Choose the people you enjoy life with wisely.

[Patrick]

I am experienced, have been riding all my life. But it was only a few years ago that I ever rode in a large group. This was different than riding alone, I had to work at keeping distances from other riders, I remember  locking my brakes and almost rear ended a fellow rider who swerved in front of me to turn down a side road. So I was experienced at riding alone, but inexperienced at riding in a group.

Yep, there is a heck of a learning curve to it, isn't there.

[hmt81]

Usually enjoy riding with the same buds , 4 or 5 of us however one of the guys invited a friend one day. He rode up on an FJR1300. As we were cruising, he downshifted & blasted by me almost clipping my saddlebag. When we stopped for breakfast I asked him how long he'd been riding, his response was "about 4 months & 300 miles"! I asked him why he had such a potent bike for a newbie, he said "I got a good deal". Needless to say, I'm thankful he finally sold it before he hurt himself (rides a Vulcan 900) & he doesn't come along much anymore..............