I joined the local HOG after buying my Dyna. I had years of experience but had never ridden in a group. I did like the group rides with the HOG, for the most part, but didn't like how some of the riders took spacing less seriously than others. One guy would always ride 3 or 4 positions back from the road captain, but he'd gradually fall back until there was a huge gap, then realize he needed to catch up and suddenly the back of the group is doing 90 to keep the group together.

I gave up after the 1st year. I've always preferred to be a loner anyway.

 

I like to ride with others.

 

I for the most part ride alone, there are a few people that I will ride with that have the same similar tastes I have. I like setting up short day trips for oddball things. For example I will go and see all the elephant graves in the midwest and plot out a map to make the best of the ride. As for a longer trip I use to take the wife but she quit riding after an accident, maybe she will come around some day but for now its just me so I can run at my own pace as geoff says leave at 7 etc.

 

Typically I ride with my riding buddy for day trips, we ride staggered which is good. Once in awhile 5 or 6 of us, will ride together, mostly family members. The only person I ride tandem with is my son.

So far the only group rides that I have done are with the Patriot Guard or Combat Vets MC Association, probably will keep it that way. Too many horror stories of group rides and the different skill levels.

All that being said, when I just want to clear my head and relax, it's me, my Iron Mistress and the road. No one to look after but myself.

 

My group rides usually consist of just me & two other guys.I like riding solo too,I'll pick a destination on a whim & head out by myself.Great for clearing your head from lifes BS.

 

I prefer to ride solo myself.

 

We like both. Usually just us 2-up but we have a group we ride with on Sundays if they are going someplace we want to go to.
BUT - heard about a group that rides on Saturdays - I always do the 1st ride with a new group by myself. Not good - I left about halfway through their ride.

We are selective about charity rides - did a police escort charity ride with about 300 others -great cause was uneventful.

The biggest problem I see with group rides is the leader needs to be damn good at LEADING and those behind need to take it a bit more seriously than they do.

So be more careful, pay even MORE attention. I can certainly see why some just avoid them but most of our experiences have been good and have had some fun.

Pat

 

Great opinions and insight. For a few additional thoughts, check my blog post on this subject at IronHorseBiker.com

 

I have small group I ride with, ususally 6-7 or fewer. We ride may once a month. Other times it is my alone time I enjoy.

 

I prefer to ride solo. It's taken a bit of time to figure that out, but I have come to that conclusion.

Shorter rides with a small group (no more than six) aren't a problem, as they are short rides and things like gas stops/food and water breaks/bathroom breaks aren't a problem.

Longer rides, and rides with larger groups, you end up with the "rubberband effect" where the bikes in the middle drop back a bit, then speed up, causing the ones in the rear to REALLY have to speed up to catch back up; or you end up constantly having to adjust your speed to everyone else over a long period of time--unless you're the one leading the group.

In this past year, I've done a few shorter (less than 200 miles round trip) rides with some friends and it was fun--had a few others to BS with when we stopped for lunch & talk about the ride, but was happy to be home. I've done a longer trip (about 400 miles round trip) with a large group (about 18 riders), and was happy to get home, since I was absolutely beat--sore arms, sore butt, sore neck, etc.... I've also done two solo rides over 17hrs/1k miles each (it was a 3k round trip with 1k there, 1k spread over five days, then 1k back)--and was perfectly happy to get back on the bike and ride more the following days--no soreness, just happy to be riding and really would have preferred to just keep going.

I like my touring bike, and really enjoy using it for what it was designed for: long distance touring. Going to try a couple long distance rides this upcoming year with some friends and family--who knows, I may change my mind about riding in a group (but I don't see that happening).

Cheers