Group riding - need a good fact sheet
#11
09-09-2013 | 11:10 AM
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 7,373
Likes: 4,340
From: Missouri City,TX
From reading your post, what good is a fact sheet if the riders refuse to comply with emails from the guy that leads the ride...it will be a waste of time...imho.
This is why I don't do ANY group rides.
This is why I don't do ANY group rides.
#12
09-09-2013 | 11:16 AM
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 476
Likes: 2
From: Nebraska
Your idea of what a group ride is all about would make me want to give up riding if I had to do it. So you ride all day, and you hold the same position in the group?
You are pretending that your in a military marching band? What fun is that? How could one learn to ride if all you are doing is following the person in front of you? It would be like driving in rush hour traffic all day. How could you ever learn to hit the next curve at a spirited pace and then accelerate out of it? The whole idea is to be free as a bird and do your own thing, have fun.
You are pretending that your in a military marching band? What fun is that? How could one learn to ride if all you are doing is following the person in front of you? It would be like driving in rush hour traffic all day. How could you ever learn to hit the next curve at a spirited pace and then accelerate out of it? The whole idea is to be free as a bird and do your own thing, have fun.
#13
09-09-2013 | 11:30 AM
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 322,623
Likes: 3,075
From: .....
Since my club days, when we used to ride in a tight pack, I've realized now, that I don't want to ride in a group. I don't even like to have one rider behind me. I'm always checking to see where he is. I'd rather tell them, that I'll catch up with them down the road and go at my own speed.
#14
09-09-2013 | 11:41 AM
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,157
Likes: 65
From: Martinsburg, WV
Your idea of what a group ride is all about would make me want to give up riding if I had to do it. So you ride all day, and you hold the same position in the group?
You are pretending that your in a military marching band? What fun is that? How could one learn to ride if all you are doing is following the person in front of you? It would be like driving in rush hour traffic all day. How could you ever learn to hit the next curve at a spirited pace and then accelerate out of it? The whole idea is to be free as a bird and do your own thing, have fun.
You are pretending that your in a military marching band? What fun is that? How could one learn to ride if all you are doing is following the person in front of you? It would be like driving in rush hour traffic all day. How could you ever learn to hit the next curve at a spirited pace and then accelerate out of it? The whole idea is to be free as a bird and do your own thing, have fun.
#15
09-09-2013 | 11:51 AM
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 431
Likes: 39
From: Marysville, Ohio
I ride in a small group of family and friends, who are all experienced riders and we often travel together. At least 2 times per year we take 4-5 day trips, however before each trip we all decide our postion in the pack and stay there, at least until the next stop.
#16
09-09-2013 | 12:00 PM
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,938
Likes: 23
From: MD just outside DC
I have put over 40,000 miles on two bikes in less than 4 year. In that time I have gone on group rides or ridden with multi other bikes less than 10 times.
I got married about a year after starting riding and ride with hubby all the time.
I avoided group riding when I was learning and then when I tried it I didn't like it.
1 people take forever to leave
2. Most rides are short to the next stop and I want to ride
3. I love meeting up with people
4 . It isnt super safe for all the things mentioned before
To OP. If the road capiton has been emailing people explaining and asking to change behavior and they haven't (is that correct) then you are dealing with something other than lack of knowledge.
I think you need to decide if you are ok riding with them. Maybe you should start having everyone meet at the lunch stops or hanging out with them but maybe not riding long rides with them. Or you might need to be ok with it cause it sounds like they have zero intentions of changing based on what you said.
I got married about a year after starting riding and ride with hubby all the time.
I avoided group riding when I was learning and then when I tried it I didn't like it.
1 people take forever to leave
2. Most rides are short to the next stop and I want to ride
3. I love meeting up with people
4 . It isnt super safe for all the things mentioned before
To OP. If the road capiton has been emailing people explaining and asking to change behavior and they haven't (is that correct) then you are dealing with something other than lack of knowledge.
I think you need to decide if you are ok riding with them. Maybe you should start having everyone meet at the lunch stops or hanging out with them but maybe not riding long rides with them. Or you might need to be ok with it cause it sounds like they have zero intentions of changing based on what you said.
#17
09-09-2013 | 12:46 PM
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7,476
Likes: 3
From: Republic of Texas
You wish to change the group. Either you ride with friends, brothers, or strangers. It is an individual decision. Friends are friends. Brothers are brothers. Strangers are strangers. I would donate a kidney to a friend. I would share my last whatever with a brother. I would help a stranger if the mood struck me. Too much discipline is boring. Some days the club rides tight. Some days the brothers ride loose and for fun. Your problem is that you don't know what group you ride with and why they don't respect your sandbox rules.
#18
09-09-2013 | 05:01 PM
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,893
Likes: 65
From: Hartford, AL
I personally don't care for group rides that much but will occasionally go with the HOG chapter on a run. It's a loose staggered trail and we don't have the problems you describe. For your group I would suggest 2 different group ride. 1 for those that understand the rules, and one for those who want to ride solo around other people.
#19
09-09-2013 | 05:10 PM
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4,571
Likes: 119
From: Mpls, MN
Pretty hard to ride "As free as the wind" in a group, far different riding.
If you have riders that don't understand pack riding, don't ride with them.
I think you, or somebody in your group is going to get hurt or killed because of irresponsible/uneducated riders.
Be safe, sounds like some of them are not.
Al
If you have riders that don't understand pack riding, don't ride with them.
I think you, or somebody in your group is going to get hurt or killed because of irresponsible/uneducated riders.
Be safe, sounds like some of them are not.
Al
#20
09-09-2013 | 05:30 PM
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,850
Likes: 1,565
From: Atlanta, GA
It's obvious you and some in the group are frustrated. I'll bet you're irritated even before the ride starts. Red flag right there; the ride you're looking forward to becomes a PITA right off the bat.
I get it; they're your friends and you don't want to offend them. BUT b/c of the situation 1) your enjoyment is way down and 2) your level of risk is way up.
Rather than trying to "fix" everyone's group riding skills (not going to happen), why not just make it a destination event, meaning just tell everyone where to end up and at what time. No group ride, just a fun get-together once you all show up. Everyone rides their own ride, as the saying goes.
I ride group w/ our HOG chapter sometimes b/c I like the folks and everyone is safety conscious. I've also ridden with just a bunch of guys and hated it. Lately I ride solo more n more. Go-ride-stop where n when I want; I really like that the best.
I get it; they're your friends and you don't want to offend them. BUT b/c of the situation 1) your enjoyment is way down and 2) your level of risk is way up.
Rather than trying to "fix" everyone's group riding skills (not going to happen), why not just make it a destination event, meaning just tell everyone where to end up and at what time. No group ride, just a fun get-together once you all show up. Everyone rides their own ride, as the saying goes.
I ride group w/ our HOG chapter sometimes b/c I like the folks and everyone is safety conscious. I've also ridden with just a bunch of guys and hated it. Lately I ride solo more n more. Go-ride-stop where n when I want; I really like that the best.