Riding in groups?

[ClassicVW_imp]

I ride with a Meet Up group where all the riders so far I have ridden with are very alert and ride conservatively.

What gave me a case of the nerves was when I was a new police motor officer and we regularly rode our Harleys side by side (not staggered) in the same traffic lane, staying side by side even in turns. Those guys were GOOD.

[Powerdogg55]

Don't mind riding with "experienced" friends occasionally....prefer solo.

[emptysea]

I like both solo and group rides. I have only been on one group ride were the riders were not disciplined and I won't ride with those people again.

I particularly like to ride with my friend Glen as the sweeper and me as lead or vice versa...we each just seem to understand what the the other is going to do in a particular situation. 2 seconds following distance and staggered are the two big things i talk about when I lead. Along with trying to let the group know how I'm going to handle particular traffic situations should the arise.

I guess I think that riding in a group is a lot of fun when you are heading toward a specific destination, but I like wandering around aimlessly by myself, too.

[emptysea]

Oh...and thanks for the links HikerToo and RandyB. Very useful in teaching what to do and not to do.

[the Ferret]

I'm hesitant to post this as it's rather long, but I guess because I am a free lance writer, I was asked to pen a piece for the GoldWing Riders Chapter's newsletter and this is what I came up with: A piece on group riding.

Flying Solo

When Todd asked me to pen a piece for this newsletter, I wondered what I could possibly say that would be of interest to a group of Goldwing enthusiasts. After all I don’t own a Goldwing, although I have ridden early iterations. Two of my brothers have owned Goldwings. I did have one or two as demos during the 17 years I spent in the motorcycle industry. My current rides include a 2006 Honda ST 1300, a 2000 Honda 750 Nighthawk, and a 1981 Yamaha XS650 twin. In the garage we also have a 2008 Yamaha Majesty 400 scooter that belongs to my wife and a vintage 1972 U7E Yamaha 70 scooter that belonged to my mother before her passing. I bought my first motorcycle, an Italian Aermacchi Harley Davidson 50 in 1965. Since then, I have owned somewhere in the neighborhood of 45 motorcycles including multiple Honda’s, Yamaha’s, Suzuki’s Kawasaki’s and Harley Davidson’s plus a Triumph and a BSA. We’ve also had a couple Moto Guzzi’s, a Ducati and a KTM in the family. I come from a motorcycling family. My father rode, my mother rode, I have two brothers that ride and a sister that used to ride. My wife rides, our son rides, his wife rides, her father and mother both ride, her cousin rides, her brother in law rides. My sister’s two sons both ride. My wife’s brother rides, one of my wife’s sister and her husband ride, her nephew rides and a son in law on that side of the family also rides. I tell you this only so you know I am a motorcycle enthusiast coming from a motorcycling background, not loyal to one brand or model, but to all motorcycles in general. I am constantly searching for the next motorcycle to park in the garage. My wife has caught the fever as well, having her eye on either a new Suzuki Gladius, or an Aprilia Mana. Hmm, we’ve never had an Aprilia in the family before. That might be neat.

Anyhow I thought about penning a piece lamenting the lack of UJM’s these days, or how today technology is passing most of us by, or how the price of new motorcycles has raised so exorbitantly that the latest luxo-tourer from Honda or BMW costs more than a similarly equipped automobile. I thought about a piece on how the parts guys at most shops are clueless and the mechanics uncaring, inept and ridiculously expensive. I could have written about the dozens of motorcycle shops I have gone into and was able to wander around for 10 or 15 minutes before leaving without anyone having spoken to me at all. I could write about how the dealers refuse to carry accessory inventory, are willing to order you something at retail, but get po'd if you decline their offer and order it yourself online at a discount. How statistically speaking we have a greater risk of dying in a car accident than on a motorcycle but no one advocates wearing Snell approved helmets or clothing with CE armor while driving automobiles, or that riding anything larger than a 125cc bike because “it’s more economical than driving a car” is a myth. But I’m not going to write about any of those things, at least not in this piece. Maybe if this piece is well received, Todd will invite me back and I’ll write about one or more of those subjects. No, I am going to write about something dear to the hearts of most Goldwing riders. The subject of this piece will be group riding, or more accurately, why I don’t. So…here we go.

One of the things I’ve observed about modern days motorcyclists is their propensity to gather with riders of the same brand/type of motorcycle. I guess this is natural. If you observe a gaggle of Canada geese, a herd of Zebras, a pod of killer whales, or a bevy of Monarch butterflies, it is quite obvious that nature intends for us to hang with those who most closely resemble ourselves. In motorcycling terms that translates to a gaggle of Goldwings, a herd of Harleys, a bevy of Beemers, or a pod of pick one… FZ-1’s, SV’s, ZRX’s or VTX’s etc, etc. I’m sure you get my drift.

Although I can appreciate the urge to play with others, I usually eschew crowds, especially when it comes to riding motorcycles. I like riding with one other person on occasion, and can tolerate two more every great once in a while, and actually went on vacation with three others last year, but prefer to ride alone most of the time. I consider a group ride, a ride that involves anything over 4 bikes. Now, I have ridden with several large groups and by large I mean about 15 ST riders one time, and another time with about 35, mostly Goldwing riders. The experience only reiterated to me why I prefer flying solo. Allow me to list the top 10 reasons for riding alone.

# 1. “Start your ride, when YOU decide.”

Some people are naturally early risers, others not so much so. Some want breakfast before taking off, others after riding for 50-100 miles. Waiting for a group to decide when you are taking off is just plain maddening.

# 2. “I’ve got gas.”

It never ceases to amaze me how many people show up for a ride needing gas. If I know I’m going riding the next day, I make sure to fill up the night before. Even if I’m riding alone. Riding for 5 or 10 minutes before pulling into a gas station, shutting everything down, taking off my gloves, getting out my credit card, filling up, getting suited up again and firing the bike back up is not my idea of a great way to start a ride. Sitting on my bike (which was ready to roll when I showed up) for a group of people to fill up, run inside to pay and pee one last time, puts me in a really foul mood.

# 3. “Table for ONE please.”

The last time I went on a large group ride, the lunch stop was scheduled at a particular restaurant at a certain time. No reservations mind you. When we arrived at the lunch destination, guys were putting their side stands down and jumping off their bikes before their motors had even quit. They were literally running for the front door. When I asked another rider why they were running it was explained that “some people” wanted to be at or near the front of the line so they could be seated and served first. Some people were actually done eating while others were waiting in line to be seated. How rude is that? Riding solo you have the option of WHEN to stop for lunch, as well as the option of riding to another restaurant should the line be too long… or you don’t feel like running. Eating solo can be done in less than 30 minutes most of the time. I think that group took 1 ½ - 2 hours to get everybody in, fed and back on their bikes. Also the fewer people involved the easier to choose which establishment, and which type of eatery to visit, from fast food, to Mom & Pops, to upscale restaurants. Sometimes all I want is a burger and fries. Other times I want a big ol’ steak, baked potato and a vegetable…and maybe a piece of fruit pie ala mode. Group riding doesn’t allow for that option.

# 4. “I’ve got to PEE.”

This one is pretty self explanatory. When you have to go, you have to go. Why let a group decide when you get to pull off and relieve yourself? Again, on the last big ride, things were finally rolling smoothly after the lunch fiasco. All of a sudden we pulled into a gas station. I knew nobody could need gas yet, we hadn’t gone 50 miles since the last gas stop. Again, guys threw their side stands down and took off running for the building. The explanation this time was that some people had been screaming into their CB’s for the last 20 miles that they needed to pee, and upon stopping, “some people” didn’t want to wait in line for 30 people at what, no doubt, was a single urinal restroom. This doesn’t make any sense to me, someone else deciding when I get to pee. Ridiculous.

# 5. “Ooooh a VISTA”

I take lots of pictures. On my last trip down the Blue Ridge Parkway to Deals Gap and back, I took a little over 700 photos. It often takes 10 pictures to get 1 outstanding photo. It’s impossible to document a ride in pictures with any justice when riding with a group. You just can’t stop when you want or pull over when you see an outstanding view.

# 6a. “Man it felt great to blast through that series of turns”.

Oh wait, you can’t blast anywhere because you are following the 20 or more guys ahead of you, and leading the 15 guys behind you, all riding at the group pace. A pace which is usually geared to the slowest rider in the group.

# 6b. “That was so much fun, think I’ll turn around and run it one more time”.

Nope sorry, can’t do that either. You must stay in line and stay with the group. Riding solo I can run that series of turns until I get bored, or until I run it perfectly in my own mind. Then I can ride somewhere else, or run it again if I so choose. My choice.

# 7. “My butt’s tired.”

When riding solo if you feel like pulling over to give your buttocks some relief, or change from regular prescription glasses to sun glasses, or you want to take a swig out of your water bottle, you just do it. Want to sit on a wall at an overlook for a few minutes and enjoy the view- you just do it. I don’t want to rest when the ride captain says rest, or sit and rest where he says, or quit resting and ride when he says. I want to decide those things for myself.

# 8 “Ok, I’m done.”

Some times I feel like riding 500 miles in a day. Other days, two hundred is plenty depending on what I want to stop and see, or when I got on the road, or get held up due to traffic or weather conditions. Sometimes I pull off the road at 4 PM and find a room, rest a bit, walk around a little town, go to a nice restaurant for dinner, go to a movie etc. Other times I ride until well past dark if I’m feeling in the mood to ride, the weather is warm, the moon is full, or if I really need to reach a destination that night...it just depends. I get off the road when I want to get off the road.

# 9. “Any rooms at the Inn?”

Sometimes I just want a cheap bed in a flea bag hotel to crash for the night, but sometimes I like the ambiance of a quaint Bed and Breakfast. Other times I want to be pampered with a suite and a Jacuzzi in my room. The more people involved in the “where do ya want to crash for the night? question, the harder it is going to be to find accommodations to begin with, and the less likely the room is going to turn out like you had hoped for.

# 10. Ahhh FREEDOM!”

Human beings are notoriously poor at getting along. Some cultures have been hating, and killing each other for over a thousand years. Heck, one half of the marriages in America fail every year, many lasting only 6 months AFTER having promised undying love to each other for the rest of their lives. Every single job, club, organization or internet forum I have been involved with has been poisoned by egos, cliques, and petty jealousies. While some members feel appreciated, others feel neglected or ignored. The greater the number of members, the greater the number of problems. The same goes with group rides. Group dynamics places certain pressure on individuals and much like the pecking order in a chicken coop, fighting and intimidating is usually required to sort this out. Pressure breeds malcontent. Different schedules for riding, eating, resting, taking pictures, relieving bladders or any number of seemingly insignificant details that make up a ride can become extremely frustrating for certain individuals (like me for instance) which is why, for the most part, I fly solo. I just do not have it in my physiological make up to give up my freedom to the group.

In summation, I understand many of you actually enjoy group rides and the group dynamics. I’d be curious to know how many of you that do, are the “Alpha Riders”, the ride planners, ride captains or ride near the front of the pack (just a theory that I have). Anyhow, I don’t expect this little piece to cause you any epiphanies or cause you to change your motorcycling style in any way whatsoever. And, although I’m not a gambling man, I’d bet on your next group ride, or the one after that, when you are waiting for others to get ready to ride, or sitting at the gas station waiting for others to fill up, as you are standing behind 30 others in line at the restaurant, or holding it while you are waiting for the next planned bathroom stop, while riding at a monotonous pace through a wonderful stretch of curves, when riding when you’d rather be resting or resting when you’d rather be riding, when you blast past something you’d really like to stop and take a picture of or when you are trying to digest the burritos the group decided to have for dinner while lying in a sunken bed, when you’d rather be soaking in your Jacuzzi after a nice prime rib dinner, that you’ll think back about this piece and maybe consider making a solo ride or two.

Ride safe,

Mickey

[HikerToo_imp]

Good job Ferret ! Hit on many of the points I remember when I did ride with a small group.
The gas thing used to drive me crazy.
We would all meet, talk for 20 or 30 minutes , start the bikes, and then some would always need to stop at the first gas station.....;-(

[Powerdogg55]

One of the best posts I've seen on the nuances of group riding. Ferret you pretty much covered all the bases that drive me up the wall with even small groups. Satisfaction from riding my bike comes with the freedom & flexibility to call the shots as to the routes and stops I prefer. Not knocking anybody that likes group riding and I participate from time to time however, given a choice solo is the way to go.....for me.

[redbirds_imp]

Very well stated Mickey. We are members of a small group, with no road captains or formality, the Swamp Riders. Once a month (less often in summer) we get together for a ride to lunch, usually within a hundred miles of our starting point. There are rarely more than ten riders and we are a "seasoned" group, mostly retired and pretty laid back. We take turns leading after stops and keep well spaced on the road. Have never experienced any close calls or temper tantrums riding with this bunch.

As stated earlier, we ride a couple of charity runs each year and I have witnessed some incredible acts of stupidity on these rides that have led to accidents and injuries, including one death. We always ride far to the rear, often out of sight of the group just to be assured that we will not get caught up in someone else's careless actions.

Truly, nothing tops a solo ride. Much as my wife and I enjoy riding together we both do a lot of our rides alone. It clears the cobwebs. It's nearly impossible to be unhappy when your alone on a good road riding a bike you love.

[Rocky_imp]

Well said ferret
Most of my thoughts exactly - which I touched on briefly in my previous post.

[Henrik_imp]

Very well said Ferret.

Personally I don't enjoy doing anything in a group (no, not that either!). I have done a few group rides, just like I have done a few group ski days, and as much as I love both of those activities I hated doing it as a group.

Okay, since I do mostly free-riding skiing it is a good idea to not be alone, and when riding it can be equally a good idea not to be alone should something go wrong, and so doing both with one other person that you are perfectly in synch with is really the best. I know that with my brother we think alike, and when we go riding or skiing together we don't need to communicate. We pretty much know what the other guy is doing, and it just flows. It is telepathy.

The good news is that ski season is just around the corner, and I will have to try and convince my brother to get back on a bike for next spring,