03-02-2018, 03:38 AM
In the early 80s I was elected President of a 150 member motorcycle touring club. Riding in large groups was stressful and dangerous especially on two lane highways. So I recommend on long trips people split up into smaller groups of 3 or 4 motorcycles with people who had similar riding styles. That worked well.
Penny and I rode alone on long trips. We started when we wanted, ate where and when we pleased, and didn't have to worry about distracted motorcyclists in front or behind us.
The exception was a trip to a Goldwing Rally in Lake of the Ozarks west of St. Louis. There were 5 of us on 3 Goldwings. Things went well until we passed over the main street of Terra Haute, Indiana. We suggested stopping there because there was hotel and restaurants right there. The leader of the group wanted to go to the next town.
The next town had neither a restaurant or motel. He stubbornly set out of for the next town. The rest of us went back to Terra Haute. We were in the hotel swimming pool by the time he and his girlfriend finally showed up.
Fast forward about 30 years. I had just returned to motorcycling after a 25 year hiatus and signed up for a group ride to raise money for the Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind School. It turned out to be a huge group of several large clubs. As I did not belong I ended up in the middle of two packs of unfamiliar motorcyclists. It was uncomfortable riding closely between these two by two columns of bikes. Then second pack decided to pass the first making several unsafe moves to do so. I pulled over until they all disappeared.
After that I got lost so the ride not all that enjoyable. Although I did learn about a few new interesting roads close to home that I now use.
After the ride, no one spoke to me as I did not belong to their clubs. I realized right then you can't go back.
So now I ride alone and thoroughly enjoy it. Oddly enough I am often approached by other mature motorcyclists at different rest stops as soon as I remove my helmet. After chatting about our bikes and the good old days we all go our separate ways. I guess we have all learned there is more freedom riding where you want to go at whatever pace you want to ride that day.
Penny and I rode alone on long trips. We started when we wanted, ate where and when we pleased, and didn't have to worry about distracted motorcyclists in front or behind us.
The exception was a trip to a Goldwing Rally in Lake of the Ozarks west of St. Louis. There were 5 of us on 3 Goldwings. Things went well until we passed over the main street of Terra Haute, Indiana. We suggested stopping there because there was hotel and restaurants right there. The leader of the group wanted to go to the next town.
The next town had neither a restaurant or motel. He stubbornly set out of for the next town. The rest of us went back to Terra Haute. We were in the hotel swimming pool by the time he and his girlfriend finally showed up.
Fast forward about 30 years. I had just returned to motorcycling after a 25 year hiatus and signed up for a group ride to raise money for the Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind School. It turned out to be a huge group of several large clubs. As I did not belong I ended up in the middle of two packs of unfamiliar motorcyclists. It was uncomfortable riding closely between these two by two columns of bikes. Then second pack decided to pass the first making several unsafe moves to do so. I pulled over until they all disappeared.
After that I got lost so the ride not all that enjoyable. Although I did learn about a few new interesting roads close to home that I now use.
After the ride, no one spoke to me as I did not belong to their clubs. I realized right then you can't go back.
So now I ride alone and thoroughly enjoy it. Oddly enough I am often approached by other mature motorcyclists at different rest stops as soon as I remove my helmet. After chatting about our bikes and the good old days we all go our separate ways. I guess we have all learned there is more freedom riding where you want to go at whatever pace you want to ride that day.