Together or Alone?

[red2kcbr]

Alone, or only with my son. He rides like me (had a good teacher! :clapping: ). Actually, he rides like me when I was 30 years younger. Only with better equipment and tires, and maybe better skills. We'll spend a good part of an afternoon ripping back roads.

Don't care for group rides. I find them frustrating, slow, dangerous, and boring. All at the same time. But I haven't tried a group ride with a bunch of experienced FJR riders, either. Had a chance to join a group of Harley riders going to Mena, AR. Nice day trip, about 350 miles there and back. But I just can't go that slow. I can't. I would have had to check out, maybe meet them for lunch or something. And I'm not breaking speed limits like some squid, either. Just keeping a brisk, responsible pace. I've seen the groups of Harleys winding through some great roads, holding up RVs and pickups pulling campers. No ****. How ******* slow do you have to be going to hold up a pickup and camper?

I motor on by, even when they obviously don't want to let me through. Even had guys swing wide to obstruct my passing lane. Twice. I just go on by, ignoring them. But that was unusual. Most slow groups don't mind letting someone ride through.

Maybe the right group ride situation will come up, and I'll give it another try. Until then, I'm solo or with my usual wing man.

 

[huron52]

I have ridden in groups and solo.

If I ride in groups I want to be the last guy in the line if possible. That way I don't get that felling that the guy behind me is trying to push me along.

The part of the group riding that I don't like is that when I am last and they are waiting for me at the corner. They take off as they see me coming into sight. They do not wait for me to take a short break.

If this being the case.... they can ride off with out me. They just don't understand.

The leader needs to wait for the sign from everyone that maybe we should take 2 minutes or it's OK to go on.

Sorry guys I don't want to live that close to the edge!

Maybe that is why I don't mind riding alone / solo. That and I can stop, change direction, take a picture what ever.

 

[El Gordo]

I'm quite comfortable riding solo, it's nice when you only have to think about yourself, but like riding best with one or two trusted friends.

Regardless...I subscribe to ride your own ride.

 

[Captain B]

I do both. Sometimes alone is what I want/need. I have 3-4 groups that I ride with as my time and occassion permit. Some groups tend to be "large" for me - 10-15 riders. Others are 3-6. If there is a mid-way point on the "preference guage" my needle tends towards the alone or one other. For me the "purpose" for my group riding has less to do with the ride than the comraderie. I have a fair amount of stress in my prefessional and personal life so having outside friends is one of those things that is highly encouraged by mental health folks. When I get frustrated by the group destination, frequent travel over the same routes, etc. I try to remember why I am there - it's not the ride so much as it is the people I am riding with. I have been very lucky to fall in with some very eclectic groups (different bikes, different styles of riding, different life philosophies, etc.) so I value that time that I get to just enjoy their company and companionship. I am not a terrible gregarious person so it takes a quite a while for me to get assimilated into a group, but the time and effort have been worht it for me.

 

[Neil San Diego]

I do all my riding solo these days since I don't have any friends that still have bikes. Used to do alot of riding with one friend (very good technical rider), and I learned alot from him. Not too sure that I want to try group riding though. The more stories I hear, the more the group rides put me off. Get-togethers sound fun, but not sure about the riding together in lockstep with a large group to get there.

My wife just passed the MSF course this weekend, so I may be getting a riding partner soon. I'm looking forward to that quite a bit. We can do the slow easy rides on seperate bikes for a while, and go 2-up for longer rides.

 

[Huck Fonda]

Thanks for sharing your various viewpoints. It kind of matches what I thought about my own experiences, but it's cool to see so many like-minded riders out there from so many backgrounds.

I'm really glad the "Ride Your Own Ride" bit came out. I missed expressing that in my original post, but it is a crucial element in motorcycling in general. Another one that I like is the 80 / 20 rule as it applies to motorcycles: never ride more than 80% of your capability, because in a pinch, that extra 20% is what you'll need so save your a$$.

I'm going to post a "Segmentation" question soon. It comes from a survey that breaks down the entire motorsports community into a series of defined segments. I have an idea where most of you will put yourselves, but I'm interested to see what other comments will come of it.

Maybe that will be the next installment of the "What the Huck" series of editorials.

 

[Silver Penguin]

I'm really glad the "Ride Your Own Ride" bit came out. I missed expressing that in my original post, but it is a crucial element in motorcycling in general. Another one that I like is the 80 / 20 rule as it applies to motorcycles: never ride more than 80% of your capability, because in a pinch, that extra 20% is what you'll need so save your a$$.

Can't stress the importance of that concept enough. Ride your own ride!!!! As a newbie, I got sucked in and remember it vividly. A women's group had about 20 riders on Angeles Crest. The group was split into fast, medium and slower riders. I did pick the right (i.e.slow) group but my skills weren't at the level of the other riders. Instead of a pleasant, relaxed afternoon ride, I had white knuckles. In my head, I was chanting 'white line, yellow line' and doing my damndest to stay between them.

Later, when I had time to think about things, I realized the error of my ways, and how lucky I had been to complete the ride safely. Many, many miles later, I went back to the Crest this summer, on my FJR. This time, there were just three riders. I had the self-confidence needed to set my own pace, independent of the others (who knew the road better than I). I rode at a fair clip, but a pace that allowed me to set good lines, enjoy the scenery and have a margin of error should oncoming traffic try to share my lane.

Looking forward to the next installment of 'What the Huck?'

Jill

 

[Silver Penguin]

My wife just passed the MSF course this weekend, so I may be getting a riding partner soon. I'm looking forward to that quite a bit. We can do the slow easy rides on seperate bikes for a while, and go 2-up for longer rides.

Congratulations to Mrs. Neil. Tell her 'Well Done' from me. You guys are going to have so much fun, as her skills progress. My husband and I have ridden thousands of miles together, and hope to ride thousands more.

Jill

 

[mutha1300]

I enjoy riding with a group, or at least the group I ride with.. It is generally the same folks, but there can be a newbie once in a while..

I like the comfort groups provide;i.e. easily seen.. The camaraderie is nice; we usually eat somewhere..

When time to go home, and it's late; well then it's balls to the wall.. No one complains and we get home fast via interstate..

Solo isn't bad because you just have yourself to worry about.. However, someone in the group usually knows a cool destination spot I'm unaware of..

 

[Huck Fonda]

I'm really glad the "Ride Your Own Ride" bit came out. I missed expressing that in my original post, but it is a crucial element in motorcycling in general. Another one that I like is the 80 / 20 rule as it applies to motorcycles: never ride more than 80% of your capability, because in a pinch, that extra 20% is what you'll need so save your a$$.

Many, many miles later, I went back to the Crest this summer, on my FJR. This time, there were just three riders. I had the self-confidence needed to set my own pace, independent of the others (who knew the road better than I). I rode at a fair clip, but a pace that allowed me to set good lines, enjoy the scenery and have a margin of error should oncoming traffic try to share my lane.

Looking forward to the next installment of 'What the Huck?'

Jill

I have yet to get up there myself. I'm always concerned about the weekend warriors out there trying to prove something on the weekends. I'd love to go mid week some time, I hear it's beautiful.

 

[Silver Penguin]

I have yet to get up there myself. I'm always concerned about the weekend warriors out there trying to prove something on the weekends. I'd love to go mid week some time, I hear it's beautiful.

Angeles Crest Highway is a beautiful road, from both a technical and a scenic point of view. The turns are all relatively easy and the road surface is good. Newcomb's Ranch provides cool drinks and a varied menu. It's a shame that there is so much crappy freeway traffic on the way there. Mid week is the time to go, since it cuts down on the squid volume. Last time I was up there, I saw a lot of gravel trucks. Cal-Trans is rebuilding the part of the road that fell down the hill, several years ago. It used to be that you could ride from La Canada Flintridge to Wrightwood, (then home via the Ortega if you were in the mood) but the road dead ends now.

During the ride I took with Fairlaner and Barabus, two of the aforementioned gravel trucks met during a turn. Ouch! The road was closed for a while. We were able to watch the lifeflight helicopter and chat with the crew. Thankfully, they left without passengers since no-one was injured beyond cuts, bruises etc.

As soon as I get back on wheels, I'd like to head up to the Crest again.

Jill

 

[HYCLE]

I enjoy group rides to a destination with food. Friends and food, that is my motavation. I ride to work everyday and don't feel the need to test my helmet or my health insurance any more than I do now. I think that is one reason Terri rides with me, she knows I can let the fast guys take off and have fun, just tell me where lunch is and I will get there. Maybe I'm a pussy, but you know "You are what you eat"

And the chiliburger was great at FatCats this weekend.

 

[Neil San Diego]

Congratulations to Mrs. Neil. Tell her 'Well Done' from me. You guys are going to have so much fun, as her skills progress. My husband and I have ridden thousands of miles together, and hope to ride thousands more.
Jill

Thanks, I'll pass that along. And here's hoping for many more miles for ya!

 

[Huck Fonda]

And the chiliburger was great at FatCats this weekend.

I don't even want to go there. The SO claimed there was too much to do around the house. :angry2:

I guess to her that means sleeping in, claiming headache, and criticizing my efforts :angry2: :angry2: :angry2:

Next time...

 

[NightShine]

I usually ride in a group. Me and whatever group is playing on my iPod. That way, I can lead and sweep at the same time. Much safer (for me) that way.
Group FJR riding got to be too stressful and dangerous for my liking. Now I' m a group of one.

Aww, jeesh Toe, I thought we rode pretty good 2gether! But I do understand, on the big scale..

He just don't trust ya, carv.

Ah! I knew there was a reason why I liked, Toe!

 

[Foxhuntr]

I do both, but my favorite is just me and my wife on her FZ1. We've done some 3 week trips all over the western half of the US and I like having her in my rear view mirror.

 

[7xray]

Well, I'm a newbie with only a couple of seasons of riding. I love it but surely am not ready for any big groups but riding with my neighbor has been a great experience, until day before yesterday. Mark played hooky from work and we headed up to Mammoth in Yellowstone Park. Beautiful day, great colors. Mark rides a Ducati monster and is a good bit faster than I want to go, which is fine for both of us. As we are heading home along the Yellowstone River I enter a curve, probably faster than I should have for my skill level but made it OK. But sweeping the final bend I see out of the corner of my eyes the wreckage of the Ducati and Mark on the ground 30 feet beyond. Oh ****! I get back to him, his eyes are open but he is unresponsive. He then responds to my voice so he is still alive. The call to 911 works, thankfully the cell has coverage. The nearest hospital is a fair way away but the local volunteer FD can transport so we get him packaged and heading down the road fairly quickly, maybe 20-30 minutes after the wreck. Badly broken pelvis, collapsed lung, internal bleed. 12 pts of blood yesterday but the news of last night was good with the bleed stopped and probably no internal organ damage. Central nervous system OK. He may have had surgery today for the pelvis, I haven't heard.

The point of all this is that the image of the wreck will stay with me for a while. (I see lots of bad stuff on the highway being in the FD.) But this is worse. It must be unimaginable if the wreckee were to be a SO. If any of you have been in that position my heart goes out to you. Nevertheless riding with a buddy or SO gives us or them a better chance of coming through the bad stuff.

Another point is that this is carthartic for me. Thanks for listening.

7X

 

[Huck Fonda]

::GULP::

That's going to leave a lump in my throat for a while, along with a kind of heavy feeling inside. I hope Mark pulls through OK, he's damned lucky you were there.

I too, have seen what can happen to the human body when it separates from the machine, although thankfully not first hand. Keeps both wheels on the ground and eyes wide for sure.

Sorry that you had this to contribute, but thanks for the sobering reminder.

 

[Silver Penguin]

Wow 7X, that's a scary story. I'm sorry that you had to go through that. How is your buddy doing now? Please send my best wishes to him for a speedy recovery. Hope you are able to come to terms with what you went through too.

Jill

 

[Old Michael]

::GULP::
That's going to leave a lump in my throat for a while, along with a kind of heavy feeling inside. I hope Mark pulls through OK, he's damned lucky you were there.

I too, have seen what can happen to the human body when it separates from the machine, although thankfully not first hand. Keeps both wheels on the ground and eyes wide for sure.

Sorry that you had this to contribute, but thanks for the sobering reminder.

Well said Huck. 7x, your bud is fortunate you were with him. Post when you're able with an update. Peace.