Decline of group rides (quantity) and how do you cope with it?

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I've been on three rides with gtam people this year. All were great. No issues at all. One was a much more spirited ride and was actually quite enjoyable. For those saying don't do group rides, look to see what the posters or threads say. If you're "new" and they say spirited or faster paced, then they're probably not for you. If everyone would ride in groups and not worry about everyone else or showing off, things would be ok. Some people are slower or newer and there's no need to try and chase everyone. A good group will wait for all of its participants.

All of that said I'd rather ride with one or two people that I know ride in a similar fashion to me vs a big group.
 
Where do people crash without injuring themselves? I assume people screw up in the apex. Even on tighter roads I have 60-80kmh in the apex. Usually 2x+ PSL. I always though screwing up at that speed would result in a splat, since there isn't a run out.
 
Gary said:
Being right behind you when you crashed on Snake Rd was the 2nd last group ride I've been on.
For me, that was the 'icing on the cake', but at least I didn't blow a testicle hauling you, or your bike out of a ditch - it was pleasantly lodged under the guard rail where no one could move it.
However, I reluctantly went on a group ride this yr, and got rear ended by another rider. :rolleyes:
I won't ride with more than 1 person anymore.
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Go on, when and where was that on your 125 Mike, or just recently? Got to love those threads, my philosophy is those who ride might go down at one point in time, I went down and learned from it what type of bike and what it equiped with. Some times you can't push the bike that's not capable of doing what you are.
 
viccont said:
Go on, when and where was that on your 125 Mike, or just recently? Got to love those threads, my philosophy is those who ride might go down at one point in time, I went down and learned from it what type of bike and what it equiped with. Some times you can't push the bike that's not capable of doing what you are.
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That was 2009, on a Ninja 650. I can't blame equipment or road, just wasn't mentally in it that day and I knew it, was going to peel off from the group at the bottom of Snake.
 
daught said:
Where do people crash without injuring themselves? I assume people screw up in the apex. Even on tighter roads I have 60-80kmh in the apex. Usually 2x+ PSL. I always though screwing up at that speed would result in a splat, since there isn't a run out.
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Buddy of mine crashed due to target fixation on a highway ramp. Luckily, he just ran off into the grass and was completely uninjured. The bike didn't cost too much to repair either, was mostly cosmetic damage except for a bent lever.
 
it's very difficult to find people that you can group ride at your comfort level and continue riding with them and becoming friends as well.
 
viccont said:
it's very difficult to find people that you can group ride at your comfort level and continue riding with them and becoming friends as well.
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I find the making friends part easy personally. Riding can be a whole different story. I think more people need to be patient with "new" people. We were all there once and I know I appreciate those that helped me along the way.


Sent from my commodore 64 on dial up
 
daught said:
Where do people crash without injuring themselves? I assume people screw up in the apex. Even on tighter roads I have 60-80kmh in the apex. Usually 2x+ PSL. I always though screwing up at that speed would result in a splat, since there isn't a run out.
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Low siding in a turn because of dirt/gravel etc. Quite often your speed is not high, you're already fairly low positioned. Impact is minimal and you just end up sliding a bit on pavement. Unless you hit something of course... And if you're squidding, you say good bye to your skin at this point.

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If anyone else has suggestions for good sites, forums, etc, for going on/organizing group rides, keep on posting. So far the options listed were: Meetup, Facebook, Stromtroopers, Touring section of GTAM (as opposed to Rides/Hookups).

If you don't like riding in groups, cool with me. Not what I was asking.
 
mikbusa said:
That was 2009, on a Ninja 650. I can't blame equipment or road, just wasn't mentally in it that day and I knew it, was going to peel off from the group at the bottom of Snake.
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Hard to believe it's been that long Mike!! I lied. I've been on more than 1 group ride since, but not too many.
I binned it myself since you, on a group ride (June '09). Forks of the Credit. I'd love to blame something, but it was totally my fault.
 
CafeRay said:
Honestly, group riding concept mystifies me. I grew up commuting on my bike, the idea of just riding around for no reason makes no sense to me. I was once asked to do a group ride in North Carolina, and those guys treated the ride like it was some athletic endeavour, drinking sports drinks, stretching at stops.. embarrassing. The posing aspect of riding just does not appeal to me. It's sitting on your *** and twisting a throttle, you want effort, let's go for a two-four hour ride on some carbon fiber bicycles.

From the groups that I see around here, they seem to want attention, acting like badasses, looking like idiots. Maybe when I get older, I'll feel the need to get recognition by society by riding around with straight pipes and pissing off people in areas I don't live. What do theses guys do in the winter? Get together in their Kias and occasionally spin out on the snow ?
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+1.

Except, I am older and have no desire to attract attention with loud pipes or anything else. I'm pretty happy just being me, I don't need others to see/hear how "awesome" I am to make me happy.

And in winter, I drive fast in snow and spin out on curves. Far safer than riding. :)
 
inreb said:
And what do you do when going around an endless loop gets boring? Get a more expensive bike and crash harder?
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Someone said crash... And track? :agave:
 
Roomie said:
I find the making friends part easy personally. Riding can be a whole different story. I think more people need to be patient with "new" people. We were all there once and I know I appreciate those that helped me along the way.


Sent from my commodore 64 on dial up
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+1

agree with all your posts on this thread. made good points. :cool:
 
inreb said:
If you want a glimpse into the human condition I find group rides are chock full of information. Decoding it might take some effort tho. Yesterday, for instance, I found myself on a small (4) unscheduled group ride. The self imposed leader, riding a cafe "racer" had no gloves or boots and rode like a turd. I don't know what that means exactly but it can't be good.
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He rode too fast or too slow? Explain. Also explain why is it a negative to NOT wear gloves and boots while riding a motorcycle? I only ride my sports bike with a t-shirt and jeans, if I have to wear a sweater that means riding season is over. I don't plan on riding like a kamikaze or stunting so I'll be okay, comfortable and free like a bird.
 
Pegassus said:
He rode too fast or too slow? Explain. Also explain why is it a negative to NOT wear gloves and boots while riding a motorcycle? I only ride my sports bike with a t-shirt and jeans, if I have to wear a sweater that means riding season is over. I don't plan on riding like a kamikaze or stunting so I'll be okay, comfortable and free like a bird.
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Get a vespa.
 
Pegassus said:
He rode too fast or too slow? Explain. Also explain why is it a negative to NOT wear gloves and boots while riding a motorcycle? I only ride my sports bike with a t-shirt and jeans, if I have to wear a sweater that means riding season is over. I don't plan on riding like a kamikaze or stunting so I'll be okay, comfortable and free like a bird.
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inreb said:
1/ Early apex, then running wide at blind corner while still going slow.

2/ Unwilling to pass slow car even when given plenty opportunity. This was particularily frustrating because of curvy section coming up. Followed car thru curves and well beyond. Experienced unhealthy tightening of the chest as a result.
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Was that you? Early seventies CB500 flat black? Super low clip ons, no rear sets genre busting garbage poser pile:confused:
 
Gary said:
Being right behind you when you crashed on Snake Rd was the 2nd last group ride I've been on.
For me, that was the 'icing on the cake', but at least I didn't blow a testicle hauling you, or your bike out of a ditch - it was pleasantly lodged under the guard rail where no one could move it.
However, I reluctantly went on a group ride this yr, and got rear ended by another rider. :rolleyes:
I won't ride with more than 1 person anymore.
Click to expand...

mikbusa said:
That was 2009, on a Ninja 650. I can't blame equipment or road, just wasn't mentally in it that day and I knew it, was going to peel off from the group at the bottom of Snake.
Click to expand...

Gary said:
Hard to believe it's been that long Mike!! I lied. I've been on more than 1 group ride since, but not too many.
I binned it myself since you, on a group ride (June '09). Forks of the Credit. I'd love to blame something, but it was totally my fault.
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Hey, isn't there an unofficial 12mos statute of limitations of wadding it up like a dumb ****? :D
Was that the one where he got target fixated at the first guard rail and almost swerved right straight into it? I still sorta remember the "WTF!" look on your face as he lowsided under it.

Oh yeah, hi ya Gary! ;)
 
Pegassus said:
He rode too fast or too slow? Explain. Also explain why is it a negative to NOT wear gloves and boots while riding a motorcycle? I only ride my sports bike with a t-shirt and jeans, if I have to wear a sweater that means riding season is over. I don't plan on riding like a kamikaze or stunting so I'll be okay, comfortable and free like a bird.
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Amen to that...I find this site is full of people that care
too much about what other people wear... I ride how I feel fit... my riding experience is based solely on me. At the end of the day I'm enjoying something I love to do and dress how every I feel like... and for all you safety freaks, go down to the states where there's a no helmet law and tell a rider to wear his helmet see what great reaction you get.
 
gr33nmachine said:
Amen to that...I find this site is full of people that care
too much about what other people wear...
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Big gap between caring and making an opinion based on observation. If a dood wears full Harley Davidson pirate outfit on the city bus, do I care? No, but I can make an observation and opinion. Do you live in a vacuum?
 
inreb said:
Big gap between caring and making an opinion based on observation. If a dood wears full Harley Davidson pirate outfit on the city bus, do I care? No, but I can make an observation and opinion. Do you live in a vacuum?[/QUOTE

yes I agree there is a big gap...but people still judge people on what they wear to the point where they're almost scolding people on here cause of not wearing full gear. And by the way if you were any way offended I didn't even read your post was only stateing an OPINION on what pegassus posted that is all
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