anyone like riding solo? | GTAMotorcycle.com

anyone like riding solo?

bengali548

bengali548

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i dont really like group rides that much

not because im anti-social but because i get nervous staying so close to a biker

personally i think it lowers your overall maneuverability and is more riskier if you ride in groups (ya you get noticed more but i still get sketchy driving so close to others)

anyone else feel this way? i dont mind twoing up (two upping?) but riding in big groups (over 3 people) is a bit tedious
 
Me! I like riding at my own pace, and not having to worry about anything. I rarely ride with others but I do got 1 biker buddy who I ride with here and there from the start of my riding life and he's a pretty good rider himself. Other than that, not much of riding with others.
 
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Can someone educate me what the point of group rides is, i seriously dont really get it. This is why i ride solo myself. My neighbor is always in group rides, invited me once and i end up finding it being pointless. I socialize a lot but not riding around with no actual destination.
 
I am 95% solo riding. I've also done group rides but at a pretty hardcore pace. Sport group rides do not encourage close formation riding as it's stupid and risky. If you have found you don't like group rides then don't ride in a group.
 
I like riding in small groups (with 2 or 3 buddies) or riding solo.

Staggered formation is actually pretty safe, and if you feel like you're riding too close...you might be. You just need to get more familiar with your bike, how it handles, and your distance perception sort of has to settle in. Those were the exact reasons why I rode alone for 2-3 months until I had complete control/familiarity of my bike.

When we rode in a group a couple of weeks ago, there were some points where you were riding in the blind spot of the person before you and you also passed in the same lane without getting waved through or flashing them (which generally isn't a good idea even if you ride with them regularly).

Btw, I'm the guy with the identical "twin" bike. I'm not ragging on you or anything, but if you feel like you're riding too close, then you might actually be. As a rule of thumb, I usually give a little more than a 1 second gap because 250 brakes aren't as good as 600 brakes and I don't know how the person in front of me rides.

Ask to sweep or be second-last until you get comfortable or spend some more time getting comfortable on your bike. If you still fell nervous after that, then maybe group rides really just aren't for you.
 
I pretty much ride solo if i ride with someone its only the two of us. I always ride behind i like staying in their mirrors so we can see eachother. if i lead i cant always depend on that person to do the same
 
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i ride solo when im ****** off about something, recently ive been doing a lot of solo riding
 
2-3 people is fine and there are times in the twisties that knowing nothing is coming around that corner that buddy just carved is liberating.

I do ride solo most as I ride off hours especially very late at night ( 2 am ) and also early up to the Shed for coffee and chat.

Longer rides that are for exploring having a bud I find I enjoy - the Scala helps. One bud I chat with a lot - makes the time go by on the boring stretches and makes for easy decision making....need gas, lets go up that road etc.

I poke around and find new roads all the time in the local area and that's enjoyable.....where ever the wind goes.....rarely any ride is planned other than an over night and in those cases I prefer a small group for a variety of reasons.....including just plain camaraderie,

One reason I like the Shed as a destination as I can get some decent solo fun but then rider chit chat as well.

Late night solo rocks - couple high lumen fork lights on the budget this year. :D
Should be out right now but just getting over a cold and haven't ridden much this year.

I recall last year doing a poll on late night riding and was surprised how many 2 am night owls were about. Fantastic fun with a full moon out on the deserted roads up and down the escarpment - all the cagers tucked in bed.

See ya at the Shed around 6 am tho.....;)
 
I like both but for longer rides I prefer to have at least one more person with me. You have someone to talk to when you stop and if anything happens, they're there to help. Having more than 10 people in a group can be awkward though.
That's why, quite often, when I post rides, I post them up late so not too many people show up.
 
yeah i ride solo 99% of the time. ive never done a large group ride in 2 seasons of riding, but i dont really see what i could get out of it. ive gone on a ride with 2 friends, and the only difference was i found myself speeding unnecessarily in places i usually wouldn't speed. i'd rather ride at my own pace.

with that said, riding solo all the time can get boring i think.
 
Riding solo is my way as well, and to me that's what riding is all about, you, your machine, freedom. However, doing group rides from time to time can be fun too.
 
Yea, I too find it really boring going on group rides. It just seems so pointless. But I do occasionally do join this set group and when they ride, they Ride and they always have a set destination and a set pace. Those are the group rides that I like going to. The random group rides is what bugs me, Its really just pointless!!!! lol.
 
Just have to find the right group of people to ride with ....that's all.
 
if all you do is ride solo, unless you're a veteran rider good luck finding all the roads worth riding on....
 
frekeyguy said:
Just have to find the right group of people to ride with ....that's all.
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Still looking. Biggest problem I find is communication and equal skill levels. Last group ride I did was for a charity put on by T.O. Cycle. The cause was great the ride was terribly unorganized. To the point where the leader wasn't even the guy who planed the route. There were experienced riders up front and in the rear and a few poor noobs in the middle of the pack trying so hard to keep up pace. The ride really lost steam when the eventual rider lost it and slid out at the forks of the credit. She told me she had never ridden there before and with the pace the guys up front were moving at and they people behind her tailing her she got nervous and boom. Ride strted with about 15-20 people and about 10-13 riders made it back to the bike shop. Last group ride I ever did.

Sent from my Nexus One using Tapatalk
 
Bengali - chose the perfect avatar for your anti-social behaviour... :)

My riding is all over the map - 45% by myself, 40% with 1 or 2 buddies who all ride the same pace and approximate equal skill, the remaining 15% of the time with a group.

LoneRonin's got it right - you get to know roads that you never knew existed from other riders.... that's what's a bonus about a group ride every once in a while, as long as it's not the same guy leading each time you're bound to find something new.
 
LoneRonin said:
if all you do is ride solo, unless you're a veteran rider good luck finding all the roads worth riding on....
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That is one of the biggest benefits of group rides for me. Far away from being boring, some guys have GPS in their heads and memorize the most amazing routes. I've been on 3-4 rides that really blew me away with the amount of twisty and scenic roads.

Riding with someone very experienced increases your skill level as well and if you're somewhere for the first time, makes it easier to go through all the turns if you have someone in front.

You also meet interesting people who are usually more than happy to swap stories or give you pointers.


As for any business/charity/etc organized rides - they will always attract all kinds of people, with different skill level. Post your own rides, describe what kind of riding you intend to do or join private ones, that are more specific, PM the OPs and ask them questions.
When you have small groups of like minded riders, the whole experience can be very positive.
 
Nite Rider said:
Can someone educate me what the point of group rides is, i seriously dont really get it...
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I don't think there's anything to "get". It's a personal choice. Period. I still consider myself a new rider and don't believe I'm ready to ride in a group. I tend to be a solitary type person, anyway. I usually ride by myself, but have ridden with one other rider. The companionship is nice; having someone to share the ride with; stop for something to eat. When I feel I'm more experienced, I may seek out riding with a "group". But it would have to be a group of like-minded riders. For me, it's not about the speed, and at my age, I'm not out to impress anyone.
 
I prefer riding solo. I only have to look out for me, I can stop when I want to take pics, take in a view, have a swim etc. I can go as fast or as slow as I like. When I get to a destination I like chatting to other riders though and that's where I find the new roads etc.
 
I mostly ride by myself as I ride at 6.30 AM on Sunday morning, but do ride with friends at least once a month but with no more than 4 riders in total.

Have been on the odd GTAM group ride but am selective as I find you can end up doing more waiting, due late starts, gas stops and washroom breaks etc.

Don't you just love the people who show up for the start with a half empty tank just before the ride starts or has to go to the washroom 10 minutes into the ride ;=)
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