Reckless Group Riders

Dayao12

Dayao12

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So I ride with a very close knit group of friends that I've known for a few years now. In fact, they're the ones that I first started riding with. But ever since I've been riding with them, I've always felt uneasy with their "spirited" riding through the city&highway. I'm not one to cut off cars and zigzag through a busy highway, it's just too unpredictable and I always fear the headlights in my mirrors are 5-0. Also they have no sense of the unwritten rules of group riding.

No real point to this thread other than to rant, but I'd like to know if some of you are in the same boat as me.

This also goes for random group rides from any of the meets. Do you feel safe/comfortable riding when the rest of the group doesn't follow the "rules"? (ex: COMMUNICATION-hand gestures, foot gestures, curtsey waiting if the group is split up due to a red light; and what's HUGE for me, staggered riding position, etc...)
 
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Two options.
1. Talk to them about how you feel. If they don`t respect what you have to say.... see option 2
2. Find some new friends/ riding buddies.
 
Id stop riding with the group. Guess whos gonna get pulled over if the group attracts the police's attention?

Better to not be there than to be asked to identify them when you get pulled over & they ran..

Ive never been too much into group rides, but in the few instances where ive ridden with a group that I didn't "synch" with, id just hang back til they took off, or id take a different route away from them.
 
Yeah, ditch them. If you're focusing on the discomfort of riding with them...1- it's not fun anymore and 2- you're focussing on the wrong thing while riding.
 
Great advice everyone.

I do want to come forward and say what I feel about their riding, but wouldn't it feel like a slap in the face if someone told you that you ride terribly? I guess I just have to let my balls grow back after sitting on them during the ride =P They're friends from way back so I wouldn't want to jeopardize riding with them. In any case, I usually hang back and we all eventually catch up again. =D
 
If you don't want to tell them to their face, you can just avoid rides with them in the future. It's your bike and your riding style, so you could always tell them that you prefer to ride solo.
 
the27thelement said:
Two options.
1. Talk to them about how you feel. If they don`t respect what you have to say.... see option 2
2. Find some new friends/ riding buddies.
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Option 3. Ride alone. Avoid the grief and enjoy your own ride. Meet your friends at wherever it is you were going. Chat, laugh, eat etc. Then get on your bike and ride the way you want to.
 
First of all take it to the country, don't ride city and highway and second of all take off your mirrors so you won't see headlights in them and 5-0 wont be an issue
 
If you've been riding with these guys for a while you should already know by now what their like, and they you. A simple "I'm not gonna zig zag through traffic to keep up with you guys" should be all that needs to be said at the start of the ride. In fact after a few rides they should have noticed your not doing it, If they haven't that would worry me. Bring it up if need be, be honest about why your not doing it. Just like you I like having my license and will ride according in "public" and the straights sections.

Dayao12 said:
I do want to come forward and say what I feel about their riding, but wouldn't it feel like a slap in the face if someone told you that you ride terribly?
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Grow a pair, seriously if you don't say anything they may have no clue how you feel and vice versa. Maybe I'm getting old or it's the groups I've ridden with but I have never thought less of anyone for stating their opinion or for backing off on a ride. But like I said above they should have noticed your hanging back, if they don't that's a HUGE redflag IMHO.
 
If you guys are close knit, why do you feel so uneasy expressing your concerns to them? If all you're thinking about when riding is what they're doing, bad things are going 2 happen 2 u cause you're not concentrating on what you should be doing.
 
As others have said I have been in the same situation before and ditched them...sorry to say but I am not going to ride with people who have no regard, for safety of me or themselves, I wont ride like that even if I had a higher cc bike....I would rather feel safe and comfortable on my rides, and I would prefer to not see someone crash because of total stupidity.

Jenn
 
Ride your own pace. If they are friends, they'll understand. Just know where the final destination is or have them wait up at certain spots along the way.
 
Dayao12 said:
Great advice everyone.

I do want to come forward and say what I feel about their riding, but wouldn't it feel like a slap in the face if someone told you that you ride terribly? I guess I just have to let my balls grow back after sitting on them during the ride =P They're friends from way back so I wouldn't want to jeopardize riding with them. In any case, I usually hang back and we all eventually catch up again. =D
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Just tell them you're not comfortable with how fast they ride.

If they really are your friends then they would understand... they'll either dial it back a bit so you're more comfortable riding with them or let you go on your own. If they give you a hard time then they're pretty crappy friends.

I can coun't the number of people I'm comfortable riding with on one hand. I'm very picky.
 
I've got friends from several circles/times in my life that ride and we all have personal preferences. Often we go out once and decide riding together leaves both of us dissatisfied. No big deal we talk about riding and other things later.
 
Well. You have to take matters into your own hands.
Talking to them at this point would be useless.
They don't care. That's the way they ride.
Most "Sport bike" rides are so full of testosterone, that this is the way they turn out.
You and your group are just lucky it hasn't turned ugly yet. But it's just a matter of time. Guys start riding worse and worse untill something happens. Testosterone is a bad thing on group rides. Guys don't know how to control it.

It's time to leave this group.
 
A couple of times me and my crew have met up with other riders...we're pretty tame all things considered, so when the anarchy started, we know well enough to hang to the back of the pack...

We know the destination so we'll still meet them there...but we're clear of the weaving etc.

No need to tell them how they ride....
 
I'll jump in with my 2 cents ( hope this is ok )


I think many riders fall into the "beggers can't be choosers role". I for one tend to ride solo, 2up with my girl on the back or with close friends and we don't "group ride" we know where we are meeting up and discuss our plan before leaving. If they feel like rocketing off, no worries I know where to go. I tend to follow the pack, for me I just find it way less stressful, but I have heard so many stories about people trying to play "keep up" with large groups or non-newb friendly ones. I can't say one way or another if this is 100% true. Myself I like to meet who I ride with for a coffee and a chat that way we can discuss our riding style/fears etc. it makes for a much better ride and possibly a new buddy.
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