Observations from My First Group Ride

[Sandman]

I’ve been riding for a little over 2 years with about 14k miles under my belt, mostly commuting, some 2-up with the wife, but never riding along with anyone else. I was invited to join a charity group ride to benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. It took place yesterday, and all in all it was a great experience! I mean, where else can you disobey every road sign or light you come across and not be ticketed. 50 miles of back country roads, non stop! (Police escorted ride)

Observation 1: Speed is not constant – I arrived towards the end of registration, so I was almost at the end of the line, that’s not a bad thing, it just meant that during the ride, coming in to a turn everyone in front slowed and then took off and if you’re at the end of the line, the whip effect is greater so you have to step on it to catch up. A few places I was going 75 with the police escort flying past me to leapfrog to the next intersection to stop traffic.

Observation 2: We were supposed to ride staggered – That didn’t happen from what I saw & experienced – most of the bikes were side by side, including the Goldwing next to me. It got pretty tight in a few places so I just dropped back & he got the idea.

Observation 3: Hand and foot signals to mark hazards – We encountered several objects in the road from pieces of hardboard siding, various sized roadkill, and potholes. The riders on the right would point to the hazards while the rider on the left would dangle their right foot over the hazard as they passed by to alert those behind. I’d never seen this before but will do this in the future.

Though this was a good experience for me for group riding and camaraderie, I think I’ll stick with riding alone. It’s a lot less mentally taxing. You really need to have your head on a swivel to always know where everyone is around you, and even that changes from moment to moment.

I only snapped a handful of pics after the ride was done and before the luncheon & awards ceremony for highest donations began.

Enjoy!
-Andy

[jgreth]

Looks like it was a good time overall.

I have never ridden in a real big group. Usually just me and a friend ( when he used to ride ).

[Apertureguy]

I now hate riding in groups.

While I do enjoy hanging out with other MC Enthusiasts...riding in a group is a pain.

For me it's a lot like hunting. There just aren't too many people I'm willing to go hunting with...I like to make sure they're competent with their weapon of choice...and that they appear smart enough not to shoot in my general direction.

While the person might have rode to the start of where the group ride starts...it doesn't mean they really know how to ride.

[diamond_jim]

Regarding pointing at stuff... near our house there is a curve that always has lots of loose gravel because there's a steep upward gravel driveway on the inside of the curve. Yesterday, I was riding two up with the wife and my buddy was riding two up behind us. He's not familiar with the area. So before we got to the curve, I told my wife to point down at the gravel as we go around the curve to be sure my buddy would see it. I couldn't point because I'm two up going around a curve with gravel. She pointed and he saw it. Cool.

[themeatmanlandry]

Personally, I hate the group rides. I've never done one, but I can imagine what a dork I'd feel like in line with the other riders. I'd prefer to just do my own thing and make an anonymous donation to worthwhile causes.

What happens when one group ride passes another? Do arms literally fall off from all of the waving, or is there some other arrangement?

FWIW, I don't wave.

[baltimorebayside]

The person riding "point" always alerts the rear riders of road hazards, wether it's from hand/foot signals or from radio comm system.

dan

[geoffsimpson]

Originally Posted by Apertureguy

I now hate riding in groups.

While I do enjoy hanging out with other MC Enthusiasts...riding in a group is a pain.

For me it's a lot like hunting. There just aren't too many people I'm willing to go hunting with...I like to make sure they're competent with their weapon of choice...and that they appear smart enough not to shoot in my general direction.

While the person might have rode to the start of where the group ride starts...it doesn't mean they really know how to ride.

I'm with you, I find group riding taxing...especially with strangers or people you hardly know. Plus, I need to know that I can trust the guy/girl behind me to not creep into my blind spot and tuck under me in a corner.

In fact I had joined another group of riders (national group) and as i didn't really know them or put any miles down with them, I didn't feel comfortable/trusting. I need to know that the guy riding at my six, is watching my back and not trying to go all "wild hog" and ride 4 across to look cool. I guess it just wasn't my style so I never came back.

That being said, we have a rider group that me and some friends formed and it can get to about 10 bikes (normally around 5 or 6) and that's as big as I get.

[KD57]

4-5 is about the max I will ride with. I hate the real big ones, and the further you are back, the worse it is.
Our little group has a designated point rider, and I am usually the sweep rider, so our system works pretty good, everybody knows their place and ride accordingly, plus we have our own set of hand signals.

[Sandman]

[quote=KD57;456097] I hate the real big ones, and the further you are back, the worse it is.
QUOTE]

I'm not so sure about that...

Based on this ride, and granted it's my only experience - the showboaters & hotdogs were in the front or dern close to it. If I do this again, I will try to be the last man. I'd rather have them ALL in front of me.

[KD57]

I was referring to the whip effect. The last guy is either hard on the gas or brakes, seems you can never just ride at a solid pace becasue no one ahead of you can maintain their required gap. I rode on a 45 bike group, and I swear I never dropped below 80, and the point guy swears he never went above 65. I don't know what causes that, but it always happens.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by KD57

I was referring to the whip effect. The last guy is either hard on the gas or brakes, seems you can never just ride at a solid pace becasue no one ahead of you can maintain their required gap. I rode on a 45 bike group, and I swear I never dropped below 80, and the point guy swears he never went above 65. I don't know what causes that, but it always happens.

[robertc729]

To date, 6 is the most I've had in a group.

[Prisoners]

I rode in 2007s Rolling Thunder event in DC. The estimated count was 400,000+. To say it was taxing is an understatement!

[eb77k]

i'm not a big fan of huge rides. You are betting the average guy is in control of his scoot. In reality they are not. Hence the waiver of your rights they have you sign prior to leaving. You never know when someone is tipping over, and with the skills available to the other guys chances are a pile will ensue. I usually ride near the front or at the rear.
Check out the enclosed pic......

[TFee3]

The average rider can stay on his wheels. It's the guy who thinks he's average that will do the job on a group ride. I rode with two other guys a few days ago for the first time, and I thought it was the pits. They're both good riders, but I got tired of worrying about them riding in front of me. Riding alone is much more relaxing. I'll be riding for the first time in two weeks with a large group, and quite honestly, I'm a little nervous about it.

[tricker]

biggest group i've ridden in is 13... 13 on the dragon

[Deno]

Originally Posted by KD57

...I never dropped below 80, and the point guy swears he never went above 65. I don't know what causes that, but it always happens.

I ride with two others quite a bit, and have learned to let them lead for that very reason. If I'm in front, it seems like when I'm only going 50mph, they can't even keep up, and one of them may be 1/2 mile back. When one of them leads, and I bring up the rear, I have to go 60mph to keep up with them. They swear they are riding about the same speed in both situations!

[geoffsimpson]

Originally Posted by Deno

I ride with two others quite a bit, and have learned to let them lead for that very reason. If I'm in front, it seems like when I'm only going 50mph, they can't even keep up, and one of them may be 1/2 mile back. When one of them leads, and I bring up the rear, I have to go 60mph to keep up with them. They swear they are riding about the same speed in both situations!

I prefer tailgunner...with the guys I ride with mostly, i let them set their own pace and i simply follow. That way i'm not spending most of the day looking into my mirrors to ensure that they're still there, that i didn't lose them, that they haven't broken down or scootched off into the Rhubarb in a corner.

Less stress

[Uncle B]

Some Group Riding Info.

[BEK]

I went on a group ride last weekens. 600 bikes, 95% harleys. I ride an M50 and shift based on sound. Riding next to those harleys, I couldn't hear my own bike.