Front guy on a ride

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Aug 27, 2018 | 05:45 AM

#31

ShovelEd

Club Member

Joined: Jun 2010

Posts: 14,231

Likes: 63,970

From: Other Side of the Tracks

Aug 27, 2018 | 06:01 AM

#32

Schex

Club Member

Joined: Apr 2011

Posts: 5,817

Likes: 7,849

From: SE Louisiana

Group rides, people who think there's rules, leader, sweepers, tail gunners,,, I'd quit riding if I had to deal with that dumb crap, thought it was about being free.

Aug 27, 2018 | 06:02 AM

#33

DonnieM

Road Captain

Joined: Jun 2016

Posts: 713

Likes: 203

From: The Nature Coast, FL

I have always had the mind set that if I go on a group ride, it is going to be a Clusterf**k and a long day if you don't know or have never ridden with the other riders. If it goes better than that, you should be happy. Some have problems with speed, others can't even get the concept of riding staggered right.

Don't count out a Sportster in keeping up! I was the one who ran that old iron head into the ground, but kept up with big twins even on the freeway. My only struggle was fuel as previously stated

Aug 27, 2018 | 06:31 AM

#34

dyna2008

Cruiser

Joined: Jan 2016

Posts: 199

Likes: 39

From: Pennsylvania

I only do one group ride a year. It's the 911 memorial ride coming up here in September.
With as many riders this event attracts you see all types of skill levels from very skilled to those that simply shouldn't be on this type of ride.
The ride is probably around 50 miles but at the end I feel as if it is way more.
It can be downright stressful! But you can stand anything for a short period of time.
Point being I choose to just ride alone anymore with my wife or solo.
That's what works for me.

Aug 27, 2018 | 06:32 AM

#35

TimmyPage

Road Captain

Joined: May 2017

Posts: 590

Likes: 201

From: Southern Ontario

I agree with what others wrote about leading makes you responsible for keeping the group together, and if you don't want that responsibility, let someone else lead, otherwise give the group the hand signal to tighten up. Another good reason to keep checking those mirrors is you should be aware if someone breaks down / pulls over and some or all of your group stops, too. Group riding, and group leading, is a completely different dynamic.

And sorry, but that Sportster comment someone made above is plain dumb. I do 80 - 100 mph on mine regularly and it's effortless. It's also worth noting that I'm in a riding club and the true turtles all ride Harley baggers.

Last edited by TimmyPage; Aug 27, 2018 at 06:33 AM.

Aug 27, 2018 | 06:40 AM

#36

5wheels

Road Master

Joined: Nov 2014

Posts: 973

Likes: 519

From: Upper East Tennessee

Don't usually ride in a group if I do it is for a reason so I just suck it up and go with it because I think what I am doing is worth the aggravation. If I do ride in a group I definitely try not to lead. But if you are the leader you are responsible for the whole group. If you are not up to that don't lead.

Aug 27, 2018 | 06:51 AM

#37

nobodyknowsme

Banned

Joined: Jan 2017

Posts: 17,008

Likes: 14,675

From: in a cave at the foothills

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimmyPage

And sorry, but that Sportster comment someone made above is plain dumb. I do 80 - 100 mph on mine regularly and it's effortless. It's also worth noting that I'm in a riding club and the true turtles all ride Harley baggers.

Only dumb if I don't explain myself and apparently I do, and I really don't give a rats *** what anybody thinks. For MANY, a Sportster is a stepping stone bike. For MANY it is not but I am going by the people that I have mostly encountered. Fact is, MANY people on a Sportster do not have the experience as say someone that has either graduated to a bigger bike or can even handle a bigger bike for that matter. They are plenty of fun to ride and I realize the bikes potential. Many rides I am on I often wish I had one again, at least for a brief time.
The point I hoped I would not have to justify so as not to get some Sportster peoples panties bunched up was that I have ridden with many that simply could not keep up, mostly when a slight curve in the road presented itself as an Evel Knievel daredevil stunt.
But alas, when I ride alone....