I'm not a posting person that often. I enjoy reading the posts and mechanical sections, but I wanted to get some opinions from those who might have been in the same place I'm currently at. A week before Christmas one of my best friends passed away. We have been riding together for 13 years. He was a friend, mentor and second father. He was a more experienced rider when we met, and I learned a lot about riding and how to ride from him. We started in a large group and it kept getting smaller and smaller, until it was just us left. I understand that others have family and time factors to consider. Me and my friend also ride! When I say ride I mean planning and being on the road for 5 to 7 days at a time. I am not retired, but have the luxury of being a senior person at my job and acquire large amounts of time off. I also have a supportive spouse who wants me to ride. Riding is not her thing.
I have been trying to deal with my friends death the best I can. I know I will always miss having him on the road with me and will look back on our rides together as great times. I now am at a place where I wonder if I will still enjoy riding and going on trips. I believe that I will not find someone in my circle of friends that will want to go out on the long trips I like. It's hard to believe that I will ride and not see my friend out in front of me, or back in my mirror. We knew each other and how we ride, what time to get up to be on the road and put up with each others dumb quirks. I keep wondering if this is the end of my long rides, or if my friend would want me to continue, even if it meant go alone.
I guess that is my question. Do you still enjoy these long rides being by yourself? Is it still safe not having others with you? Can the experiences still be as great and fun. Is Sturgis still going to be the party you have fun at every year? I don't know. I just wanted to hear from those who ride alone. When you ride, even in groups, you are alone I guess. It's not like being in a car. You have the bike, the road and your thoughts. It's only been a few days since his death but I hope as the weather gets warm in the Spring I still will have the excitement of wanting to get out on the road for a long ride.

 

If you haven't already, try joining a local HOG Chapter. If you can find one at a dealership that is close by, and one that is an active group, you will find a group of new friends who share at least one interest with you. My wife and I bought our first Harley in June this year, and immediately joined the local chapter. We have been on several rides with the group, and made a lot of new friends. A spinoff from the association with the group is that you may find someone who would like to join you on some of those longer, non-group rides. It certainly can't hurt to give it a try!

 

Wish I still lived in South Jordan... I'd ride with ya.

Sorry for you lost your friend. Death is a painful part of life. Been about ten months now since my daughter passed.

Ride safe.

 

Im sorry for your loss
life goes on you have to keep on riding bro
Im a lonely rider
Greetings from Madrid Spain

 

Sorry to hear about the loss of your friend...may he RIP. Also sorry to hear of the others who have posted losses here. I have a small crew that hit the rallies together, but a lot of the time i'm solo...old lady won't ride after kids born so I have gotten used to riding myself a lot. I'll head out in the early morning for a day trip by myself, its a different kind of cool. I do find its more fun with at least one other individual or best at small groups. As long as i'm in the wind i'm happy though. Keep riding my friend and it will all come together!

 

First and most important, I'm truly sorry for the loss of your good friend.

Second, you will find another good person that you will enjoy riding with. But, and I think this is important, don't rush. You're still dealing with the emotions of the loss of your buddy, and it's understandable that you might "choose" the first guy that comes along that might like to take longer rides with you. He might not turn out to be the one for you, and now you'd have to get out of it.

Take your time, and just be open to the possibility that someone might come along that would be a perfect fit for your personality, and a perfect fit for the kinds of rides you like to take. I would also recommend joining the local HOG chapter. Yes, they're all different, with different cultures, some great people and some ********. Just like the rest of the world, pretty much.

But, again, just be open to the possibilities. Once the weather warms up a bit, get out and feel the road and the wind, and I think your thoughts will be a bit clearer.

And good luck on your new journey.

 

Sorry for your loss, friends like that are hard to find.
If you make it out our way we have a few nice rides close to the Basin.
Bill

 

I used to have a good friend who would ride with me on trips however he moved to Arizona and I have been riding solo on trips for several years now because non of my friends who ride like to do the distances I do. The down side is when you stop to check something out or are done for the day there is no one next to you to share it with. I really miss that. That actually is one of the reasons why I started posting on Facebook as it became my way of sharing what I see with others.

The HOG chapter is a good suggestion. I belong to two of them and both ride a lot, with one of them doing several long trips (several days to a week) a year. However I choose to ride solo and typically meet them at places since that is what I prefer.

 

 

Riding alone can be just as fun as riding with someone. The vast majority of my riding is solo. Riding alone is safe. Letting people know where you're headed is a good idea, but there are hours and hours in a day of riding that nobody has a clue where I am. I'm sure you friend wouldn't want you to stop riding, I mean had you gone instead of him would you have wanted him to stop?

Enjoy the rides, whether they're solo, in a group, long or short, and remember the good time you and your friend had along the way.