Disappointing group "ride"
3rd Gear
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Marrero, LA
I'm new to running with others. In fact, my neighbor has a couple of bikes and runs in packs of 15 or more and has a lot of experience. In my case since I'm new to the scene and being with someone who's well known makes it easier for my wife and I to kind of fit it and makes it a little more bearable. Not everyone is sociable and it takes time to get to know folks. We like breaking the ice with our new motogear jackets and helmets and get a laugh at the newnish of it. --> Hell, I don't even have a bug splat yet.
Saftey to me is the utmost.
Saftey to me is the utmost.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 671
Likes: 0
From: Toledo Bend Lake Texas
As a rule, I steer away from group rides. HOG Club has too much politics, profilers, and pissin and moanin.
I have a couple of friends I've rode with for years, we pretty much keep it to ourselves. The last time someone rode along that we didn't know, he crashed into the back of one of my friends.
I have been on some great group rides, but they were not planned, they just happened. It's hard to duplicate Fate or Good Luck.
I think most rides are "over" engineered. If you have to work to have fun, your doing something wrong.
Most "groups" try and out do, the last ride. Some rides are memorable some are not.
Just ride, don't try to force a good time, and while your not lookin, a good time will happen!
I have a couple of friends I've rode with for years, we pretty much keep it to ourselves. The last time someone rode along that we didn't know, he crashed into the back of one of my friends.
I have been on some great group rides, but they were not planned, they just happened. It's hard to duplicate Fate or Good Luck.
I think most rides are "over" engineered. If you have to work to have fun, your doing something wrong.
Most "groups" try and out do, the last ride. Some rides are memorable some are not.
Just ride, don't try to force a good time, and while your not lookin, a good time will happen!
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 817
Likes: 26
From: PA
find a few folks who share your best practices. That will be next to impossible.
Don't count on HOG rides. The folks will not usually be drinking before the ride but the road captains will not tell the riders what to do and not to do. If you do go on a hog ride just ride up to the first 10 bikes and stay there leaving the poorly skilled riders behind and if the road captain doesn't know how to be a road captain, you can keep up with him easier than if you are in the back. don't ask me how I know how this works.
Don't count on HOG rides. The folks will not usually be drinking before the ride but the road captains will not tell the riders what to do and not to do. If you do go on a hog ride just ride up to the first 10 bikes and stay there leaving the poorly skilled riders behind and if the road captain doesn't know how to be a road captain, you can keep up with him easier than if you are in the back. don't ask me how I know how this works.
If you're lucky, you've a chapter around like the one my wife & I have been with the last 2 years (St. Charles, MO).
Great people, and they make a point of welcoming new people and getting them involved and a part of our activities and rides.
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
That's definitely the case with my local HOG chapter. They're worse than middle schoolers. I gave it a couple of months and then I was out of there for good.
Last edited by Murph63; Oct 20, 2010 at 10:42 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
Typical unfortunately.
Sounds like a collection of diks to me.
Sounds like a collection of diks to me.
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,001
Likes: 1
From: Pirmasens Germany
Went to join a group ride on Saturday, it would have been our first. A friend of mine gave me a flyer about it (he was handing them out at the local bike-nite) and he seemed to think it would be a great time. Not a big organized event, just a bunch of folks riding together. Sounded fun.
So my wife and I stop by the meeting place. Big disappointment.
My friend didn't show, so we knew no one there.We figured thatwouldn't be a problem, we can get along with people and they were handing flyers out to the public so assumed we would be welcome. Out of all the people there (probably 20 or so bikes, some 2-up) two whole people even deigned to speak to us (though a couple more nodded acknowledgement when we strolled by them). Most pointedly ignoredus.But still, one of the people we talked to was quite friendly, and encouraged us to join in, so even though we were definitely feeling like we outsiders, we decided to go along. Maybe we'd get to meet some more people at stops.
Then it was time to go. The bikes tore out of there like a bunch of lunatics, cutting in front of traffic and runninga red light. The lead guy took off like he was shot out of a cannon as soon as he cleared the intersection and the rest were right after him. I'dbet theywere topping70 before they even got close to the end of the 30-zone, and they were clear out of site when I came around the curve outside of town (couldn't have been more than a half-mile from the start at that point - and I could see a good couple miles up the road) even though I was going well over the speed limit myself trying to keep up. At that point we just let them go,becauseI don't want toride like that. So, f*** 'em, my wife and I went off and had a nice ride on our own.
Seemed like really odd behavior for a bunch that was promoting their ride like they wanted more folks along. I honestly got the impression they were intentionallytrying to lose us. I mean if you don't want strangers along on your ride, that's cool... but then, why invite them?
I assume that sort of behavior isn't typical, but it's sure made me wonder whether I want to even bother with group rides. I might just stick to going our own way.
So my wife and I stop by the meeting place. Big disappointment.
My friend didn't show, so we knew no one there.We figured thatwouldn't be a problem, we can get along with people and they were handing flyers out to the public so assumed we would be welcome. Out of all the people there (probably 20 or so bikes, some 2-up) two whole people even deigned to speak to us (though a couple more nodded acknowledgement when we strolled by them). Most pointedly ignoredus.But still, one of the people we talked to was quite friendly, and encouraged us to join in, so even though we were definitely feeling like we outsiders, we decided to go along. Maybe we'd get to meet some more people at stops.
Then it was time to go. The bikes tore out of there like a bunch of lunatics, cutting in front of traffic and runninga red light. The lead guy took off like he was shot out of a cannon as soon as he cleared the intersection and the rest were right after him. I'dbet theywere topping70 before they even got close to the end of the 30-zone, and they were clear out of site when I came around the curve outside of town (couldn't have been more than a half-mile from the start at that point - and I could see a good couple miles up the road) even though I was going well over the speed limit myself trying to keep up. At that point we just let them go,becauseI don't want toride like that. So, f*** 'em, my wife and I went off and had a nice ride on our own.
Seemed like really odd behavior for a bunch that was promoting their ride like they wanted more folks along. I honestly got the impression they were intentionallytrying to lose us. I mean if you don't want strangers along on your ride, that's cool... but then, why invite them?
I assume that sort of behavior isn't typical, but it's sure made me wonder whether I want to even bother with group rides. I might just stick to going our own way.
Sounds like my kind of group ride!
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,001
Likes: 1
From: Pirmasens Germany
I have mixed feelings about the HOG chapters. The chapters do attract some good people but most are just there to pose and play dress up. It has always made me laugh when a guy goes and buys a Harley then changes his entire wardrobe to match. The loser that lived close to me is a prime example. This guy sold his Honda and bought an Ultra Classic. From that point on all he wears is Harley clothing and boots. Bandanas, fingerless gloves, assless chaps, boots, Harley T-shirts and so on. He tries so hard to look the part of easy rider but only accomplishes looking like a douche bag.