Yesterday, Sunday 3/8, I went riding with a gentleman from the touring forum (KenLovesMelissa; Awesome guy to ride with) and his two friends from ABATE of SC Pee Dee chapter. They were a couple. Both on 883 sportys.

We went from Florence to Columbia. We were going to the barnyard flea market to scout some new leather and possibly some new parts because there was a guy who sold parts there. They elected me road captain as I knew where we were going. No problem.

The girl on the sporty always seemed fine riding other than whenever it came time to back the bike up, her man has to do it. She's tiny. Well, no one mentioned to me as the road captain that she wasn't very comfortable on the interstate. 1st mistake.

I-20 was massively gusty with winds in excess of 25mph. Easily blowing us wherever it wanted. I stayed at the speed limit of 70mph. In no time, the two sportys were almost no where in sight. Ken and I pull over and wait. No problem. No biker left behind.

I determined pretty quickly she was scared but wouldn't admit it. I advise "ok, since it's so windy, we're going to stick around 60mph." (10mph under the speed limit) No problem. Well we begin down the road and again in no time the two sportys are no where to be seen. Again Ken and I pull over to wait. Now I'm getting irritated. The girl said "the saddle bags are catching all the air and throwing me wherever it wants" and her man, without question, proceeds to remove the bags and strap them to his sporty.

I explained that her bike is just over 500lbs, she doesn't weigh 100lbs so she's fairly light overall. I'm riding a 650lbs bike, and am in excess of 200lbs. Close to 850-900lbs and I'm also getting tossed around.

She then starts complaining how much farther we have to go. I had initially told them it was a solid 2hr ride down the interstate. I gave her a time frame and she looked at me like she was ready to crap purple twinkies. Why can't she just say "I'm scared"? I applaud her for wanting to ride her own but if you can't handle the bike as she can't, stay off the porch with the big dogs. Sounds a little cruel but in this case, applicable.

So all along the sportys have led me to believe the wind was being especially harsh to them and I rode according to what I determined was their skill. SLOW. No biker left behind.

We get to the flea market and all they (the couple on the sportys) did was complain. Whatever man. I like that place. Lots of interesting people watching and not to mention the guy who owns the booth that had all the leather has taken over the entire corner of the building and has MASS quantities of jackets, chaps, pants, gloves,etc...plus all kinds of reasonably priced saddle bags and 'biker' garb. I strongly suggest checking it out if you're in the area.

They complained the entire 2+ hrs it took to walk through the flea market and check out the merchandise. I was glad to be out riding on such a gorgeous day and away from the baby for a few hours. Then all of a sudden she stars complainin she's hungry. 0 to b!tch in 3.2 seconds. I ask "what do you want, I'll do my best to remember where things are since I haven't lived in Columbia in almost 2 yrs and have forgotten a lot of the area." No one can decide so we go across the street to KFC. Great. Everyone is happy.

The chick kept bringing up riding back off the interstate. She wanted to stick to backroads. Uh, scared?? Believe me, it wasn't because it was such a beautiful day. The route they wanted to take would have added close to double to the ride. I was cool to go out riding, leaving my g/f to watch the baby but I didn't want to abuse the priviledge. Catch my drift?? I explained it would take close to 4hrs to get home because it's going waaaaay around columbia, south to sumter, and then back up through florence. They both didn't like my answer. I did tell them, "it's a free country. if you want to ride that route, have at it."

So we eat and then hit the road home and again I stay at the speed limit so they (sportys) don't get left behind. Once we got out of Columbia, I see them in the left lane rollin about 90. Pass Ken and I without so much as a wave, a finger or anything. Yes ken and I could have caught them but it was obvious what was happening. I flipped them the bird and rolled on at 70mph with ken to enjoy the ride.

The moral of the story. We leave together. We stay together, unless it's predetermined someone is going to take a different way home. If you suddently don't see a member of you're group behind you, either pull over and wait a few minutes or turn around to scout for trouble.

The funny thing is the couple of sportys is trying too hard to be hardcore. I don't try to be anything than what I am. They're both packing boot knives big enough to gut a fairly good sized human. I carry a pocket knife because A) it's habit and B) you just never know when you need a cutting implement, not as a weapon. It's just a small blade. I ask them "what the heck are you carrying such big knives for? Jesus H!"

The guy has both sleeves done (tats) and yesterday I noticed he has spiderweb inked on both elbows. The way I grew up on bikes, that tells me he did hard time. Trust me when I say this. The hardest time I think he did was in his mother's vagina.

Now this might sound like a bash on sportys but it's not, although I think it's adorable they both ride sportys. They both drive jeep wranglers...I suspect they both douche with the same brand too.

I can't wait for the next meeting with them because I'm going to show them both what it means to ride. They definitely need a little schooling.

 

LOL, WTF? good thing they don't live out this way, wind gusts/cross winds of 60+ mph are commonplace.

 

Hahaha!! My best friend is just like that. If the weather is not PERFECT (example, no wind, no chance of rain, no this, no that, to hot, to cold) he won't ride. But if he DOES, then he will b!tch and complain about it all do long, and let me tell ya, it has to be the most irritating thing ever.

But, I've gotta admit.. riding on the interstate with 25 MPH winds is not easy, and I have a 600+ lb. ride, with me weighing in at 270. I couldn't imagine how much trouble that girl was having. Were you guys riding against the wind, or being side swiped by the wind.

Either way, I understand where you are coming from. Stay together, leave together.

 

The problem isn't "group riding" as a whole... it was the "group" you were stuck with. Just announce the route you have in mind, and let them decide whether they want to join you, or just ride by themselves.

You had a "commitment" to return at a reasonable time. I would have played that card. "yeah you're right that IS a nice route, I'd love to join you, but.... I gotta haul azz home"

I agree that the group SHOULD stay together... but sometimes folks gotta do, what they gotta do. It's common for my group to head out, ride half the day, and then have folks split for home... we cover a wide area, and if you're 20 miles from home, why should you go another 30 miles away?

Group riding is supposed to be FUN.... that couple sounds like they'd put a cramp in anyone's day. I'm sure they're nice enough.... just not on a long ride. And I doubt they'd be different on any other bike... sporty, soft tail, dyna, or touring....

 

Whats the big deal, let them ride on, WGAF.

 

There's good and bad about riding in a group. My pet peeve is someone who's in a big freaking hurry to get nowhere. Like they have an appointment.

You stop for gas or to get a bite to eat and they're always the first ones done and then because you may take a bit longer to gear up they're revving their engines and giving you the "anytime you're ready look".

I enjoy sharing experiences with friends but that sort of $hit takes the fun out of it. My favorite riding buddy will always be my honey bunny.



______________________________________
2008 Heritage Classic: His
2007 Deluxe: Hers

 

I can sympathize with your situation, but that's part of the chance you take when riding with people you don't know. I think you handled it well though. This is the exact reason I only like to ride with people like me. We're more about the experience and the good times than we are getting done quick or putting in a ton of miles just to say we did it.

 

You had me laughing the whole time. "**** purple twinkies" LOL
I just got into riding and yes I have sleeves too and yes I ride a nightster. but I'm not a poser. Just a kid that loves tattoos and loves the outdoors and Love feeling free. That's the whole reason why I got into riding.
Back in the day spider web elbows did mean you did hard time but Im sure this guy was young. now-a-days everyone has spider-web tattoos (I even got some webbing on one of my tats) Pluss how hard could he really be when his woman cracks the whip?
Oh well, At least you got to enjoy the ride back

 

you did a good job on holding your tongue, guess they just don't any experience on or off the bikes

 

I don't do group rides. I will however meet people at a location for lunch and then resume my ride. I only ride with 3 or 4 guys. But most of my riding is solo. And going 10 under on the interstate is a good way to get killed. Very few vehicles ever pass me on the interstate. I don't like surprises from behind. I would have told them to either speed up or I'll see you later and you can take whatever route you want.