Rethinking Group Rides
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,056
Likes: 251
From: Connecticut
Have done my share of poker runs and large group rides in the past. Don't see myself doing them anymore for the exact reason most others don't. I'll still ride with 5, 6 or 7 in a group but I know who I'm riding with. Mostly though I'll ride with one buddy of mine. If for some reason I ever do a large ride with people I don't know, I'll ride the tail end.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,509
Likes: 1
From: Southeast WI
Group rides are sorta cool if you have a police escort, etc., but they're not really enjoyable overall. Getting waved through intersections is neat, but you never know who's riding near you. I've done a few and I found myself having to pay too much attention to some knucklehead near me who couldn't ride in a group for $hit (lagging back, passing, can't stay in formation - you name it), thus not able to enjoy the scenery or anything else. Stories like the OP's just make me more inclined to skip the group rides. I never saw anyone wreck out, but did see a couple close calls. I enjoy riding solo.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 900
Likes: 1
From: Denver, CO
Never done a large group ride, but I'm getting ready to sign up with a club that does them. This group of riders should be safe operators by their nature, but I'm a bit apprehensive about it all the same. Just gonna ride smart and safe while I get my sea legs. i'll only be able to do one or two a year anyway so won't be a regular thing.
2 is company... 3 is a crowd.
To many things can go wrong..
To many things can go wrong..
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 844
Likes: 91
From: San Diego
I try to avoid group rides with groups I don't know. I've been on a few poker runs that started out early in the morning. When we checked in for registration there were folks pounding beers. every stop on the poker run was a place that served alcohol, and a good percentage of the participants indulged at every stop. Enough knuckle heads out there with out having to deal with intoxicated knuckleheads.