Road Captain Blues..........
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"Moderator & Connoisseur of Ice Cream"
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,008
Likes: 5
From: Montgomery Al
Road Captain Blues..........
I ride with a MM. (motorcycle ministry) I was appointed road captain for 6 months. That means I get to select where and when the rides are going, etc.
I enjoy that part. I kinda get to go where I want to ride.
As a duty of road captain, I also have to ride as the lead bike. Not so bad when you have a group of seasoned guys/gals who have ridden together a bunch of times.
Throw in a few newbies who fall into one of these categories:
1. Never ridden in a group
2. Just bought their 1st bike and wanna ride with a group.
3. Will not pay attention
4. Will not pass signals back to the rear
I will quit there. YOu get the idea. It can take what could be a great ride, and turn it into a stressful day.
I enjoy that part. I kinda get to go where I want to ride.
As a duty of road captain, I also have to ride as the lead bike. Not so bad when you have a group of seasoned guys/gals who have ridden together a bunch of times.
Throw in a few newbies who fall into one of these categories:
1. Never ridden in a group
2. Just bought their 1st bike and wanna ride with a group.
3. Will not pay attention
4. Will not pass signals back to the rear
I will quit there. YOu get the idea. It can take what could be a great ride, and turn it into a stressful day.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,407
Likes: 3
From: Stanwood, WA
RE: Road Captain Blues..........
My mother-in-law has had a magnetic sign on her refrig for the past 30 years, says something like:
Kwitcherbellyakin.
Minister to those newbs...leadership and example Brother!!!
Kwitcherbellyakin.
Minister to those newbs...leadership and example Brother!!!
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 410
Likes: 2
From: Southern Utah
RE: Road Captain Blues..........
Just a couple of thoughts. Newby's should be in the middle and experienced riders in the front and bringing up the rear. I will always try to bring up the rear unless I am in the lead. Most "leaders' do not know to start slower and not hammer down so the riders in the back must go mach 3 to catch up.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,025
Likes: 2
From:
RE: Road Captain Blues..........
I'm sure I'll take a severe flaming for this but I made sure todon my asbestos suit before writing it.
This whole group-riding protocol, with road captains and such, makes me laugh. The one and only time I ever took a ride in such an environment was at the invitation of a member of the local HOG club.
Off we went down the 2-lanehighwaywith the "Road Captain" in the lead, flags flying, brass bands playing
, at about 10 mph BELOW the posted speed limit - as if we were in a 4th of Julyparade or something. By the time the group was halfway to our destination we had 3 dozen cars backed-up behind us with cagers recklessly passing the group at 90 mph. I'd finally had enough of it myselfand although I was riding at the back of the group I pulled out and passed the whole procession, arriving at the destination easily 10 minutes ahead of everybody else.
When the rest of the groupreached the restaurant I was the recipient of a bunch of evilglances andnobody was talking to me. Finally the guy who had invited me took me aside and told me it wasn't cool to pass the "Road Captain" and that I probably wouldn't be invited to any more grouprides. I told him that wasfine with mebecause it was about the silliest thing I'd ever been involved in. The wholespectacle reminded me of a bunch of kids playing Army.
Flame away.
This whole group-riding protocol, with road captains and such, makes me laugh. The one and only time I ever took a ride in such an environment was at the invitation of a member of the local HOG club.
Off we went down the 2-lanehighwaywith the "Road Captain" in the lead, flags flying, brass bands playing
, at about 10 mph BELOW the posted speed limit - as if we were in a 4th of Julyparade or something. By the time the group was halfway to our destination we had 3 dozen cars backed-up behind us with cagers recklessly passing the group at 90 mph. I'd finally had enough of it myselfand although I was riding at the back of the group I pulled out and passed the whole procession, arriving at the destination easily 10 minutes ahead of everybody else.When the rest of the groupreached the restaurant I was the recipient of a bunch of evilglances andnobody was talking to me. Finally the guy who had invited me took me aside and told me it wasn't cool to pass the "Road Captain" and that I probably wouldn't be invited to any more grouprides. I told him that wasfine with mebecause it was about the silliest thing I'd ever been involved in. The wholespectacle reminded me of a bunch of kids playing Army.
Flame away.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 410
Likes: 2
From: Southern Utah
RE: Road Captain Blues..........
Ya Know Ya'll, You pick the group you ride with. I ride with a group who likes to ride about 10 over the posted limit. That's cool. If new riders join us we put them into the middle of the group until they feel comfortable with the way we ride. If they want to go faster, we'll see them at the next stop.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,395
Likes: 25
From: St George, UT
RE: Road Captain Blues..........
Group riding was fun when I was new to the sport. It was good to be among the passionate people who rode their motorcycles as much to be seen as to enjoy the ride. But the addition of neophytes put the whole group to risk, and that's why I no longer ride with a group. Groups naturally attract those who love the social aspects of riding which is great, but not for me. It is so stressful in a group where following distances are small, and that rider up ahead who drifts back and forth in front of me adds to the stress. The guy behind me who is not paying attention threatens to run into me if a quick stop is needed.
Group riding needs to be a maximum of 6 to 8 riders to a group. Anything more than that is a parade, and difficult for cager traffic to deal with. Our H.O.G. chapter starts every ride with a review of signals, the route, and the lead bike runs about 5 under the speed limit, while the poor sweep has to ride well above just to keep up. Like I said, too much stress, and that detracts from the fun of it all.[8D]
Group riding needs to be a maximum of 6 to 8 riders to a group. Anything more than that is a parade, and difficult for cager traffic to deal with. Our H.O.G. chapter starts every ride with a review of signals, the route, and the lead bike runs about 5 under the speed limit, while the poor sweep has to ride well above just to keep up. Like I said, too much stress, and that detracts from the fun of it all.[8D]
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,801
Likes: 13
RE: Road Captain Blues..........
I don't have a problem at all with group rides. HOWEVER....Unless you have a very experienced group, then the entirety of that group (ie 30 bikes), needs to be broken into lets say 3 groups of 10 bikes each, with about 5 minutes between them. Anything more than that, and you have a parade, especially when traveling in town.