One, Two, a Few, or Many
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 155
Likes: 9
From: North Carolina
One, Two, a Few, or Many
I'm planning a long ride, solo, cross country and it got me thinking about rides I've taken alone, with a couple of buddies, with a dozen or so, and with a horde of over 1,000 bikes on the Harley-Davidson 100th anniversary ride from York to Milwaukee.
I've experienced the pros and cons of each, like gas stops with a large number of bikes. Group decisions when no one can agree and someone is hacked off. One trip the leader was the kind of guy that would eat next to nothing for breakfast and ride straight through until stopover for dinner. On that trip we had a couple of high metabolism body builder types that mutinied because they were hungry all day.
Group of 4, and one of them my boss. I'd already gotten a speeding ticket in Minnesota on the way to Sturgis because he was in a big hurry. After the officer sent us on our way, he rode ahead and disappeared so we slowed down and let the ******** go. Next time I saw him, was in Sturgis and we didn't ride home together either.
Riding with my wife on the bike was great but she no longer wants any part of it. Old age, I guess. Riding along with my girlfriend from Nashville to Peoria was great. Me on my Ultra and her on her Road King, my favorite way to go, but my wife frowns on me having girlfriends.
Downside of riding solo, besides just getting a little bit lonely at times, was I found that I'd ride farther than I should and probably took some chances I shouldn't. Longest solo ride was Denver to Milwaukee in one day. The last 100 miles or so I was falling asleep on the bike. Won't do that again.
My reason for posting is just to get thoughts from others on riding solo or in groups no matter the size.
I've experienced the pros and cons of each, like gas stops with a large number of bikes. Group decisions when no one can agree and someone is hacked off. One trip the leader was the kind of guy that would eat next to nothing for breakfast and ride straight through until stopover for dinner. On that trip we had a couple of high metabolism body builder types that mutinied because they were hungry all day.
Group of 4, and one of them my boss. I'd already gotten a speeding ticket in Minnesota on the way to Sturgis because he was in a big hurry. After the officer sent us on our way, he rode ahead and disappeared so we slowed down and let the ******** go. Next time I saw him, was in Sturgis and we didn't ride home together either.
Riding with my wife on the bike was great but she no longer wants any part of it. Old age, I guess. Riding along with my girlfriend from Nashville to Peoria was great. Me on my Ultra and her on her Road King, my favorite way to go, but my wife frowns on me having girlfriends.
Downside of riding solo, besides just getting a little bit lonely at times, was I found that I'd ride farther than I should and probably took some chances I shouldn't. Longest solo ride was Denver to Milwaukee in one day. The last 100 miles or so I was falling asleep on the bike. Won't do that again.
My reason for posting is just to get thoughts from others on riding solo or in groups no matter the size.
Last edited by bigwave916; Feb 27, 2016 at 04:47 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 8,196
Likes: 2,432
From: San Francisco
I have four riding buddies with whom I have taken many long road trips. I have also gone solo a number of times. I would rather ride with one or more of my buddies then alone. We now all have communicators so we can just "hang out" with each other when we ride. Most of the time we are quiet. But occasionally we discuss things. And the communicators are good for when we need to eat, fill up or deal with which way to go.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,287
Likes: 592
From: USA
for day trips I don't mind riding with a small group. On a large multi day trip I prefer just me and the wife. I like to go where I want on my own time frame. The discussion of where to eat and where to go etc. gets old for me.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,548
Likes: 7,197
From: Oxford, Nc
I haven't ridden with another bike in a dozen or more years. I do the solo Daytona trips, (plan to head south again sometime in the next two weeks, camp for a couple of days, people watch and head back on home.)
I get the girlfriend thing too, but the wife no longer rides and doesn't bitch too much as long as I don't overdue it.
Just a lady friend is all.
If I was going looong distance, I think a partner is a good idea because like you I can get lost in time and push myself a little too much. At 62 I'm not a kid anymore either.
As long as the major items are addressed, meal times, what sleeping accomodations, where are we going (interstate vs state routes (my preference,) etc, great minds can otherwise think alike.
I get the girlfriend thing too, but the wife no longer rides and doesn't bitch too much as long as I don't overdue it.
Just a lady friend is all. If I was going looong distance, I think a partner is a good idea because like you I can get lost in time and push myself a little too much. At 62 I'm not a kid anymore either.
As long as the major items are addressed, meal times, what sleeping accomodations, where are we going (interstate vs state routes (my preference,) etc, great minds can otherwise think alike.
Last edited by Stiggy; Feb 27, 2016 at 06:23 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,232
Likes: 615
From: San Antonio, Texas
I would prefer riding with my wife, but have ridden by myself on two trips from Oakland East Bay to San Diego and back. I find that I too ride longer than I should and don't stop as often as I should when alone, with my wife we talk a bit and share the sights and she keeps me reasonable on the duration of the day.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,521
Likes: 185
From: Ft Myers FL
..my wife and I ride almost every weekend when it's nice...she loves to just relax and watch (passenger) but we do long rides with a group of 6-8 bikes every year for two weeks, in fact the southwest trip there were 10 bikes all couples.....we had a blast..!!!!!!...BUT....we have all of our hotels set up and if one or two want to do something else it's ok we meet up every night at the hotels to have fun.....no need for drama...
Next trip the northeast for 18 days....and 12 people/ 7 bikes.....hotels booked, routes planned, tix for the Freedom tower and Statue of Liberty purchased....we are set to go....
Next trip the northeast for 18 days....and 12 people/ 7 bikes.....hotels booked, routes planned, tix for the Freedom tower and Statue of Liberty purchased....we are set to go....
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Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 39
Likes: 2
From: Mid-Atlantic
I can relate to running farther than "I should" in one day solo! Did East Coast to New Orleans and back last summer in 6 days, that's with 36hrs in the Big Easy! Had a hard time to meet on the back end and ended up taking the State Highways most of the way, but the ability to rationalize going a little bit farther and a little bit faster at the tail end of a 750mile + day is definitely increasing the risk! A partner in those times is a plus!
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 155
Likes: 9
From: North Carolina
All good feedback. I'm probably going to enjoy going solo once I retire. No schedule to make and the ability to slow down, speed up, or change course would allow me to the freedom to just enjoy the ride.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 7,611
Likes: 104
From: Southern Colorado
My wife and I ride together on the majority of our rides but we've also had a lot of fun with smaller 10-15 bikes. The best way to get along with other riders is to agree at the start that each can ride at their own pace and the end-point of each day is the destination and how fast/when you get there is up to you. That way others can go straight through, some can spend all the time they want sightseeing, etc. Works well when the discussion is had at the start of the ride rather than let frustration fester until it blows up one evening.