Have any of you planned a overnight group ride? After you agree on a destination, the work begins.
I have looked at several sources and found that the average number that goes is around twelve. Some start out going then have to drop out for various reason. Requiring 6 rooms if some are willing to share most places will hold a block of rooms with a deposit.
Meals and stops are a whole different mix, if someone in the group rides a Sportster the stops are at 100 miles +/-, that is also a good point for a break. Finding local places to eat without a wait is another challenge. Most do not want fast food at the end of the day that includes me.
Any thoughts?

 

We tend to tent camp on trips. But when there is a motel - we pick one, then you make your own reservations - single or a couple people in a room - its up to them. For dinner I prefer local owned places to eat, but in a group its easier to hit chains that everyone agrees to. A lot of times we will hit a buffett.

 

I've helped plan, or have planned four rides with up to 25 bikes and 34 riders. There are some rules you should discuss with the group before they sign up.

1) You are the ride captain unless someone else wants to be the boss.
2) The daily ride starts at point A and ends at point B: How everyone gets there is up to them. Some will ride fast, others will want to dilly-dally - all is good but just check in when you get to point B.
3) Everyone should have a cell phone - exchange #'s at he start of the ride.
4) Suggest hotels but let them make their own reservations - don't take any checks or promises or you'll end up paying for an empty room.
5) Make sure the waiter/restaurant understands how the group will pay for meals - everyone kicks in meal $ + 10% tax + 10% gratuity & NO ONE leaves until the bill is paid up (bad experiences lead to this harsh rule!)
6) If everyone wants to ride together - split them into groups of 5 bikes - with one group leader and be sure every group is separated by 30-seconds. This is a great safety rule in heavy traffic.

I'll probably think of other tips that have made our group rides enjoyable. Remember this: Each rider has a different skill-set, some like to ride fast, others slow, some want to get from A to B fast, others want to eat ice cream and shop in every town. The best part of a group ride is the camaraderie at the stops - morning, noon and evening. Tell them at the outset to ride at their skill level and not the bike in front of them. Everyone should agree on where the next stop will be. I've gone as far as providing maps with the stops outlined for each bike. Maybe I'm **** about all of this, but I've found out the hard way that if you take on the responsibility of leading a group ride you'd better have a good set of rules or someone will eventually become pissed off about something the captain didn't say or do. I'm sure there are still riders here who came to Colorado to our Green Chili Rides who agree that prior planning makes for fewer emergencies.

Good luck.

 

Put up a plan in advance. Be open to suggestions, but keep it locked down tight. Basicly tell people, this is the plan, you decide if your going. Plan the ride, not the individual riders.

If reservations/deposits need to be made in advance, either get the money up front or let that person reserve and pay on their own.

Any new riders or new to the group riders need to understand exactly what's involved.

If you are going with 12 people consider setting up 2 or 3 groups of riders that meet at prearranged locations. Moving 12 bikes can be a PIA.

Food and other stops don't require that the whole group be tethered together. People can go where they want, with who they want, and then meet at a bar for drinks or beers at a hotel.

The fine line between task master and ride chaos can be tough. Know the people you ride with.

 

I'll add one more.

Make sure everybody understands what the extremes of the weather can be where you are riding. Nothing bones a group like the one person that thinks they can run the Blue Ridge for 3 days, in March, in a sweatshirt.

 

We went to the Sturgis rally this year in a group of seven bikes. We would all pull in and get fuel, snacks and bathroom breaks at the same store. This was a bad plan. We should have divided up and went to different stores when possible. Covey of quail, pride of lions, gaggle of geese and so on. What is a group of harley riders on tour called? All of us in the seven mentioned above are to old to be a gang.

 

10% tip? Kinda light. IMO

 

When I am out riding on a nice Sunday afternoon I see these big groups of say 5 to 20 bikes or so on a regular basis. I always wonder why and how. I can see riding with 2 or 3 friends, something I do a couple times a season, but why in the world would anyone want to make such a production out of a ride??? Different strokes I guess, just not for me. And the how is just that it amazes me that that many people can all arrange their busy lives to all get together at a particular place and time to ride. Can you guess that I am a solo rider 99% of the time? Ha, ha...

 

You're right...I was thinking about my next point. With a large group it should be 20%, or separate checks. My bigger point was that no one leaves the table until the bill is paid and and some one doesn't end up having to dig deep to cover for others.

 

All of the above are great ideas. One thing to keep the group "together" is to try and ride with others of similar skills. I have done the rides where we get stretched out for miles, then no one enjoys 'cuz some are lagging and some are waiting...
One option we have found to be of great help and peace of mind is to have a radio at the front and back of the group -- that way, all issues can be communicated without a run-and-leave result.