HOW To Set Up A Long Distant (LD) Group Ride: HELP!
Thread Starter
|
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 69,901
Likes: 18,590
From: South Florida
HOW To Set Up A Long Distant (LD) Group Ride: HELP!
I genereally ride Lone Wolf style all over the USA and Canada. BUT, I am going to try to change and be more "sociable" and tell rider friends I have around the USA that if they want to join me great. If not, "no worries."
Since I HAVE ridden in LD groups many times put together by other people and saw the problems, I am trying to avoid disagreements. Disagreements like the following:
Why are we leaving so early in the morning?
Why are we leaving so late in the morning?
Why aren't we stopping for lunch?
Why did we stop for lunch?
Why are we stopping for the day so early?
Why are we stopping for the day so late?
Why are we eating at this roadside BBQ?
Why aren't we stopping at all the overlooks?
Why are we stopping at all the overlooks?
And the f'n list goes on and on and on and on.......
So in all my wisdom of thinking I was smart enough to put out an e-mail to the riders outlining a projected plan THIS LONG DISTANT RIDE WILL HAVE answering ALL of the above cry baby questions, I am already getting statements that I am starting too early or too late, etc.... Wholly mother of mary..........
I think my response to the riders with a different agenda is......"I'd love to have you but THAT IS the plan. There will be enough surprises on the road with a group. So if they can FIT IN my outline great. If not DO NOT COME!
My question to you guys for your feedback is..........am I F'd up? Did I do this right?
One more thing pls, this is MY ride. YOU (them) are joining ME. I am NOT joining THEM. Don't try to F up MY ride.
I would like to give this LD Group ride a good try and be more "sociable" before I decide to go back to being a Lone Wolf.
Thank you all very much in advance. I will be reading your responses daily.
BuzzCap7
Since I HAVE ridden in LD groups many times put together by other people and saw the problems, I am trying to avoid disagreements. Disagreements like the following:
Why are we leaving so early in the morning?
Why are we leaving so late in the morning?
Why aren't we stopping for lunch?
Why did we stop for lunch?
Why are we stopping for the day so early?
Why are we stopping for the day so late?
Why are we eating at this roadside BBQ?
Why aren't we stopping at all the overlooks?
Why are we stopping at all the overlooks?
And the f'n list goes on and on and on and on.......
So in all my wisdom of thinking I was smart enough to put out an e-mail to the riders outlining a projected plan THIS LONG DISTANT RIDE WILL HAVE answering ALL of the above cry baby questions, I am already getting statements that I am starting too early or too late, etc.... Wholly mother of mary..........
I think my response to the riders with a different agenda is......"I'd love to have you but THAT IS the plan. There will be enough surprises on the road with a group. So if they can FIT IN my outline great. If not DO NOT COME!
My question to you guys for your feedback is..........am I F'd up? Did I do this right?
One more thing pls, this is MY ride. YOU (them) are joining ME. I am NOT joining THEM. Don't try to F up MY ride.
I would like to give this LD Group ride a good try and be more "sociable" before I decide to go back to being a Lone Wolf.
Thank you all very much in advance. I will be reading your responses daily.
BuzzCap7
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,417
Likes: 12
From: North Texas
Any time you have a group of 2 or more there are going to be these "little obsticals".
You have to tell them thats the guidelines, dont like it then dont go.
When we went to Sturgis last year, my daughter was looking forward to going. I laid out the agenda and we went over it several times in the week before we left. Each time she started complaining about our leaving time the first day. I told her that was it and if she wasn't ready, she stayed home. When the eventful morning came, she wouldn't get up when we tried to wake her and there she sat at home while we went and played.
She called about an hour after we left and wanted us to wait for her and she would catch up. Sorry kiddo, not waiting.
Come around to this year and we were planning our trip to Daytona. Same itinerary was laid out and warnings given. This time she was awake and had coffee made before we got up.
You have to tell them thats the guidelines, dont like it then dont go.
When we went to Sturgis last year, my daughter was looking forward to going. I laid out the agenda and we went over it several times in the week before we left. Each time she started complaining about our leaving time the first day. I told her that was it and if she wasn't ready, she stayed home. When the eventful morning came, she wouldn't get up when we tried to wake her and there she sat at home while we went and played.
She called about an hour after we left and wanted us to wait for her and she would catch up. Sorry kiddo, not waiting.
Come around to this year and we were planning our trip to Daytona. Same itinerary was laid out and warnings given. This time she was awake and had coffee made before we got up.
Thread Starter
|
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 69,901
Likes: 18,590
From: South Florida
Any time you have a group of 2 or more there are going to be these "little obsticals".
You have to tell them thats the guidelines, dont like it then dont go.
When we went to Sturgis last year, my daughter was looking forward to going. I laid out the agenda and we went over it several times in the week before we left. Each time she started complaining about our leaving time the first day. I told her that was it and if she wasn't ready, she stayed home. When the eventful morning came, she wouldn't get up when we tried to wake her and there she sat at home while we went and played.
She called about an hour after we left and wanted us to wait for her and she would catch up. Sorry kiddo, not waiting.
Come around to this year and we were planning our trip to Daytona. Same itinerary was laid out and warnings given. This time she was awake and had coffee made before we got up.
You have to tell them thats the guidelines, dont like it then dont go.
When we went to Sturgis last year, my daughter was looking forward to going. I laid out the agenda and we went over it several times in the week before we left. Each time she started complaining about our leaving time the first day. I told her that was it and if she wasn't ready, she stayed home. When the eventful morning came, she wouldn't get up when we tried to wake her and there she sat at home while we went and played.
She called about an hour after we left and wanted us to wait for her and she would catch up. Sorry kiddo, not waiting.
Come around to this year and we were planning our trip to Daytona. Same itinerary was laid out and warnings given. This time she was awake and had coffee made before we got up.
RPBrown,
Aside from affirming I am on the right track, I really like that parenting method. Do not get in the way of natural consequences. Nothing like a touch of the real world. Kudos to you and thank you for your input!
BuzzCap7
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 9,984
Likes: 5,222
From: Michigan
Carvaning, whether by bike, car or even snowmobile, can sometimes be a huge PIA!
However....it can be real "hoot" if you have a group of peple who truly want to have a good time and a good trip.
I (we) have had some good success with one of our car groups and I may do another caravan to the east coast next year if all goes as planned.
I think the best plan is to have everyone well informed and to have a good line of communications between all of the participants.
I (we) set a specific departure time/location for each day.
Same for our hotel at the end of the day.
We all have each other's cell phone numbers, and we also use hand held radios in case in we're in areas where cell phones may not work, or just for the ususal B/S between vehicles.
On one of our bike trips, I got so tired of people not following me, that I pulled to the side of the road, and made them swear on the Road Atlas that they would follow....even if I made a wrong turn!
At the very next major intersection.....two of them (including my wife) made a left turn after I had turned right!!
I summary....if you're going to be the leader, be prepared to work at getting everyone to follow you and keeping the group together.
However....it can be real "hoot" if you have a group of peple who truly want to have a good time and a good trip.
I (we) have had some good success with one of our car groups and I may do another caravan to the east coast next year if all goes as planned.
I think the best plan is to have everyone well informed and to have a good line of communications between all of the participants.
I (we) set a specific departure time/location for each day.
Same for our hotel at the end of the day.
We all have each other's cell phone numbers, and we also use hand held radios in case in we're in areas where cell phones may not work, or just for the ususal B/S between vehicles.
On one of our bike trips, I got so tired of people not following me, that I pulled to the side of the road, and made them swear on the Road Atlas that they would follow....even if I made a wrong turn!
At the very next major intersection.....two of them (including my wife) made a left turn after I had turned right!!
I summary....if you're going to be the leader, be prepared to work at getting everyone to follow you and keeping the group together.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 974
Likes: 4
From: Utah
Yep, trying to organize group rides is a pita. I gave up trying because no matter what times are agreed on in the planning, almost no one shows up on time and that just drives me nucking futs.
So, I quit asking people. Then they started calling me asking if I quit riding or something. I told them, only with you, and I told them why. They all gave me a rash of chit but I don't care. Now I just tell them, "hey, I running up to ??? at 9 on Saturday. Gonna stay here Saturday night and be home Sunday. If you want to come be ready to roll at 9 cause at 9:01 I will be, with or without.
So, I quit asking people. Then they started calling me asking if I quit riding or something. I told them, only with you, and I told them why. They all gave me a rash of chit but I don't care. Now I just tell them, "hey, I running up to ??? at 9 on Saturday. Gonna stay here Saturday night and be home Sunday. If you want to come be ready to roll at 9 cause at 9:01 I will be, with or without.
Thread Starter
|
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 69,901
Likes: 18,590
From: South Florida
2AM Guy & Mark H.,
It appears u r paralelling what I am finding out.
It takes "work" and a skeleton of rules must be in place and abided by.
Gee, I wonder why I liked going Lone Wolf b4. LOL
Thank you for your input. Oh, people who think like WE do should ride together. It appears WE "get it". LOL
I just had a flashback. One of the guys I used to ride with and was in the group b4 I joined ALWAYS wanted to stay longer in EVERY town they stopped in for the night. LOL Ticked them off for the longest time. Finally they stopped riding with him. Funny thing is that guy they stopped riding with was an original founder of the group. LOL
People are funny........
BuzzCap7
It appears u r paralelling what I am finding out.
It takes "work" and a skeleton of rules must be in place and abided by.
Gee, I wonder why I liked going Lone Wolf b4. LOL
Thank you for your input. Oh, people who think like WE do should ride together. It appears WE "get it". LOL
I just had a flashback. One of the guys I used to ride with and was in the group b4 I joined ALWAYS wanted to stay longer in EVERY town they stopped in for the night. LOL Ticked them off for the longest time. Finally they stopped riding with him. Funny thing is that guy they stopped riding with was an original founder of the group. LOL
People are funny........
BuzzCap7
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,556
Likes: 1,846
From: Albuquerque, NM
I've got to say that the group I ride with for long distance never has these problems. Just lucky I guess, or we're all grownups.
As you said, it's YOUR ride. Be very clear about that up front. If people don't like the way you're doing it, they can plan their own ride and do it themselves. As long as you're up front about it all, don't worry about it. As soon as you start making special concessions about small trivial stuff like "We're stopping too early...too late....etc." you're sunk.
Crazy
As you said, it's YOUR ride. Be very clear about that up front. If people don't like the way you're doing it, they can plan their own ride and do it themselves. As long as you're up front about it all, don't worry about it. As soon as you start making special concessions about small trivial stuff like "We're stopping too early...too late....etc." you're sunk.
Crazy
Trending Topics
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 604
Likes: 64
From:
Herding Cats, that is what its like.
Set a daily mileage (300 to 500) that way you will know apex. How long a day it will be.
Give everyone the Hotel location (address, phone number) (if you make reservations) or a meeting place for end of day.
Gas stops and rest stops at apex. 100 to 125 miles.
Meals, breakfast and start times, adjust for morning rush hours and length of the days rides (so your not riding at night at the end of the day).
Lunch, group decision, (suggest a sit-down restraint as this gives you a break, NO more than 1 hr. again due to the length of the days ride)
Days ride of 500 miles.
Leave time 0700 (cursing at 70 75 MPH)
#1 Gas stop for 15 min. at (125 miles) (apex. time 2 hr.)
#2 Gas stop for 15 min. at (125 miles) (apex. time 2 hr.) (total time 4 hr.)
Make this your lunch stop (time 1 hr.)
#3 Gas stop for 15 min. at (125 miles) (apex. time 2 hr.) (total time 7 hr.)
#4 Gas stop for 15 min. at (125 miles) (apex. time 9 hr.)
This is ONLY a paper schedule; real time is more like 10 to 11 hrs. as those afternoon 15 min gas / rest strops need to be more like 25 to 30 min. Not everyone will have a 2hr. butt.
You may not be able to average 70 75 MPH unless your traveling highways.
DONT PUSH IT too hard if your not up to riding this long each day DON"T.
Set a daily mileage (300 to 500) that way you will know apex. How long a day it will be.
Give everyone the Hotel location (address, phone number) (if you make reservations) or a meeting place for end of day.
Gas stops and rest stops at apex. 100 to 125 miles.
Meals, breakfast and start times, adjust for morning rush hours and length of the days rides (so your not riding at night at the end of the day).
Lunch, group decision, (suggest a sit-down restraint as this gives you a break, NO more than 1 hr. again due to the length of the days ride)
Days ride of 500 miles.
Leave time 0700 (cursing at 70 75 MPH)
#1 Gas stop for 15 min. at (125 miles) (apex. time 2 hr.)
#2 Gas stop for 15 min. at (125 miles) (apex. time 2 hr.) (total time 4 hr.)
Make this your lunch stop (time 1 hr.)
#3 Gas stop for 15 min. at (125 miles) (apex. time 2 hr.) (total time 7 hr.)
#4 Gas stop for 15 min. at (125 miles) (apex. time 9 hr.)
This is ONLY a paper schedule; real time is more like 10 to 11 hrs. as those afternoon 15 min gas / rest strops need to be more like 25 to 30 min. Not everyone will have a 2hr. butt.
You may not be able to average 70 75 MPH unless your traveling highways.
DONT PUSH IT too hard if your not up to riding this long each day DON"T.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window
Verdad Gallardo
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 35,506
Likes: 27
From: Calgary eh
So in all my wisdom of thinking I was smart enough to put out an e-mail to the riders outlining a projected plan THIS LONG DISTANT RIDE WILL HAVE answering ALL of the above cry baby questions, I am already getting statements that I am starting too early or too late, etc.... Wholly mother of mary..........
I think my response to the riders with a different agenda is......"I'd love to have you but THAT IS the plan. There will be enough surprises on the road with a group. So if they can FIT IN my outline great. If not DO NOT COME!
My question to you guys for your feedback is..........am I F'd up? Did I do this right?
One more thing pls, this is MY ride. YOU (them) are joining ME. I am NOT joining THEM. Don't try to F up MY ride.
I would like to give this LD Group ride a good try and be more "sociable" before I decide to go back to being a Lone Wolf.
Thank you all very much in advance. I will be reading your responses daily.
BuzzCap7
I think my response to the riders with a different agenda is......"I'd love to have you but THAT IS the plan. There will be enough surprises on the road with a group. So if they can FIT IN my outline great. If not DO NOT COME!
My question to you guys for your feedback is..........am I F'd up? Did I do this right?
One more thing pls, this is MY ride. YOU (them) are joining ME. I am NOT joining THEM. Don't try to F up MY ride.
I would like to give this LD Group ride a good try and be more "sociable" before I decide to go back to being a Lone Wolf.
Thank you all very much in advance. I will be reading your responses daily.
BuzzCap7
In my experience with group rides -- you're always waiting. There is always a straggler, someone who forgot something, someone who didn't fillup with gas because they thought they had enough so you have to make yet another gas stop, etc.
When I ride with one or two other like minded riders things go great. But you get in a big group, and it's a totally different atmosphere.
So... I think you have to accept that. Riding in a group is slow going.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 4
From: Albuquerque, New Mexico
I gotta agree with all the observations that have been made above. I *USED* to ride with a couple
groups, but I got fed up with the "problem child" issues that always come up. I *DO* ride with a couple
people that I am compatible with, but I think I've had it with the common "formation style" group ride.
What *I* would do in your shoes would be to drop the "formation" concept as such and just let people
ride together or not as they choose with a set departure time, route and a couple defined rendezvous
points each day. Wanna sleep in? No problem.. see you at the evening destination or maybe at lunch
if you catch up.
Want to stay a bit longer for some pics? No sweat, see you later. Wanna ride slower / faster? Again,
no problem; we'll meet up at day's end.
If you start with those flexible assumptions, people can toss in some variations without pissing off
everyone else and the strain on the leader trying to herd those cats is greatly reduced.
One key thing would be to ensure that everyone had a cell phone and all numbers were shared. That
way if someone has difficulties or seems to be missing, communication can be established. You can't
cover every contingency so set some basic guidelines and let it go from there.
groups, but I got fed up with the "problem child" issues that always come up. I *DO* ride with a couple
people that I am compatible with, but I think I've had it with the common "formation style" group ride.
What *I* would do in your shoes would be to drop the "formation" concept as such and just let people
ride together or not as they choose with a set departure time, route and a couple defined rendezvous
points each day. Wanna sleep in? No problem.. see you at the evening destination or maybe at lunch
if you catch up.
Want to stay a bit longer for some pics? No sweat, see you later. Wanna ride slower / faster? Again,
no problem; we'll meet up at day's end.
If you start with those flexible assumptions, people can toss in some variations without pissing off
everyone else and the strain on the leader trying to herd those cats is greatly reduced.
One key thing would be to ensure that everyone had a cell phone and all numbers were shared. That
way if someone has difficulties or seems to be missing, communication can be established. You can't
cover every contingency so set some basic guidelines and let it go from there.