group rides
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,543
Likes: 59
From: Chicagoland
Too many idiots with enough credit to finance bikes nowadays. Ironically, I think the only time they ride, is on group rides or poker runs, and drinking events. Screw that... I only ride with people I trust, in a group or 4-5 bikes, max.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: AK
No group rides for me. Tried it years ago, and just not for me. Aside from the obvious safety issues; in every group there is almost always at least one loud obnoxious ***, who knows everything about everything, and isn't shy about letting everyone know it. I just can't take that crap. I ride to relax.....I just don't find groups very relaxing. I do enjoy rallies, bike shows, etc...but like the option to come and go as I please.
Jeff
Jeff
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 444
Likes: 166
Dont get me wrong. I Love talking to other "Like Minded" riders and my favourite thing is walking down a row of bikes just to see different tastes and ideas. Just cant hack people who dont ride well or get sloshed and then stay 5 feet behind me and my pride and joy. I'll stick with riding with the guys I know and I'll go to charity rides and pay my dues but when it comes to ride time...pass
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 377
Likes: 5
From: Central California
There's a half dozen guys that I ride with that I have known all my life. I trust them with my life and they trust me with theirs. With those guys, we'll ride tight and hard when we don't have our wives along. With anyone else, I create plenty of space, but would prefer to ride alone.
Just got back from a 125-mile-ride with about 1100 bikes honoring the men and women who went to war and never came home. I get what you all are saying about the inexperienced riders, but I still feel that's it's my responsibility to show my respect. I ride extra carefully and pay a lot of attention to what's in front of me and what's in my mirrors. I brake slowly, signal early, and try to be as predictable as I possibly can be. In my book, it's still the distracted drivers who pose the biggest danger.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,692
Likes: 22
From: Denham Springs, La
My wife and I went on a HOG ride today. There were about 30-50 bikes on the ride. The ride was about 170 miles there and 130 miles back. We had a safety meeting before we started and went over the route and hand signals. We rode close to the speed limit all the way there. Everybody maintained safe distances.
It was a very enjoyable ride with about 45 minutes to an hour between breaks. We had a late lunch and afterwards people left at different times taking different routes home.
My wife and I left by ourselves and had an even better ride home. We were able to stop when we wanted, where we wanted and for as long as we wanted. I prefer this to any other riding but the comradery of being with the group is something we like and enjoy also.
It was a very enjoyable ride with about 45 minutes to an hour between breaks. We had a late lunch and afterwards people left at different times taking different routes home.
My wife and I left by ourselves and had an even better ride home. We were able to stop when we wanted, where we wanted and for as long as we wanted. I prefer this to any other riding but the comradery of being with the group is something we like and enjoy also.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,011
Likes: 143
From: Albuquerque New Mexico
My wife and I went on a HOG ride today. There were about 30-50 bikes on the ride. The ride was about 170 miles there and 130 miles back. We had a safety meeting before we started and went over the route and hand signals. We rode close to the speed limit all the way there. Everybody maintained safe distances.
It was a very enjoyable ride with about 45 minutes to an hour between breaks. We had a late lunch and afterwards people left at different times taking different routes home.
My wife and I left by ourselves and had an even better ride home. We were able to stop when we wanted, where we wanted and for as long as we wanted. I prefer this to any other riding but the comradery of being with the group is something we like and enjoy also.
It was a very enjoyable ride with about 45 minutes to an hour between breaks. We had a late lunch and afterwards people left at different times taking different routes home.
My wife and I left by ourselves and had an even better ride home. We were able to stop when we wanted, where we wanted and for as long as we wanted. I prefer this to any other riding but the comradery of being with the group is something we like and enjoy also.
That being said we also have an absolute blast with the more spirited riding in smaller groups. And my wife and I occasionally take off just by ourselves for a few hundred miles, or even a few 3000 mile 9 day trips by ourselves. It has all been fantastic, every bit of it.
As far as the charity rides, there's usually a few marginal riders/kuckleheads who are a little annoying but it is usually for a good cause, like our Memorial Day Rally in the Valley yesterday with about 500 bikes going to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park. It was incredible.