I've done the parade in town twice with ABATE. It only lasted a couple hours but it will never happen again. I'm guessing about 300 riders altogether. There's such a huge mix of guys/girls with different skill levels and personalities it just wasn't fun. Lots of riders with a "Look at me!" bullshit attitude and lots of weavers from hell. I've ridden with 2 guys for the past couple or 3 years. Both in their early 60's and have experience out their ***. Now that's fun. We have a perfect rythum with each other and things are good.

 

I find myself in a lot of group rides. It's always pretty stressful, and I have given myself a few guidelines to follow:

If the group is riding slow, I make sure I give myself plenty of distance from the bike ahead. I also don't "focus" on the bike ahead. They could lead you right off a cliff.

If the group is riding fast, I always ride my own ride. I will pull over and let the the other bikes pass me and pull in with the sweeper if necessary.

I always know where the bike behind me is.

I never run the light just to stay with the pack.

I always know where I am going, so if I need to drop out, I'm not lost without the group.

I try to never lose situational awareness with cross and oncoming traffic. It's easy to get tunnel vision when you are riding in a stressful environment.

Yes, I'm a conservative rider, but it has served me well.

 

I went on one group ride. Never again. Was raining lightly. group went through a red light without police escort. 6 lane road so I stopped. Then I had to ride faster than I usually would, weaving through heavy expressway traffic to catch up. After I caught up one of the riders lowsided and he went sliding down the highway (heard he was OK, lucky he didn't get run over).

His bike popped back up ran into the median and bounced off, headed for me. I sped up and it passed ten feet behind me. I will pass on the next group ride.

 

I've been riding since I was 10 years old (43 now). Never have I ridden with more than 5 bikes. I have a charity ride coming up with quite a few riders. Any tips?

 

Good for you - give yourself a gold star and go to the front of the class.

This is a back country road, no houses, no specicif hazards. The speed limit is set to 35 mph to keep the farmers happy. When I come up behind a bunch of wanna be bikers crawling along at 30 to 35mph riding staggered and so close their riding style is dangerous to themselves and further that it is impossible for others to pass I'm not a happy camper. If you condone this sort of riding then please stay in Texas. As far as strict adherence to the traffic codes posted - I personally believe that that too can be dangerous at times.

I ride safely and within the spirit of what is intended in order to stay out of harms way. Sometimes that means going slower than the posted spead limit and sometimes it means getting away from a dangerous situation by going faster than the posted speed limit.

To be perfectly clear - you probably had to be there to understand what a pain in the **** this was - perhaps I haven't explained it clearly enough.

 

In order to be a biker you have to speed and break the law? You have what is called road rage and it can be deadly on a bike. If you call exceding a speed limit because you dont agree with it staying out of harms way......

 

I don't care for group of more then 4 but I like to lead and some time my group falls apart but they understand I don't care to go below speed limit but 10 miles above it but always have plan for next stop to meet.My wife is the best companion I have found over the years she always keeps up with me but does get tired quicker then me which is understandable so I don't plan over 500 miles a day and make stops more often then I would if I am by my self.My goal is to hustle and get away from the traffic and use my cruise control. Most bikers groups don't like when you pass em but that is their issue they just need to stay with the traffic instead blocking it.

 

Nope - Actually I don't. Remarkable that you would be able to come to that conclusion based on a post or two of mine. I've been riding for almost 40 years and I've seen plenty of road rage. Very ugly.

It would be just super, however, if everyone that chooses to ride a motorcycle would have a little respect for others on the road and not decide to behave like a bunch of arrogant posers (and I don't care whether they are riding Farleys or Harleys - if the shoe fits . . . - well you know what they say)


In our state it's the law for many roads that slower vehicles may not cause a delay of other vehicles - typically if there are 5 or more vehicles delayed by the slower vehicle. It is also legal to exceed the posted speed limit temporarily to pass vehicles that are moving at below the posted speed limit. I imagine that this is to ensure that the act of passing may performed as safely as possible.

 

Just curious ..... do you safety patrol guys wear your flourescent vests when you type?

 

LMAO!! No kiddin'