Ok so today we take a ride with a group of friends. All levels of experience. So as always I was given the task of planning the destination and the route. Had a great route picked out and avoided all "Busy" roads as the group likes. (they do not like riding on any busy roads at all) So we get to my buddies house and we see his wife's bike out front, then a few other bikes pull up and off get three more women. They immediately start complaining that we should not go to far beacause there is a 30% chance of thunderstorms. I just told them where we live there is a chance of a thunderstorm everyday... So we eventually get on the bikes and leave I am leading, one of my buddies and his wife 2up are right behind me followed by two other strong riders riding two up, then the rest of the group. So we start hitting some nice back roads and thr four of us are losing the other 7 bikes with every turn. At each intersection we wait for the rest. We make our way to a "busy" road as we need to take this road about 5 miles to the next set of back roads and we are going 50 the four of us and the rest of the group keeps falling farther and farther back....

We make a stop at a gas station and my buddy jumps on me tellibg me we are going too fast and this is only 2nd time his wife has ever taken her bike out. Two of the other woman said they had enough and they wanted to go home. So after the stop we hit the road speed limit 55 I set my cruise to 45 and we did not get 2 miles down the road and the 7 bikes were out of site again. We sloweed down for them to catch up, I set my cruise to 35 and down the road they were out of site again... I don't care how slow we go they fall so far behind we only see them in the distance.

Of course we get to lunch and the 7 are all pissed. while we were trying to keep the group together one of the stronger riders dropped all the way to the back and tried to push them along and he ended up coming back to the front beacuse they would not move.

I have been a road captain for the club I belong to and have led large group rides (a lot larger than 11 bikes...) I am thinking this group is not going to get it. My wife got a bike about 2 months ago and I am working with her and know she was not ready to ride her own in a group and probably will not be for quite a while. What would make someone think that someone should take out their bike for the 2nd time ever in a group situation then get pissed at others because they can't keep up?

Out of those 7 bikes two guys have been riding for a few years but are not very strong riders and they usually fall far behind when we ride and the other 5 have a year or less in the saddle.

 

I would have just left them and kept on going. I would have also told your buddy that jumped your *** that if his wife can't even do the speed limit she shouldn't be on a bike.

 

My favorite is the guy that shows up for the ride and needs gas within a couple of miles. But, groups are only as fast as the slowest rider, gas stops take forever and some bodys always pissed off. Save yourself some headache, plan the ride with a couple of buds, if anyone ask's give them the route and tell em you'll see them there.

 

Amen!!

 

Riding that much below the speed limit they are a hazard to themselves and those that may run into them. I would never ride with them again. I would have told your buddy to fk off and take care of them himself. Just because you have experience doesn't mean you should have to be miserable taking care of people who should not be on the open road on a motorcycle.

 

That sucks! You were a lot nicer than I would've been. No doubt, if they were pissed, they would've been on their own, while I enjoyed the ride. On the plus side, they probably won't ride with you anymore.

 

If it's the chick's SECOND time on a bike. She shouldn't even be on a group ride.

Instant bikers I swear.

 

Yeah, that's not you fault. I usually ride in the front of the pack and put another strong rider in the back to push the slow pokes along. If they aren't comfortable doing the speed limit then they need to get directions and just meet up at their pace. They need to realize that if they aren't ready then they shouldn't go on group rides and need to stick to slow, short distance rides. You didn't do anything wrong, and I would have told my buddy that if his wife can't go the speed limit then she needs to turn around and head back home!

 

If you want someone to get hurt just ride under the speed limit. Cars start stacking up behind the group and tempers flair. If the guys wife can't ride at lest the speed limit she doesn't need to be riding with a group.

And another thing. If you don't show up at the starting point on time you're left behind. That's my rule with anyone riding with me.

 

Unfortunately that is what happens in groups there will always be different levels of experience and riding styles.
You have to decide in advance what the whole group is capable of because the weakest link or links will make things unbearable for the experienced and novice.I feel for you been there done that and avoid it like the plague.