Riding with others

[schoeney]

No poll needed but just curious how some of you feel about the group size when riding (lets say 100+ miles ) with others.

I love riding period... but I find my comfort zone is riding with less than 4 others. Any more than that it seems to drag out the stops, harder to keep track (especially if you are leading the pack) and not as relaxed. It seems like more work.

I have only ridden in a really large group once...like 100 bikes. I did not find that fun unless you are just going on a 1/2 mile parade.

I recently took a nice ride with 9 bikes..and I still felt it was too large of group for my comfort zone. I was leading so I felt a responsibility to keep the pack together and made sure we didn't lose anyone but I was amazed how much slower we were in/out of stops and just getting going. I think it cost us about an hour of saddle time just for a half day ride.

Everyone rode the formation and knew what they were doing (except me but no one noticed http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif).

I enjoy looking around, ride a little slower (60-65 or so) taking in the sites/scenery and I didn't seem to enjoy that part as much with 9 bikes. Is that normal? Or do I just need to do it more and it gets more relaxing?

Don't get me wrong, I can see the occasional National or Regional Rally being a hoot to meet up and hang out but riding in groups more than 4/5 on a regular basis doesn't have a big appeal to me.

The exception would be the Patriot Guard Riders, Green Knights, Blue Knighhts, Red Knights, etc. I would think the honor and emotion would overcome the issue.

[cactusjack]

I belong to a couple of riding clubs in the Phoenix area. One of them is quite large and I've been on rides with them where we've had over 50 bikes. Most rides are around 20 bikes. I find the larger the group, the less enjoyable the ride. In large groups my attention is on the riders around me and trying to anticipate their moves and constantly trying to dodge them. It takes a lot of time to fuel 50 bikes, to park 50 bikes and for everyone to eat and get mounted up again. I think groups of 10 bikes or less is much better.

[Todd]

With the exception of the KawaNOW rallies.............I prefer riding just 1 or 2 bikes most of the time.

Smaller groups, say under 6, can be pretty fun and managable. After that it's still fun but I find it less enjoyable.

[Netnorske]

3-5 is about right. Easy to keep track of everyone that way and it don't take all day for fuel/food etc. I have every bit as much fun doing a 200 miler by myself... http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif. For sure...the larger the group...the less relaxing and enjoyable.

[darthvulcan]

Much the same here, although we prefer solo trips. I enjoy the freedom to do or go wherever the road leads, and stop whenever we want.

When we do a group ride, and it's really not that often, it's usually just us and another couple, or two. I find a group of 3 to 4 bikes is easy to manage provided you all know each others' level of skill and confidence.

Dealership demo rides are by far the worst in my opinion. Some have been down-right scary. You quickly realize that many on the ride have no idea how to properly and safely ride in a group.

[bosko]

I usually ride solo 99% of the time. Never have ridden with more than 2 others.

Been in groups of 5-10 when out on dirtbikes. Very entertaining more riders= more crashes. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

My mom says I don't play well with others. http://emoticons4u.com/violent/sterb041.gif http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[waterman]

The largest group I have riden with is about 60 bikes. Way to many. More preferable is an extra 1 to 3 bikes. As long as everyone is somewhat familiar with each other we have done rides with up to 10 bikes and it was ok. The most important part with larger groups is good communication and the lead and rear drivers knowing what they need to do with groups.

[chainsaw]

I totally agree with you all. More is not marrier.

[watchman]

We rode with a group of 113 bikes once at the VROC Boscobel rally in Wisconsin. We had Hwy Patrol, Sheriff deputies and local police running interference for us. Before the ride we took 30 minutes to go over group riding techniques, we kept the speed down to 50 mph max and had a trail escort with a mechinic and trailer. It was a very well planned ride and it was great.

But personally I don't like riding with more than 6 to 8 bikes in a group. You get strung out to far and it is hard to get through lights, etc. Just like the last Patroit Guard ride the undertaker wanted us to follow the herse from Macon to the Cemetary in Jacksonville, a total of 14 miles. I was leading and spaced myself 2 seconds back from the herse and kept pace with it. By the time we got to Jacksonville the procession was strung out for more than a half a mile. Mostly do to the other bikes not grouping together.

I really believe that very few riders know how to ride in a group! Or feel uncomfortable riding that close to other bikes.

[dabull]

I've only ridden with a group of 5-8. The group of 5 was even more pleasurable than the 8...not to say that the 8 of us didn't have a good time, because we did. I would think that with a larger group, if you could break it into smailler groups (of 5?), all ride ruffly same time to same place all would be good, taking the heat off the lead dawg to be responsible for all sniffin his tail (pipes that is;)

Aloha

Derry

I normally ride with 4 to 6 (and for some reason they keep putting me in the lead). Any more than that and I don't enjoy it much at all.

Leading is too much work with larger numbers.

Michael K

[watchman]

You can find some good info on about group riding at http://www.ama-cycle.org/roadride/groupRide.asp Remember that when they speak of the 2 second interval they are riding in stagard formation and the 2 seconds is the bike directly in front of you, not the one off to your left or right. You should have 1 second between you and the stagard bikes to your front and rear.

[kawgirl]

The largest group I have ridden in was about 500 bikes through NYC on the Concrete Canyon Run. That has to be the best organized and orchestrated ride I have ever ridden!! I would do it again.

On a regular basis, I ride with a group. We usually have 5 to 6 bikes but have had up to 16 or more. It's true, the more bikes you have, the less cohesive the group tends to get when you have riders with mixed skills.

[VulcanE]

Other than commuting back and forth to work, most of my rides are 2-up and only us. We do get together with others, normally 1 to 3 others, and that size is the most fun. We usually go about twice each summer with a group of 20, and really have a good time. The largest group I've ridden with was about 150. We had police escort, didn't have to stop at any lights or stop signs, just kept riding. We hit a stretch of about 30 miles on an inter-state, and with the cop escort, we were rolling along at 100 MPH http://s2.images.proboards.com/shocked.gif. That was really a blast. My favorite size group is 2-4 bikes. I feel most comfortable when I'm familiar with the riding skills of all involved. Most of the time, I am the lead bike, (except when riding with DK, because he knows where we're going http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif). I prefer to be a trailing bike, but I'm happy riding in any position.

[skeeter]

2-6 anywhere. More than that in town gets to be a pain. Been with 10-20 some good some bad. Depends on where your riding, skill levels, communication, and courtesy. I've had fun riding with 10+ bikes haulin butt. Familiarity with fellow riders played a part. People not getting offended and finding their niche played a part. Good leadership.... Other than that I say large groups are for parades or funerals. Low and slow...

[roadman]

I like to ride in groups of 4 or 5 any bigger and it gets harder too keep the group together.

[paul]

Don't think this will add a lot at this point, and my experience seems to be a common one. Mostly, we ride 4-6 bikes on group rides. All the rides have been enjoyable except one. I'll get to that one in a second.

We are friends and do other things in addition to riding. http://s2.images.proboards.com/cool.gif I think this makes the rides a little more enjoyable, because many times the rides have a goal or common destination. My absolute favorite ride was with another couple on a 7 day vacation trip. Not saying we didn't get on each other's nerves a time or two, ::) http://s2.images.proboards.com/angry.gif:(" title=">:(" border="0"/> but.......over all it was fantastic. Planning another one sometime with maybe 3-4 couples.

My worst ride was just this past weekend. Four of us went out for a little 4 hour trip to nowhere, just the guys this time. They voted me road captain (their 1st mistake http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif). And let me set the course (mistake # 2). When I ride I like to just go in the general direction of my nose and see "new" roads and sights. This is fine solo, but not so good pulling a group. Anyway we all learned something. Next time, we'll make a plan.

On the positive side, the Guys took great care of the newbie in our merry band, kept him in the middle and we didn't make any bonzai corners. http://s2.images.proboards.com/shocked.gif
Hey, It's all fun!!!!

[Cajunrider]

Don't get to ride in groups very often with my work schedule. I'm off 2 weekends a month but have lots of free weekdays to ride. I did before Gustav and Ike anyway. The 2 off weekends usually end up wet or something else is going on. If I did ride in a group, I think 3 - 5 would be better for me if we were all pretty level in confidence and skill.

[coacha]

We normally ride by ourselves because we do a lot of side trips and spur of the moment things and enjoy that aspect. I do ride with a couple other larger groups (from 4 up to 20 bikes) and enjoy those also. It is all about the company you want on a particular day for me. We went on a ride last weekend, on a borrowed bike, with 18 other bikes and had a blast. But I miss my rides just with my wife too.

[towering]

Largest group i have riden with was about 800 on a wall escort. Short run only 40 miles. Normally i ride in a group of 5 to 15 bikes. It is a bit of a pain because we have so many smokers and they need a half hour break every 50 miles. Solo gives me a chance to set my own speed and stop and spook the cows.

[dantama]

I've ridden in groups of 2,000 bikes to just me solo.

I like to ride solo, or with on or two other fast riders.

When I go solo, I go fast, but also stop and read historical markers and do uturns to take pictures. I never do that with other people riding with me, so sometimes I like to go alone.

When I go in a small group, I like somebody else to lead. No matter how fast they go, I can keep up; but if I'm leading I have to spend too much time looking in the mirror to see if I'm going too fast for the other riders. If they lead, I don't have to worry, I just follow.

I ride with a few guys in Colorado on a once a year ride. They all fly. We go 90mph on mountain straights on two laners, and nobody has to wait for anybody. I like riding with that group and it doesn't matter who leads, it will be fast and everybody will keep up, I don't want to ride like that every time, but once a year it's a lot of fun.

One thing that makes small groups fun for me is riding with very competent riders. It's nice to take a corner very fast, and know the guy behind you won't be riding beyond his capabilities trying to keep up. There is a group of VROC'ers that meet up in Utah that can all ride like that, they are fun to ride with too.

One ride that didn't work for everyone, but I really enjoyed was the ride through Zions at the Western rally. We were too big of a group, but I still enjoyed it a lot, even the freeway part. :)

[rksaw]

Like Tower, the largest group ride I was able to attend was accompanying the "wall", but we only had 100 or so.

Most of my group rides are with the other pastors on staff (there are 4 of us who ride), and we are all so familiar with each other that it translates into the way we ride. I always end up in the #2 spot with my best friend in the #1 spot.

I enjoy riding with the guys from the office most, even more than riding by myself, probably because we know what each other is going to do and how each other will react. It's the camaraderie that makes the ride.
Rich

[bobzinger]

I don't like riding alone especially on the highway...I think 2 or more bikes have more visibility. I prefer 2-6 bikes. Our group Celebrationriders.org goes on a ride the 1st Saturday of each month. We have 12 - 20 bikes. It can be a hassle, but the fellowship with friends pays off in the end.

[goldstar225]

I was stressed the first time I went on a group ride with my Blue Knight chapter. Although I was an experienced rider I remained tensed up over screwing up the ride. I stayed so focused on maintaining my interval that I missed the fun of the ride. As time passed I got into the groove and enjoyed the monthly rides.

Earlier this year I was "drafted" to be the road captain of my chapter. Our groups aren't large, normally 4-15 bikes. It is more stressful but I enjoy the camaraderie. My wife and I have the most fun though on our solo trips or one that is shared with one or two friends.

[biscuitsngravy]

I've never been on a ride with more than 7 others. It was okay, but it wasn't more than 150 miles round trip. So far, I enjoy riding.... period. BnG

[flavor]

I also do most of my riding solo. Short or long trips. I do ride with 4 or 5 riders every once in awhile and have ridden with as many as 23 bikes. Had a great times with the large groups, as they usually are well seasoned riders.

The mindset is completely different with the amount of riders you have in your group. I enjoy riding by myself because I only have to worry about myself. Speed, the lines you take on the road, slowing down to look around, and when you stop never is an issue when you're by yourself. I find myself paying a lot of attention to the other riders when riding with anyone or a large group. In those cases I don't see a lot of the country if in new territory. Not that I don't enjoy it (riding with others), I've had some really great rides. So I guess where I'm going and the type of ride I'm looking for at the time, plays on how much enjoyment (and I do enjoy all rides), I get out of a ride.

[groundbean]

I generally prefer solo or with my wife when she wants to take her bike out. I have seen large rides go by as I was out and they seem to be loud. I am a slow rider compared to others(speed limit usually), and I like to enjoy the sights and sounds as I ride, and stopping to take pictures whenever the road captain(me) wants. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif