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Group Riding -- pros and cons

These comments have been great.

I have ridden in some huge bicycling events 2-3,000 people all headed to the same destination. It is quite similar, friends riding/drafting together and riding with a LOT of unknown riders. It can be most dangerous in a pack, going up a steep hill. Not knowing if the person in front of you is going to bail off the saddle or stand up and pump. Just a few seconds of hesitation can bring a whole pack down.

It didn't dawn on me until reading these replys, the riding concerns are very similar.
 
Check out the birds in the sky...some always fly alone, others prefer the flock. It is instinctive for them, just as it is for riders. Some like to go their own way and others enjoy the sociability of the group. It depends on the individual...going back to when we were kids and some were always joining clubs and groups and others were pretty much always to themselves or with the same few close friends all the time. Myself and my wife, we like the simplicity and freedom of riding by ourselves or with the same 2 or 3 close friends who are also long time riders and who share our philosophy of zero alcohol on the ride. We are glad to help newbies learn but always in a protective environment, not in a large group where bad things can happen quick.
 
I basically learned how to ride with two friends of mine. Our riding styles turned out to be basically the same and we have ridden together for the past 4 years. They never belonged to a riding group, but they had observed so many group rides in their 60+ combined years of riding experience that they knew most of the rules for group rides and they taught them to me. On my first ride with a large H.O.G. group, one of the leaders of the ride said that I must have been on a lot of group rides because I knew just what to do.

I belong to a local riding club that has about 15 members. I've gone on a number of rides with them and they have been great. However, it takes a lot of concentration to ride in a large group since you are dealing with a lot of different riding styles and this often interferes with enjoying the ride.

I recently called a fellow riding club member and we set up a ride for just the two of us. While waiting for him in a coffee shop, one of the club officers walked in. He asked why I was there and I was honest with him. I asked him why he was there and he confessed that he and another club member had also set up a ride for just the two of them. He expressed both of your feelings when he said that sometimes you just want to ride with just a few other people and not with a whole group. The four of us ended up riding together that day.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that you should try to find some other riders whose riding style matches your own. You will then have the social benefits of riding with others while not having to put up with widely differing riding styles. Just my $0.02.
 
My first group ride. I went on a 150+ mile trip with the local HOG chapter. It was awesome. It helped reading all your posts -- sort of gave me a heads-up on what to watch out for.

I can't say that I want to ride like that all the time, but it was amazing to look in my mirrors and see a 30+ bike train behind me. It was a real rush.

We were pretty solid on the way out. On the way back the personnel changed a bit with some folks opting to ride back later or to go a different route. It can get frustrating when the guy in front of you keeps dropping back then speeds to catch up -- its like the bellows in an accordian with everyone adjusting to keep their spacing.

I did notice that I missed alot of the scenery along the way as I was watching what was going on in front of me and behind me. It required alot more concentration for sure.

But I'd do it again. Maybe the next HOG brunch ride!
 
Group riding can be fun or it can be hard work depending on the leaders. I went with a local group and the "Road Captain" never looked in his mirrors to see if any other bikes were with him. He left many of the less experienced riders very frustrated. I think you place your less experienced riders up front because the tendency is that the further toward the back you ride, the faster you have to ride to maintain the leaders speed. This is due to the packs tendency to speed up and slow down (accordian or rubber band effect) Put your better riders in the rear. Break into groups of 8 to 10 bikes with "road captains front and rear of each group. Give out written itenaries and route maps so that if someone gets lost or has to stop, they will know where to go.

lastly, arrive at the group ride with a full tank and an empty bladder. Nopthing is worse than having to wait on someone to fill one or empty the other.

Ride safe

Bubba
 
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I like to ride with groups but,,,, I agree with others about the quality and experience of the other riders. The poker runs can be a bit questionable because of the taverns they may include and some of us don't know that we get brave when we drink and ride. ( Never a good idea )
The fund raisers are usually filled with like minded experienced riders that all practice safe riding techniques and control intersections when in parade form to minimize risk.
Love to ride alone though,,,,, you know throttle sound and all.
 
"...The poker runs can be a bit questionable because of the taverns they may include and some of us don't know that we get brave when we drink and ride. ( Never a good idea )"

The second to last group ride my wife and I took was also our last poker run. At the 3rd bar, 2 dudes were pretty looped. We tried to leave ahead of them but they blasted through the parking lot(gravel) , and sped past others waiting to get on the road, rocks flying.

"...The fund raisers are usually filled with like minded experienced riders that all practice safe riding techniques and control intersections when in parade form to minimize risk..."

The last group ride we took was a few years ago...a toy run. The group was in parade form, double file on a narrow 2-lane, escorted by LEO's and Shriners, blocking the intersections so the group could stay together. They were "leapfrogging" one another, and passing the 30mph group about a foot or so in distance from the group's handlebars and doing well over 70mph. Just got new tires mounted at my Indy. He had 2 Shriner bikes there. They were escorting a parade, only doing about 25. First one lays it down and second one is so close he can't miss him and it's Dresser hockey pucks. Thankfully, nobody got hurt.

More power to Y'all who enjoy them. All I can say is pay attention and ride safe. As far as Nita and I and a few close riding buddies, we'd rather have a more relaxing and safer ride.
Respects,
Bob
 
I've been on about 25 group rides in 2008 and a couple in 2009. At same time, I enjoy being on my H.O.G. chapter rides. My Chapter is rated the safest in Indiana and we treat safety as priority one. Makes for a fun ride, in correct staggered position, use of proper hand signals, and adhering to local highway laws.

The group rides that have been enjoyable are those that have a special venue, like Kids for Riley (hospital) where we get to buzz once around the Indy 500 race track as part of the ride. Or the Loop For Life where the police shut down one side of Interstate 456 in Indy for a police escorted ride. Or Wings of Angels that starts at the Indy 500 Track and ends up at the Indy Air Show.

There are other smaller venues that are unique and fun as well. Loved being on the Indiana Governor's ride with Gov. Mitch Daniels last year as well.

WILL NOT participate in pokers runs that are essentially Bar Hops.
 
because we ride in a group often we are familiar with each other. We all use MSF hand signal communication. When someone new joins the group they ride in the rear where we have a designated person evaluate their riding skills. The same person evaluates bikes for safety issues.
 
Ill revist this thread as now i have been out a few more times and the group i have been riding with not is a lot more fun ..

still its nto a relaxing as alone or 2-3 bikes have to pay a lot more attn to what others are doing and a lot more of them but all and all its good
 
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