Anyone else a loner and not a group rider?

[AE2WM]

I've soloed across the US several times, camping along the way and cooking my dinner at the campsite. I derive a satisfaction from the ability to come and go as I please without compromising with others. It's almost a spiritual experience. I also often ride with one close friend, even though our riding styles are a little different. (He likes to go about 10 mph faster than I do.) Occasionally I'll ride with a group, but it's invariably for short (a few hours) rides. I like to relax and savor the scenery, the sounds, the smells. It's hard to describe the solo experience, but it's gratifying.

Bill McGrath

 

[Longtimer]

Back in the early seventies I did few group rides and learnt that they weren't for me; it seemed that someone always had to get stupid in the middle of the group and make a mess of things; and trying to get everybody to stay to gather was a pain. They try to keep it organized but there are too many different riding styles. I have not done a group ride since the early seventies and only did a few then.

A group ride to me is her on the back with me up front. I like to meet people at the stops or where we're staying, and talk about where we've been and are going. But no group riding!

 

[ARtraveler]

When we lived in AK, we were members of a motorcycle group. I joined in 2001 and quit in about 2018. The club welcomed all makes and models and during the first 10 years or so we had about 50 bikes participating on our Thursday rides.

Because of the numbers, we had five different groups...usually 10 or less. They were grouped according to ability and speed. I was ride captain of the newbie group. All had to start there. The club had a couple close calls in the later years, but no accidents. We did give the "I Faw Down" award every year though.

The group changed leadership in the last year we were members. We did not like the new "politics" and safety issues went down hill. Since then, it has been mostly Linda and I riding together. We have had biker friends visit a time or two. We did day trips with them to show off the scenery.

 

[Columbia]

In my two-wheeled days, I did two one-day group-rides. My next-door neighbor, an excellent rider and instructor, was the group leader. Most of the riders were on VERY loud two-cylinder V-twin bikes, of various makes. They were all very nice people. Drove me nuts. Their nick names and hand signals and strictly enforced precision and protocol and all the seriousness made me have to work hard to not break out laughing. Of course they wouldn't have heard me: there was no sound but their need-a-better-muffler bikes.

I have two guys I ride with. On two wheels, now three. They're 150 miles away, so it's usually a trip we're on, two or more days. The longest was eleven. Camping. We get along. Don't mind silence. Have similar enough taste in food, all of which makes things easy. Not prone to complaint when my always used and elderly bike(s) would break. Good times.

More than two total I'm not fond of, verified last year when one said "Could my son join us?" The son was mid thirties, a good rider like his old man, and a pleasant fellow. The whole dynamic changed. Part of it was father-son stuff; I was neither so was, get ready, (on my spyder and) something of a third wheel.

The other guy has grown kids and a five year old daughter whose feet don't yet reach foot rests, so doesn't ride with dad. He and I are going to ride the San Juan Islands out of Anacortes, WA in September. He's on a new to him Yamaha. I know it'll be a good time and a good ride. Camping is something we both enjoy, especially combined with riding.

The wife and I travel together on the spyder and that works well. She no longer wants to sleep on the ground or wander out of the tent to find a toilet at night in the rain. Not sure why she finds that troublesome... Never traveled with another rider with her on board. As others have said, a second pair of eyes adds a level of safety and increases the odds of noticing interesting things along the road. And when she's on board, the engine seems to have a built-in speed limiter, kicking in when there's a knock on my helmet or words in the Sena we use between us. Had the same speed limiter when driving the autobahn in Germany back in the 80's. Interesting. I'd guess some of you have that same built-in speed control.

Let me conclude my novel by saying riding alone is my first choice, every time. Riding with ONE other rider, that one from a group of two is OK. Those two live in the same town, but have never met. I suspect a ride with the three of us is in our future. we'll see. More than two bikes at a time? No thanks.

My story may change. I'm retired. My two friends are still working. I might meet someone here in central Oregon to ride with. Time will tell. One guy I just met here on the forum, ButterSmooth, had a collision with a rock and is no longer riding. He's 18 or so miles east of me. Oh well. He's now enjoying a Miata. Good choice for him!

Summary: Group ride? Not for me.

 

[Columbia]

From some of our comments I see the makings of a group ride for those who hate riding in a group, preferring solo riding, solitude at day's end, no distractions etc.

The group of non-groupies could ride together 7-10 miles apart. Need help? Wait a bit and you're no longer solo (unless you're at the back of the line! No breakdowns for you!)

The Not A Group Group Ride?

 

[Cobwebs]

From some of our comments I see the makings of a group ride for those who hate riding in a group, preferring solo riding, solitude at day's end, no distractions etc.

The group of non-groupies could ride together 7-10 miles apart. Need help? Wait a bit and you're no longer solo (unless you're at the back of the line! No breakdowns for you!)

The Not A Group Group Ride?

Just running the numbers on your idea if you had say... 10 riders, send the 5 off together that like racing each other to the coffee shop.
Give them 15 minutes head start. Space the rest out at 15-minute intervals.
That's an hour and a quarter.
Add the ride distance time of say 4 hours, that's 5 1/4 hours total.
Most of the group riders I've come across need coffee every 2 hours that adds 1/2 hour so 5 3/4 hours now.
One always forgets to fuel up so another 15 minutes there's 6 hours.
One generally has a weak bladder that's 6 1/4 hours.
One wants to adjust his belt that's 6 1/2 hours.
We're now half hour past another coffee that 6 3/4, plus Mr. weak bladder, 7 hours.
While we're riding past Harry's place, we have to drop off a ride schedule, so he turns up on the right day next time, 7 1/4 hours.
The inevitable breakdown recovery mission holdup 7 3/4 hours, 8 if you have an early coffee break, 8 1/4 hours for nappy man.
Refuel, 8 1/2 hours.
Police harassment one of the gang looks like Sonny Barger, 8 3/4 hours.
Meal-time, 9 3/4 hours.
Now it's dark someone's headlight doesn't work.....................................................

Ah, a day full of memories!

 

[Tango]

Wife and I do mostly sool rides. She likes being on the back to direct, keep an eye out, amd take pics. She usually sets the route to her phone, or mine, and off we go. We have been on group rides from rallies. But have been mostly disappointed. The leader rides too fast, or not enough potty stops. :lecturef_smilie: Or worse people that haven't ridden on group rides. And worse yet are the ones who refuse to abide by group etiquette!!!! :cus: They don't pull over when the rider behind them is not there, and then your ride is toast because they are gone. Yes it happens. :thumbup: Tom :spyder:

 

[arkyleo]

We do this with the ROMEOS--a group riding organization that does not ride in a group, but meets weekly at a different restaurant for conversation. All come from different directions and some ride together if desired. I have been the "ride director" of the North Central Arkansas Group for over 10 years.
I rode with regular groups when I first moved here in 2004. but found it too dangerous for 30+ bikes on these curvy roads with all skill levels (and some none). Here is a link that shows locations, details and maps to the ride/meets every week that our garmin guru so kindly posts.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewe...K&ll=37.42995873115787,-94.32312093886509&z=6

 

[Badmotorf1nger]

Big riding/driving events are fun once in a blue moon, especially if its for some kind of cause or charity.
But I prefer to go out by myself, or with 4-5 friends that I know personally.
In a big group of strangers all it takes is 1 or 2 idiots to do something stupid or attract the wrong kind of attention.
Plus you never know who is a thief scoping out your ride.

Shows/meets are different because you're just hanging around talking, and most people arrive & leave separately.

 

[Lew L]

.

Both my wife and I prefer to ryde alone or with one or two other :spyder2:'s. If we in a lager group I try to ( sometimes insist) ryding sweep.

Lew L

 

[ollicat]

no more than 4 or 5 is my rule

 

[pcaffrey]

Years ago riding with a Gold Wing group broke us of the desire to ride with a pack. One other possibly 2 good friends is enough, Alone 99% of the time and prefer it

 

[sledge]

For me, anything more than 2 motorcycles is TOO MANY! About 20 years ago, I went across the Great Smokey Mountains and up the Blue Ridge Parkway for about 300 miles, it was nothing I ever want to do again...LOL ... The ride was good, but too many people and bikes. I have had 2 or 3 different riders over the years that I really enjoyed riding with, but every one of them has passed in the last 40 years. It's an Old Age Thing.... LOL ....... I am in North-East Tn. and even now there are not many Spyder's around here. But maybe there will be soon.

 

[KAMJAM]

In '07, my wife and I found out rather quickly that we're better off traveling alone. 15 of us went to Maggie valley, and after 3 hours of riding we were not out of Mass. (it should have taken 45 minutes) At the 5th rest stop in as many hours, we told the group we would see them at the hotel in Virginia later that night. (It was already 7am) so we hauled @$$ as far as Front Royal Va. Then jumped on Skyline Drive, completed that, & made it to the hotel at 8pm & in time for dinner ect ect.

Next morning and the group was still not there! A few txt's and phone calls and we found out they only made it to Allentown Pa. So we bailed again & told them we'd see them in Maggie valley. We did the BRP all the way to where it intersects 19, then we went to the hotel.

The ''group'' showed up 2 days later.... So, lesson learned, no group rides ever. We'll meet you for lunch/dinner and at a destination, but we travel alone.... maybe with one good wingman/woman.

Me and Julie ride separately, but together. We have had a similar experience to yours... first and last group ride, meet ups are great. By the way, we love Maggie Valley, WTT is awesome and Dale is one of a kind!

 

[Peacekeeper6]

I'm both, depending on my mood.

Sometimes, when I'm on a group ride, I like taking "sweep" or "tail gunner" (the last rider). It makes me feel I'm a "lone rider" when I feel like spending time riding with the Battle Born Spyders (a local Spyder group based in Reno, NV).

But mostly, I do tend to ride solo ....

 

[askitee]

I have attended a few motorcycle events and rallies and participated in some group rides over the years but very much prefer to do my riding solo. The big advantage for me is to be free to choose my route, my riding style, when and where to stop etc without having to account for the wishes and whims of others. I would guess that over my 40 plus years of riding more than 90 percent of it has been solo. My wife has never been comfortable on two wheels and her trike pillion riding is limited to the occasional half day ride.

My absolute favourite activity is a solo 3 or 4 day motorcycle (now trike) tour on curvy roads in good weather. The joy for me is taking in the surroundings and the freedom to adjust and adapt my ride to match my mood or current thinking or interests. I check in to hotels, find a local pub for dinner and spend the evening in my room reading a book or researching my next ride on my iPad. I seldom if ever watch live TV as I have no patience for the constants ads. I usually have a daily quick call or and exchange of texts with my wife but other than that I am truly solo.

I guess I am a loner by nature and don't feel the need to have company around to enjoy myself. I don't get anything out of large gatherings, cocktail parties or "small talk" I love to hike but again most of it is done solo for the same reasons as I avoid group rides. My wife is concerned about my safety on the longer more remote hikes so I have bought a GPS with a satellite communicator to make her feel a bit better about my solo trips. Yesterday I did a 14 mile hike in the mountains which took about 6 hours and only saw a couple of other hikers on the way. It was a beautiful day and and I relished the mountain scenery and peaceful solitude.

Are there others on this forum who feel the same or I am really the "odd man out"? :dontknow:

I do some trips solo - I drive to one of 3 intersection in town and decide if I go North, South, East or West. I certainly enjoy those trips where it doesn't matter what time I stop for the night/meal-break/rest-stop. I prefer to get away early (pre dawn) and maximize the ride time.

I do also like the rides a mate puts on for our group. He defines the route, prearranges accommodation with a deadline. He makes it flexible if we want to add detours to the trip we are able and includes a few "day stopovers here and there" where we get to do the touristy things or just ride around the area, and its up to you to set the pace you are comfortable with.

 

[DaniBoy]

I ride alone a lot too. I have a buddy with a two wheeler who has gone along with his wife for sone touring. My wife loves riding on my Spyder. We just travel through Amish country and often go to the train crossings together. There is a large Spyder club here, but they’re 2 hours away. 2 hours there and 2 hours back plus several hours riding once you get there is just too much for this guy.

 

[GaSpyderRyder]

You sound a lot like me. As an only child growing up I learned that doing things on my own was a lot more fun simply because I didn't have to wait on somebody and nobody had to wait on me. When I started riding, I preferred to travel alone for the same reasons. Today, as a disabled Veteran, I still love to ride alone. Riding at my own pace, stopping when I want, eating where I want is the way I like to do things. My wife doesn't care that much for riding and as long as I call her every now and again I can enjoy my rides. My only problem now is I have to pull a trailer with a wheelchair inside. I can still walk a little, but my chair is my primary way to get around. I don't go to rally's or things like that, but if you want to talk Spyders and riding I like to do that. I find that I am constantly talking about my Spyder whenever I stop for gas. People gather around and talk about how they like my trike, they ask what did it cost, what kind of gas mileage I get, etc. I usually have to spend an additional 5 to 10 minutes talking about my Spyder after I get gas, but I don't mind. TCRS = Take Care, Ride Safe.

 

[chipveres]

I guess I'm a loner without being alone. My wife and I love to ride two-up. We both have licenses and training so we can split the driving. So far, we haven't joined any group rides.