I think I am at a croos roads

[MidTNDawg]

This

When I ride alone I go the posted speed limit, or maybe 5 MPH over. When I ride in a group I ride the pace that the lead sets. Sometimes I want to go faster, but I stick with the group anyway. Riding alone is different than group riding, due to different reasons, and different riding styles. You ride alone to either go somewhere, or for the fun. In a group ride you do it for fun, and fellowship (and to eat).

Many of my best rides are group rides because other people know better roads than I do. I have in the past returned to some of these roads alone to ride them at my own pace, sometimes faster, and sometimes slower.

Stay safe :thumbup:

I am 78, been riding 60+ years, total miles are in excess of 600,000. Hopefully this qualifies me to at least express an opinion. Until about age 70 anyone not on a sport bike had difficulty staying up with my GW. And the sport bike rider had better have been competent. Since my triple by-pass, I have been on a Spyder. I agree with Blue Star's riding style and follow his protocol. True I have not been out with a sport bike group, and I probably will not go with one on a Spyder. If I decide to go with sport bikes, I will go by the shop and pick up a sport bike and still ride with the group speed. I don't understand the OP staying with the "too slow" group and then complaining. Why not just break off if it was so bad. I wonder if the group is on this board?

 

[Edsts]

wow good morning lol

Points well taken but let me give you guys some back round ,

1. Age 39
2. Riding for 17 years
3. Rode every thing from dirt bikes , sport bikes , crusers , quads and trikes.

in my post it seems many are talking bout speed . So if doing 75 to 80 where it's safe and open is like wow if many thinks its too fast then I under stand .

Now for missimg turns almost two spydies almost running into each other is just not safe.

I have rode my sts in other group rides where it was fun a nice pace and you can see the experience in the ride its self.

But these guys sat around and talk bout how much experience they had and rode like rookies.

So for those who think imma speed demon then I understand if 80 is too fast for you.

 

[IGETAROUND]

Well Texas, I for one think you concisely and politely stated your position. If your tongue is considered sharp I would tremor at what mine would be labeled. Everyone is entitled to their position; is not a requirement that all others are in agreement. Keep on keeping on!:yes::yes::clap::clap:hyea:hyea:

 

[Bob Denman]

Why does everything always seem to end up as a contest of speed and derring-do? :dontknow:
I have nothing to prove to anybody, when I'm "blocking the road" in front of you...
I'm about relaxing when riding... enjoying the scenery, and NOT rushing to get someplace!

:lecturef_smilie: Don't ride with others... They'll just piss you off!
Off my soapbox now...

 

[GeoffCee]

Yeah, you guys are right. I know I have a sharp tongue. When I hear kids talking like that; it brings back some of my worst memories. If he said "they are a great bunch of guys, and I'm going to miss them, but maybe I belong with a different group", it would show that he had some respect for those that are at least still trying at their age. Instead he curses about them and calls them fools.

The OP is young and those of us who still remember with complete honesty the failings we have been "guilty" of in our own young lives should simply smile, nod wisely and show the guy a little understanding and compassion. He shot his mouth off and gave vent to his feelings. So he was a little too honest for an open forum. Agreed, but so what? From the criticism he's received here it's doubtful he'll be quite as forthright next time around, (if there is a next time). :sour:

A lack of respect was shown, you say. Well he had no respect for the way they were using their machines or the road, that much is clear, so what is there for him to respect? Age? Surely not? Birthdays come and go, those of us who survive will grow very old year on year as a matter of course. You see something there which automatically demands respect? Sorry, but I don't.

 

[Pirate looks at --]

Points well taken but let me give you guys some back round ,

1. Age 39
2. Riding for 17 years
3. Rode every thing from dirt bikes , sport bikes , crusers , quads and trikes.

in my post it seems many are talking bout speed . So if doing 75 to 80 where it's safe and open is like wow if many thinks its too fast then I under stand .

Now for missimg turns almost two spydies almost running into each other is just not safe.

I have rode my sts in other group rides where it was fun a nice pace and you can see the experience in the ride its self.

But these guys sat around and talk bout how much experience they had and rode like rookies.

So for those who think imma speed demon then I understand if 80 is too fast for you.

No offense taken with regard to speed. Where it is safe ENJOY. No need to call names "Going at least 75 to 80 would have been exciting but 40 to 50 then waiting for these fools lol" eat lunch and excuse yourself!

 

[oldgoat]

Everybody that drives/rides slower than you is a PITA and should just get off the road and everybody that drives/rides faster than you is crazy and going to kill someone?

:agree:

 

[oldgoat]

There is nothing wrong with not being able to enjoy the ryding style of others, and politely excusing yourself to go off and ryde your ryde. I think the OP should just refrain from name calling, and go Ryde his Ryde.

I've only ever been on one group ride, back in '03 when I had a V-Max. I did not enjoy it & politely left at the first fuel stop. Later heard that there was a serious accident & one of the riders hit a roadside barricade upright & badly broke his legs. Had to be airlifted from Montreal to CT. My instinct served me ok that day.

 

[Cruzr Joe]

There is nothing wrong with not being able to enjoy the ryding style of others, and politely excusing yourself to go off and ryde your ryde. I think the OP should just refrain from name calling, and go Ryde his Ryde.

:agree:

Cruzr Joe

 

[Edsts]

Very interesting ,

Was out today in this beautiful weather , met up with other Spyder lovers and I have to say it was the worst ride ever . These guys did not know how to ride at all . Going slow missing turns Two spiders almost ran into each other , got dam . Then it hit me . When we stop for lunch I looked around and felt that I was in a got dam nursing home , lol I was the youngest rider .

Going at least 75 to 80 would have been exciting but 40 to 50 then waiting for these fools lol.
Amazing . Left the pack came home and jump on my Gixxa road for bout and hour and that was my therapy for the day . Maybe when I hit 50 I will be like these guys today .

No hard feelings but I may not be going out again with you guys ,lol
it still all love .:clap:

I had to quote my own post , Feelings, lol of course i mean no offense , I read my post again to confirm that it says i left these fools , this is my personality and i know these guys . This was the first time i have ridden with them. They were ragging on me because i was the youngest in the group lol. in post i stated i did leave the pack . They also under stood. no harm no foul to the guys i was ridding with . its all in fun . But there is a lot of touchy feely members on here so i understand . lol . ITS JUST NOT THAT SERIOUS FOR ME.:thumbup:

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

My number 70 is coming in June. I'm going to stand up for Ed, sort of. The issue here guys is not age, it is riding safely. If the group was on a road with a lot of curves with 45 and 50 mph curve signs, then riding at 45 to 50 may well be what the guys need to do to stay within their current abilities. On the other hand, if they were riding on open straight highways posted at 65 then 45 to 50 is not safe. If they don't want to ride faster than that on such a road they need to ride on other roads, or maybe not ride at all. Now, if they were on 65 mph roads that are two lane, then Ed is unsafe wanting to ride at 75 to 80. Most of the time there is a rational reason behind the posted limits.

Now, missing curves is not good. Either the lead rider wasn't paying attention, or wasn't familiar with the road. If the former then maybe he probably shouldn't be in the lead. If the latter, then maybe that's why he was riding slow. But the guy behind wasn't riding correctly if he almost ran into the one in front. It's to avoid situations like this why GWRRA pushes rider training so hard. No one is too old to learn. There are rules and guidelines that time and experience have proven lead to a safe group ride. No one, 35 or 75, can ignore them with impunity. And that's why they push bike to bike communications, historically CB, which for a group is still the best option. If the group leader isn't signalling properly, well shame on him.

If Ed has the reaction capability, and training, to outride the others, then maybe he shouldn't stay with them. Frustration can quickly lead to unsafe actions and reactions. Group riding requires cooperative riding. That means some may have to push their limit once in awhile, and usually means some have to restrain themselves.

Ed, have a sit down with the guys and talk about these issues. Maybe they've never known the correct protocol, or maybe you don't really understand them. You both can learn more, I'm sure.

 

[Yazz]

Edsts, I know where your coming from. Had the same thing happen over the weekend. :gaah:

Hubby's brother visited us, he's a good guy and we love him dearly. He also rides motorcycles and we happen to have three, so we went for a day ride in the country. I led at first with Hubby bringing up the rear. Bro-in-law would not get closer than a 100 feet to me, no matter how slow I went. At stop signs, he would pause for long periods even if there was no traffic in sight.

At our first stop, he commented that he stayed back because of my pipes. Totally understand that so for the rest of the ride, I brought up the rear. No problem there. He kept the same distance back again, sometimes so far back we couldn't see Hubby. (Hubby was going 5 under the speed limit.) The icing on the cake was when we were in the twisties. Bro-in-law was doing great going through the curves. The all the sudden coming into a curve, he stopped! Was keeping my distance, but still nearly hit him! :banghead:

Could go on and on, but I think y'all get the gist of this post. Thanks for letting me get this off my chest.

Will we take Bro-in-law on a overnight Cracklin run to Louisiana? In a car.

Will we take him on half-day rides again? Yup, because he's a good person and we enjoy making him happy.

 

[Bob Denman]

Yazz,
It might have had something to do with his perception of what, "safe following distance" means...

 

[MouthPiece]

Wow, first we have people responding to threads with negative posts about the people posting; now we have members creating threads about how they don't like other members?? I don't know the exact age of the one who started this thread, but I'm almost positive it's another idiot 'Millennial'.

Now for those who don't know what Millennials are, you are in for a little education...

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- Millennials, or the Millennial Generation,[1] also known as Generation Y, are the demographic cohort following Generation X. While there are no universally agreed upon dates for when the generation starts and ends, commentators typically use a range beginning as early as the late 1970s to the early 2000s.

- Strauss and Howe's research has been influential, but also has critics. Jean Twenge, the author of the 2006 book Generation Me, considers Millennials along with younger Gen Xers to be part of what she calls "Generation Me" .Twenge attributes confidence and tolerance to the Millennials but also a sense of entitlement and narcissism based on personality surveys that showed increasing narcissism among Millennials compared to preceding generations when they were teens and in their twenties. She questions the predictions of Strauss and Howe that this generation will come out civic-minded.

- Surveys by the University of Michigan's Monitoring the Future study of high school seniors (conducted continuously since 1975) and the American Freshman survey, conducted by UCLA's Higher Education Research Institute of entering college students since 1966 showed the proportion of students who said being wealthy was very important to them increased from 45% for Baby Boomers (surveyed between 1967 and 1985) to 70% for Gen Xers and 75% for Millennials. The percentage who said it was important to keep up to date with political affairs fell, from 50% for Boomers to 39% for Gen Xers and 35% for Millennials. "Developing a meaningful philosophy of life" decreased the most, across generations, from 73% for Boomers to 45% for Millennials. "Becoming involved in programs to clean up the environment" dropped from 33% for Boomers to 21% for Millennials.
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This being said, I felt a short review of some of his past posts were in order before I make a rash judgement about him. After reviewing, it was clear to me that this posting was in order, and that his leaving our group has just increased our group's reputation. For those of you who live near Jersey, keep watching your 10:00 news; as you'll probably end up eventually seeing this "Gen Me" make his 15 minutes of fame by appearing as a bug stain on the side of a light pole.

Edsts, go back to school, focus on spelling and grammar, earn some respect for those much older than you who have "been there - done that" more times than you could comprehend, and take my posting as a wake up call as opposed to being offended by it; because I really do hope I'm reaching you before it's too late.

I think I can sum it up quicker. Millennials = Justin Bieber

Chris

 

[Texas]

I've never been big on group rides. I've done my share of them and can't remember when one of them went off without a hitch. I don't mind riding with up to two other bikes, but after that, things start to get dicey; especially if you're riding in traffic. It's just an accident waiting to happen; regardless of age; regardless of skill; regardless of riding style.

The last group ride I did was in 2003 when an ST1300 decided to pass me from behind on a blind curve. He ended up passing me....going straight to the hospital. He was a nice enough guy, but even the nicest of guys make the poorest judgments when they get their hand wrapped around the throttle.

This is just one of the reasons why I speak up about driving at a safe speed, and with a safe distance between you and other objects. Any monkey can twist the throttle; but it takes a skilled, controlled rider to be able to constantly evaluate the environment around him/her to determine the best action to take. In very rare circumstances is the best action to go as fast as humanly possible. When you do that, you have taken what may be a bad situation and made it worse.

I know that many people think they are one of the best riders around, just because they can twist the throttle and drive fast. If they are lucky enough to still be around to ride in another 20, 30 or 40 years, they'll realize that there was nothing at all special about what they did. Only then will they discover the real joy of riding.

 

[Bob Denman]

:agree: After selling insurance for over 35 years; I can attest to the fact that it doesn't take brains or skill to act like a moron on the street.
In fact; just the opposite is true...

 

[Jeriatric]

Ride your ride

In any cycling accident. The rider is the first one there.

Ride your ride and accept or avoid the risks as you see them.

What we have here is a hornets nest that met a stick.

 

[Texas]

In any cycling accident. The rider is the first one there.

Ride your ride and accept or avoid the risks as you see them.

What we have here is a hornets nest that met a stick.

...but also understand the meaning of Cause and Effect. You not only have to accept the risks for yourself, but your actions can cause adverse effects on those around you when you exercise poor judgment.

Case In Point:

I did not record this, so forgive the poorly recorded video, but you get the idea.

 

[ARtraveler]

Another .02 The post took a Southerly direction pretty fast. My opinion, live and let live.

I am also in that magic age that has been mentioned. (+65). I enjoy riding with friends, and yes, I even ride with large groups from time to time. When I am in any kind of group mode, I join the party and try to analyze the skills of the other riders quickly. I then ride accordingly. If the group includes those that are a hazard to others, it is time to head out on my own ride. I have done that a time or two. When we ride with one or two special friends, we always go at the pace of the ability of the least experienced rider.

For me, the idea of a ride is to have a good time, enjoy the company, and come back home safely.

I can also drive at higher speeds confidently--but do not find myself exceeding the speed limit by over five mph much these days.

 

[C_Boogie]

Well, I admit I'm a rookie and I'm young (44 years) old. I bought a 2012 RT A&C last year and put about 2,600 miles in it. This is my first bike of any kind, as a result I'm a conservative rider. I'll typically ride at posted limit or up to 10 MPH above. I bought the touring model to do just that, tour. So I'll happily be considered an old man. I had a blast last year and can't wait for the weather to break so I can get to riding.