Spyderfest, My Observations so far.

[xpeschon]

Other then the Mo Gang taking the lead on this one there are SO many other riders from all over the United States that helped out and I must believe we could have not done it with-out you all.. I hate to mention names cause I KNOW I will leave some out but let me give it a shot:: LaMonster, Deb, Brian, Zetho, Jedd, Doc, Yazz, Firefly--(If anyone else can think of someone please help me out)--I know I missed some but WOW with-out your help on some of the major events and just help in general the MoGang could have never pulled this off, my hat is off to all of you and I thank you for that.. What a GREAT family we have here.... Again I know I left some other critical members who "stepped up to the plate" to help and I apologizes for that.. I'm sure the members mentioned will help me out..

THANK YOU AGAIN..

X-Joe

 

[D&J's#2]

It was a Great Time:yes: We agree with Deb's comments also.hyea: Wish we could have made it last yr. but, are looking forward to next yr.:clap: Does anyone have the dates for the 2012 SpyderFest?

 

[GloryRyders]

:2thumbs: Deb, thanks for the great comments.............after a time of rest, the Mo Gang will have a review of this year's Spyderfest and set the dates for next year. Thanks to all of you for your positive feedback. Hope everyone will arrive home safely, and were sorry for those of you who cancelled due to the weather forecast. After Wednesday, it all improved 100% and a good time was had by all.:clap: LaMonster said it best at the banquet Saturday night........"It must had been Divine Intervention!!"

 

[SteveMac]

:agree::thumbup:
I agree Deb- MO Gang / Cowtown... don't try to or worry about improving. It was just right. My BIGGEST thrill was meeting so many of you personally. I'm actually going through a bit of withdrawl here at home! I took my Darth (Spyder) out for a short spin today with a great big smile!

We looked for you Phil, but apparently you had to leave a bit early. However, we did meet David (great guy) who said he lives about 40 minutes from you! Keep posting those electrical mods. May see you in 2012.

SteveMac.

 

[Phil]

We looked for you Phil, but apparently you had to leave a bit early. However, we did meet David (great guy) who said he lives about 40 minutes from you! Keep posting those electrical mods. May see you in 2012.

SteveMac.

Hey SteveMac!!

Yup. I had to be back by Friday evening so I left Cuba about 10:30. I wish we HAD met. Dave was a great hang around friend. We're planning on getting together, likely in June. I have an idea for next year to help with meeting up with people you want to meet. I'll pass it along in a few months.

Anyway- again, I wish we had met. I do have a couple more lighting mods I'll be doing after seeing other's mods in person. Not much original stuff, but fun and practical. Stay in touch !!


Sent from my iPhone7 using Tapatalk

 

[bjt]

It was a Great Time:yes: We agree with Deb's comments also.hyea: Wish we could have made it last yr. but, are looking forward to next yr.:clap: Does anyone have the dates for the 2012 SpyderFest?

At the Saturday awards banquet, Len said that he would need a few days (weeks?) rest from Spyderfest 2011 before they could start making plans and setting dates for Spyderfest 2012.

 

[CyncySpyder]

Looking forward to next years SpYderFest

For those of you that missed it, it WAS an AWESOME event:2thumbs: Thanks to everyone for all your hard work. Teddy & I are looking forward to Maggie Valley Now but even more look'n forward to next years SpYderFest:2thumbs:
Hope to see you all there:thumbup:

 

[SpyderDeb]

:thumbup: Nicely put Deb! This was our first Spyderfest, we met alot of nice people and look forward to getting together again next year! What a great community Cuba, MO is!

 

[jimclarkf1]

AWSOME JOB

Deb you said it all, my 1st long trip and bike get together, will never forget it, HOW WELL IT WENT, I really enjoyed the 2hrs I spent Monday detaling my:spyder2: MOTEL 6 NEEDS POPCORN.:clap:

 

[Firefly]

Great event - great time - can't imagine things could be run any smoother!

Hat's off to the MO gang, Len and all the others that did so much to make this happen.

Next stop--- Maggie Valley---:thumbup:

---------------------------

I will mention one problem with the big group ride on Saturday. Us blockers that helped block the roads had to ride like -- well -- Huligans to get back to the front to help block again. While most were comfortable with this, it certainly wasn't the safest way to do it and caused a few complaints pertaining to safety - which are perfectly valid concerns.

I'd like to apologize to any that were not comfortable with us Huligans speeding and passing in tight areas. Different riding abilities don't often mix well.

So next year I would strongly recommend to figure out exactly how many blockers are needed (my guess is between 12 and 20) and assign them specific intersections --- then send them out 15 minutes ahead of the big group ride and give them ONE intersection to block. Once they see the riders approaching they can get into blocking position-- then just join the end of the line once everyone is through the intersection. No passing or high speeding required.

Just my .02

 

[POPS 57]

Blocking

A good place to look up blocking is the west bank motorcycle club mpls. mn. What they do is the first person after the leader blocks. At the end of the line there is a tailgunner. He slows down and the blocker gets back in line. They repeat this all thru. the ride. No one races back up to the front.

 

[Firefly]

A good place to look up blocking is the west bank motorcycle club mpls. mn. What they do is the first person after the leader blocks. At the end of the line there is a tailgunner. He slows down and the blocker gets back in line. They repeat this all thru. the ride. No one races back up to the front.

That would work fine - but we didn't know how many we needed or exactly where they were needed. We did follow the lead and drop out to block-- but then had to get back to the front to help again as we only had a handful of us doing it.

 

[POPS 57]

With a little instructions to begin with any one in the group can do it. The secret is the tailgunner that never lets anyone get behind him. They do not run stop lights but at the next cornor the last person waits for the rest. There is a easy to follow detailed list that they follow on there web site. A person could copy this and hand it out at the begining of the ride. Also a map of the ride is handled out with copys left at the place they started for last minute people. They have been doing this for many years and have it down.

 

[Mo Lee]

Great event - great time - can't imagine things could be run any smoother!

Hat's off to the MO gang, Len and all the others that did so much to make this happen.

Next stop--- Maggie Valley---:thumbup:

---------------------------

I will mention one problem with the big group ride on Saturday. Us blockers that helped block the roads had to ride like -- well -- Huligans to get back to the front to help block again. While most were comfortable with this, it certainly wasn't the safest way to do it and caused a few complaints pertaining to safety - which are perfectly valid concerns.

I'd like to apologize to any that were not comfortable with us Huligans speeding and passing in tight areas. Different riding abilities don't often mix well.

So next year I would strongly recommend to figure out exactly how many blockers are needed (my guess is between 12 and 20) and assign them specific intersections --- then send them out 15 minutes ahead of the big group ride and give them ONE intersection to block. Once they see the riders approaching they can get into blocking position-- then just join the end of the line once everyone is through the intersection. No passing or high speeding required.

Just my .02

The word was put out to fall in the rear and the blockers would come back forward at the gas stop. Apparently some did not get the word.

 

[dancogan]

Why not just break up into smaller groups that don't need blockers? If someone gets dropped at a light just slow down or pull over before the next turn.

Isn't blocking without police authority illegal?

 

[SpyderAnn01]

Dan I agree that blocking is probably illegal. Small groups didn't help us on the Ladies Ride. The blocker almost got us killed by racing to the front going uphill in a no passing zone. An oncoming car had to hit the brakes hard to avoid her.

Harley offers an 8 hour Road Captain class but I imagine you have to ride a Harley to take it.

 

[Firefly]

The word was put out to fall in the rear and the blockers would come back forward at the gas stop. Apparently some did not get the word.

Ahh-- well that explains the confusion. Us Huligans were told to get back to the front ASAP to help block again.

It all worked out okay-- just would change it for next time- get the right amount of blockers lined up in the front and/or send them out ahead of the big group.

------------------

With all due respect to the post about 'everyone can block' -----blocking is not something 'everyone' can or should do. I heard a few blockers were allowing cars to go through---:yikes:. When you block-- you BLOCK. They can wait 3 minutes. I had no one give any trouble or get mad at all. You stand your ground and act like you own the place and you won't have any trouble.

Is blocking like this illegal? Probably -- but I doubt anyone would care. Last year we did it and had the police on parts of the route and they didn't say a thing.

Just trying to think ahead for a safer way to do it next year. I'd rather scoot out ahead of time to a specified intersection and wait for the group-- then join at the end or take another route to another block point, etc...

I was unaware they were doing blocking on the Friday group rides--- only thought they did that on Sat. Those rides were pretty long for such large groups.

 

[SpyderAnn01]

Just trying to think ahead for a safer way to do it next year. I'd rather scoot out ahead of time to a specified intersection and wait for the group-- then join at the end or take another route to another block point, etc...

.

:agree:

 

[jedd]

Hulligans could volunteer to block, ahead of route let everyone go by the leave in the opposite direction Hulligan style, world is round we'd meet up eventuallyhyea:

Jim:thumbup:

 

[SethO]

Ahh-- well that explains the confusion. Us Huligans were told to get back to the front ASAP to help block again.

It all worked out okay-- just would change it for next time- get the right amount of blockers lined up in the front and/or send them out ahead of the big group.

------------------

With all due respect to the post about 'everyone can block' -----blocking is not something 'everyone' can or should do. I heard a few blockers were allowing cars to go through---:yikes:. When you block-- you BLOCK. They can wait 3 minutes. I had no one give any trouble or get mad at all. You stand your ground and act like you own the place and you won't have any trouble.

Is blocking like this illegal? Probably -- but I doubt anyone would care. Last year we did it and had the police on parts of the route and they didn't say a thing.

Just trying to think ahead for a safer way to do it next year. I'd rather scoot out ahead of time to a specified intersection and wait for the group-- then join at the end or take another route to another block point, etc...

I was unaware they were doing blocking on the Friday group rides--- only thought they did that on Sat. Those rides were pretty long for such large groups.

I agree.Don't get me wrong, I thought the group as a whole was WAYYYY safer with our help, if asked I would gladly get in and help again.

If people want to see one of the benefits of riding like a idiot this is one, its not as big of deal to do 80 in 30 when you are used to doing 110 in a 30 so the added traffic is not as big of deal to get up to the front to do it again.

Dan is 100% on not everyone can be a blocker, some people have way more to live for or don't feel comfortable sitting in the way of oncoming traffic or breaking a few guidelines like blocking.


deb I think you were right about almost all the points.

I do wish BRP would have brought a parts truck that basic parts that it takes a dealer a few days to get so they could better manage the major influx of work and problems that come about with this HUGE group. I know several people who missed out on things because their spyders where down or to get them to 100% would take parts that were not there.

I do think that the vendors village would be better being on the same road as cowtown.