Riding in groups

[bikesnbones]

Do you enjoy riding in groups, or do you prefer alone.
Just curious.
I saw a group of cruiser riders out yesterday.
There were loads of them all travelling up the main dual carriageway.
I can't think of anything more tedious myself, but then I am a bit of a billy no mates

You ?

[eyore]

Love riding in groups, but then again I am always in the front I suppose about 50%of my riding is with others. It certainly adds to the fun as far as I am concerned.

[slparry]

Love riding in groups, but then again I am always in the front I suppose about 50%of my riding is with others. It certainly adds to the fun as far as I am concerned.

Me too, plus it reminds me to stop and keeps my speed down a bit, I'm famous for forgetting to stop until the bike needs fuel, several riding companions have moaned about it in the past. It's not that I don't want to stop it's just that once I'm on the move I enjoy myself so much I lose track of the miles/time. Which also means I generally forget to take pictures too

[Steve1200S]

I do like a ride out with others (usually my Pa and brother), but after a few hours of not being at the front I get frustrated with following and need to blast off the front for a bit by myself.

Usually though, I prefer to ride on my own and go my own way.

Not that I'm antisocial or anything.... honest...

[Mister C (Marsh)]

No no no , I don't do group riding, I will meet you there thanks, I'm very steady (slow) and would hate to hold folks up. In my youff I would have turned it into a race, now however nooooo.
Or it could be because I'm not very sociable (grumpy old git) anyway for whatever reason I don't do it.

Regards Marsh

[KenG]

prefer group/club riding. i'm medium to quick depending on what bike i'm on, so i'm about the middle of the pack, and that lets me watch ahead to see lights, smoke from tyres, of a flash of flames ahead
always let a handful of buck ejit's lead.

[bikesnbones]

I hate it.
Groups I have ridden in have either been tediously slow, or insanely quick,
The last one I went on, was a huge charity ride.
We were going across Dartmoor in a huge convoy, and up ahead I could see a car waiting to turn right, with traffic backing up behind him.
No one was giving way, so I thought I would do the decent thing,
It was perfectly safe because the nearest rider bwas about 30 meter behind,
I slowed and held up my arm indicating clearly to the riders behind me I was slowing to let the guy turn, and everyone just screamed past me, one of them on his back wheel.
I know it's the done thing to accuse car drivers of being inconsiderate to bikes, but that incident confirmed to me that when it comes to idiots on the road, we are more than adequately represented.
That was my last group ride.

[woofboxer]

My ideal is 3 - 4 riders of a similar level / experience who know each others riding style.

Big groups are okay if everyone is more or less at the same ability and is prepared to show maturity and self discipline. Unfortunately this rarely the case, often the ride gradually speeds up over the course of the day as exuberance takes over and bunching up and other nonsense occurs. If you're tail end Charlie in a fast group and get blocked on a few overtakes you've got to go like stink to catch up.

[Dog Tyred]

Riding in large groups is perfectly OK provided you use the drop off system as employed at Boxertrix weekends. Accounts for all speeds and ability of riders and make sure that no one gets left behind (assuming everyone who marks a junction stays put until tale ned charlie comes along that is! -you know who you are!!).

As for group riding where everyone just has to keep up.....no thanks.

DT

[Harry Lime]

Love it.

But then I'm ancient and have done enough riding to (a) not put myself under pressure if they're going too fast (b) happy to noodle along if they're going too slow and (c) if they all bu99er off over the horizon, realize that it's their loss not mine (I am the best company on the planet).

On the "highway" or "motorway" thing, it's quite good fun to have a relative speed of a few MPH with your mates whilst travelling at..erm, 70MPH.

H.

[Dai wiskers]

I enjoy riding in a group if i know how they all ride
A couple of years ago a mate and i that often ride together went up to the Lake District with a group we knew but hadn't ridden with before or since some of the tricks these muppets pulled had to be seen to be believed
The lead man was the only one with the hotel and route details (we had pressed for these and were promised we would have them on the day ) 50in30's overtaking on blind bends overtaking on a long straight but with one of those massive pub's with 4 entrances to the car park on the opposite side of the road at the breakfast stop my mate & i decided we would press on and meet them in Keswick we passed on phone numbers and that was the last we saw of them until we had the phone call saying they were here and for us to find them

The return journey we were stopping of in Llangollen via morcombe anyway we left them in morcombe (spelin ) and headed to Llangollen they were crossing the road to the bike's when we left they arrived in Llangollen 3 hour's after we did


Riding in the right group can be great but riding in the wrong group will be a nightmare

[cornishflat]

25 years ago I rode mainly in a group of 3 or 4 we went everywhere together and loved it. Having gone our own ways I ride 99% on my own albeit sometimes with the wife as pillion. I have been on a few group rides and it was always a big compromise....I prefer my own pace, quick, slow and all points between, to stop when and where I fancy, which is usually off the cuff.

[andy griff]

Just spent two days away with a very good mate. We have ridden together for twenty years, but not at all for the last ten due to family commitments. Anyway, it was as good as ever, based on respect for each other and no need to race etc. An absolutely superb tour around Snowdonia with our sons on the back of the bikes. Great weather, great roads and helped by Steve Parry's superb recommendation for the Prospect Cafe on Ruabon Mountain!

So, riding with a trusted mate is a great way to spend time.

On the way back, as I got into Sussex was passed by four weekend warriors, overtaking on double whites/60 into a thirty and generally acting like dickh**ds with a death wish. Total pratts - and I had the last laugh as they were pinged by 'Community speed watch' coming into Storrington. I then pulled into a dealer behind them as they were discussing whether they were going to get done ( they won't, it will just be a warning letter but i didn't tell them).

[slparry]

Just spent two days away with a very good mate. We have ridden together for twenty years, but not at all for the last ten due to family commitments. Anyway, it was as good as ever, based on respect for each other and no need to race etc. An absolutely superb tour around Snowdonia with our sons on the back of the bikes. Great weather, great roads and helped by Steve Parry's superb recommendation for the Prospect Cafe on Ruabon Mountain!

So, riding with a trusted mate is a great way to spend time.

On the way back, as I got into Sussex was passed by four weekend warriors, overtaking on double whites/60 into a thirty and generally acting like dickh**ds with a death wish. Total pratts - and I had the last laugh as they were pinged by 'Community speed watch' coming into Storrington. I then pulled into a dealer behind them as they were discussing whether they were going to get done ( they won't, it will just be a warning letter but i didn't tell them).

You found it then Andy, cool it's a great little spot isn't, did you try the whinberry tart ?

[andy griff]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/100178262@N05/

Steve, we did, oh yes, we did 10/10