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What's wrong with this statement?

sv2007

sv2007

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 12, 2007
Location
Sunnyvale
Moto(s)
Majesty YP400
some BARFer said:
[Stuff about going on a group ride with a bunch of people he doesn't know deleted...]

For the most part, it seemed like I wasn't the fastest or slowest pacer of the group, which was great, actually. No way am I going to keep up with the fastest guys (nor do I want to try), but I also don't want to be at the very tail end either.

[Other stuff about bike control deleted...]
Click to expand...

I don't get this, why would anobody feel bad or not want to be at the tail?

The whole group gets there +/- 5 minutes anyway. Frankly, I'd think being the in end has the advantage that nobody's going to run into you and you don't have to wait at the stops. I'm hoping the sweeper doesn't crash into you :) You can also scratch your butt or rub your nose in privacy.

On group rides, I don't care about position; actually, I've been just kind of randomly finding a spot in the line that's "available". If I'm behind somebody who's dangerous, I gave her more room whether it be near the front or back of the group; in fact, I'd probably move back a few positions since moving ahead might trigger more aggressive riding.

If I'm slow for the guy behind me or notice a tailgater, I'll ask him if he wants to go ahead of me and I certainly don't mind people going in front of me at a stop whether they are faster or slower. I just don't see why the dislike for being in the back; it's just a group ride and people ride at their own risk/comfort levels.

Willing to take different risks can mean different speeds. I hope people can understand that a simple position in a group of strangers doesn't equate to actual skill level. Maybe this will help people not ride above their capabilities.

The above is what I feel when I join up w/ group rides with people I don't know too well. When riding w/ friends, you know the speed and things are, of course, very different. The accidents I'm reading seems to be w/ groups of people who don't know each other too well, and maybe the pressure of "maintaining" the position comtributes somewhat, so hopefully, this can help alleviate that pressue. Happy group riding !
 
^+1

well done...sv2007:thumbup


it is very important to find a proper position in group rides...these group rides are not a race intended but for our enjoyment and fun experience after all..:ride

For example, Doc Wong's riding clinic seperates into 4 different groups depending upon your pace and comfort...you can start from group 4 which is the slowest..and along the ride if you feel like moving up to group 3...inform the lead at the next stop and you can find a position in a group where you are most comfortable...:ride

so basically, Communication in Riding is very Essential to all the riders..IMO:)
 
USARMworker said:
Good post but...



Who was this bad rider chick?
Click to expand...

Opps, I tend to just use the female pronoun/adj. to balance out the times I've used the male version. I have absolutely no intention to imply the existence of this bad rider chick.

Remember, the position within a group is nothing... just pick the right group :)
 
So, who wrote that quote? ;-)
 
"Anyone who drivers faster than me is a maniac and anyone who drives slower than me is a moron."

- George Carlin
 
sv2007 said:
I don't get this, why would anobody feel bad or not want to be at the tail?
Click to expand...

No way in hell would I want to be caught at the tail of a semi large group ride. If ANY one crashes the odds that I hit them or their bike is huge. Talk about pile up madness!! I don't mind being at the tail end of my 2-3 friends who also ride, I'm comfortable with their riding. Thats my only reason :)

maybe he/she didnt want to be left behind? Didn't want to get lost or maybe it was safety?
 
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Being last is cool. More people to pick off and pass as you progress during the race, *cough* ride...

:)
 
Are we really discussing group rides again? Everybody should know they cause cancer, death, and civil war by now.
 
The quote was from the thread about sucking at riding down hill. I think the implication was that he/she doesn't tend to be the slowest rider in the group, but going down hill it was clear that this person was slower than the group that he/she was riding with. If you isolate the comment or the attitude, it sounds like the person is competing or has an inherently flawed attitude towards group riding. But if you read the whole post and take it for what the basic question is, then it seems more like a poor way of stating "I am a mid-paced rider, but I am the slowest person in the downhills."

I actually like being at the tail of the snake. I tend to be a little slower than others I ride with. I also feel very confident in "first responder" type scenarios, and in a group ride, I would rather be the person to be there to help manage an incident than get 5 miles down the road and wait, only to go back and find out an accident had occurred. I also don't like relying on the person behind me to not ass-pack me.
 
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Well, it still seemed like the rider was concerned with actually being the last rider down the hill.

I don't see why that should be a cocern at all. I'd be more worried about getting down the hill in 1 piece, not if im first 6th, or last.
 
Hopefully during a group ride you have a leader and a sweep. The sweep (just as the leader should be) should be a rider experienced with the road you are taking, and experienced enough to watch for someone who is being dangerous during the ride.

Group riding is one of the most difficult things to manage--expecially in a large group. It must be coordinated--and hopefully by someone experienced.

Things that make a group ride dangerous:
1. Some of the riders may be unfamiliar with that particular road.
2. Riders don't know each others riding style. New to each other...
3. Red Mist - or getting passed by someone else and riding above your limits to keep up/pass back.
4. Egos
5. Paying more attention to everything else (because you are unfamiliar), rather than your own riding.
6. Unsafe riders either JoeFastGuy or JoeJustTwoWeeksAgoStartedRiding.

Then there's different kinds of bikes that have different gas mileage, different lines through turns, running out of gas, etc...

What makes group riding fun if you do it right:
1. Learning a new road.
2. Learning riding tips from other riders.
3. Get new riding partners.
4. Having someone watch out for you vs. riding alone.
5. Getting advice if you are doing something dangerous.
6. It's fun.

So in a nutshell, the person riding sweep should be last in line, they should be able to keep up and they should know the road.

BTW, anyone in a group ride can crash hitting someone ahead of them (unless it is the leader). This means that you should either know the person you are following very well if you want to "ride their tail". If you don't know them, give em some room and hold a different line through the turns. Pick the inside line if possible so that if they slide out, most probably it will be to the outside.
 
Wasn't it already established that this is a race and you can't get last!
 
USARMworker said:
Good post but...



Who was this bad rider chick?
Click to expand...

I just saw this and my first reaction was same ... HER .. So here it goes .. PICS please .. :D

EDIT: About the remainder of it, I don't mind what position I am on in a group, I have long ways before I can start riding with A/B group. Even if in my group someone wants to go ahead of me, I let them. Too small of a thing to worry/ponder about !
 
The back of the line is good so you blow ass-wind and nobody behind you wrecks from smelling it.:thumbup
 
Sillies!!! Don't you all know by now any woman on a motorcycle is sizzling HAWT?
 
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