Why I prefer to ride alone (even if I do enjoy the company)

[maddjack]

You more or less sound like me Doug. ......................That should spoil your day. LOL

[R Doug]

I say, no one wants to ride w/ you anyway.      

 

You more or less sound like me Doug. ......................That should spoil your day. LOL

You're right.  It has.  

[movenon]

Group rides suck for many reasons... TMFP  "to many firkin people"..  

[falconati]

All good reasons.  I like following certain people because they choose fun routes, or ones I haven't seen before.  

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Group rides suck for many reasons... TMFP  "to many firkin people"..  

 

[sprint_st]

I would like to ride with others but for the reasons you state I find it more enjoyable to ride alone.  If you have a good riding buddy it can be very enjoyable.  Doug, I've ridden with ServiceRifle since before ESTN07.  I know you have too. We seem to always be on the same page agreeable to whatever the other would like to do, except when I had an FJR and he would drag me down roads built for his GS   .  That consideration for the other rider seems to be what is hard to find.  Similar riding skills helps too.

Four seems to be the limit for group rides.  I don't know how those yayhoo cruisers can stand riding in those packs  

[kendenton]

Good times all  

[2RR2NV]

I like to ride with people I know and trust. Those people don't care how fast or slow I am. We do our thing and BS at the end.

+1

that's why i am usually closing the back door on the group cause i don't care to be hauling butt everywhere. don't want to hold people up.

[Bigpoodle]

Riding is good, generally, if you're in the right frame of mind for whatever the conditions are and the company (if any) can agree on for ground rules.

Riding solo is just about always good, unless something ugly happens where you wish someone had your back.

Riding with a small group of similar skills, inclinations, and equipment, especially if you've ridden together a lot and found a common groove, might be the best (unless you're in one of those need-to-be-on-your-own frames of mind).

Riding with heterogeneous larger groups, well, sometimes it works out great and sometimes not so much.

Riding in massive slow-ass parades once every few years is okay, if only just to remind you what you're not missing. Though sometimes you will get a cool tee shirt out of it.

All better than not riding.

[GRN]

I used to ride with others a lot. Not so much anymore, on road at least... off road on extended adventure is another gig. It's my time, my experience... extra pickles, hold the mustard please. Finding consensus as a member of a group is already far too prolific in family and work life, there is no place for it in my helmet time.

I have adopted more of a I know I'm going east, and in two days I'll probably end up in Glacier Park for two nights, then take two days home. The rest is fairly random, fluid, and spontaneous. I did this particular ride with a like minded soul, and fellow "On-Street" instructor last July, had a blast, enjoyed each others company and desired diversions en rout. All good, and unusual.

We actually agreed to take turns critiquing the others riding. We would swap out the lead spot between gas stops and challenge the follower to come up with two things they saw us do that we might consider doing differently. It was good practice for us professionally, and as riders. That said, I don't know many folks I could or would have wanted to do that with.

[Cheddarhead]

I do most of my riding alone and it bothers my family that I do.  Wait until they find out I'm planning
on riding to a wedding in Wisconsin in June.  Have a bike, camera, and a cell phone...will travel!

Get yourself a SPOT Tracker...that way those who you have left behind can track your progress...and, if you should have a mishap, the tracker can help guide emergency response folks to where you are...

Cheap peace of mind...especially if you are traveling alone.

[GRN]

Get yourself a SPOT Tracker...that way those who you have left behind can track your progress...and, if you should have a mishap, the tracker can help guide emergency response folks to where you are...

Cheap peace of mind...especially if you are traveling alone.

Yeah, what he said. Lost a friend a few years back who went down hard, out of sight in a remote area. They found him 8-9 days later, figured he survived the first two. It's an invaluable investment.

[R Doug]

Cheap peace of mind...especially if you are traveling alone.

Agreed.  I've had mine for 2 years now.  My wife can track my every move and take the drama out of it for her.  And, should I need assistance, I have it no matter if there's cell signal or not.

[R Doug]

BTW, the reason I started this thread is I agreed to do a few rides lately with guys I work with.  Both of them ride bagger HDs and I've always set the ground rules that I may occasionally "check out" on them and will wait at the next major turn.

I really do enjoy riding with like-minded people in small numbers.  There are several who have posted in this thread already that I would go cross country with in a heartbeat (even Jack!).  

As much as I like my coworkers, I got really pissed yesterday (and they knew it) when one of them lectured me at the end of the day about my speed.  Then, another tells our boss that I have "NO FEAR" when it comes to riding.  I already handled the guy who lectured me.  Today, I am going to discuss the "no fear" comment made to my boss.  FWIW, I am in the risk management business.  We are all commercial loan underwriters which make commercial loan decisions starting at $10MM and up to the bank's legal lending limit.  I don't want people I work with to think I'm not afraid of risk.  We are risk mitigate experts so to speak.

When my boss told me what one of the co-workers said about my riding, I replied, "you have to understand that I have countless miles of experience when it comes to riding in the rain.  He has only been riding for two years and fears the rain.  I fear wet roads too, but the difference is I know the limits of my skill and bike's ability."

[viffergyrl]

BTW, the reason I started this thread is I agreed to do a few rides lately with guys I work with.  Both of them ride bagger HDs and I've always set the ground rules that I may occasionally "check out" on them and will wait at the next major turn.

I really do enjoy riding with like-minded people in small numbers.  There are several who have posted in this thread already that I would go cross country with in a heartbeat (even Jack!).  

As much as I like my coworkers, I got really pissed yesterday (and they knew it) when one of them lectured me at the end of the day about my speed.  Then, another tells our boss that I have "NO FEAR" when it comes to riding.  I already handled the guy who lectured me.  Today, I am going to discuss the "no fear" comment made to my boss.  FWIW, I am in the risk management business.  We are all commercial loan underwriters which make commercial loan decisions starting at $10MM and up to the bank's legal lending limit.  I don't want people I work with to think I'm not afraid of risk.  We are risk mitigate experts so to speak.

When my boss told me what one of the co-workers said about my riding, I replied, "you have to understand that I have countless miles of experience when it comes to riding in the rain.  He has only been riding for two years and fears the rain.  I fear wet roads too, but the difference is I know the limits of my skill and bike's ability."

First... Wow. People really will say anything in spite of no experience. Talk about not understanding risk and how to mitigate it (take some riding courses and practice!) Makes me more concerned about your co-worker (you might point that out to him). I'd be interested in hearing the 'rest of the story'. BTW I have a really good friend (still is) who would say a few things about my speed; I would then say a few things about her lack of gear....   That stopped that nonsense.

Context is everything when it comes to who I ride with. M.Brane is my favorite riding partner.   We have radios so that when he runs on ahead he can check back and make sure I'm ok, give status report ("crossing the Tule Creek bridge"), and warn about cagers, bicyclists, sand in corners, dogs, whatever. I match back with a status report ("now crossing the Tule Creek bridge") and requests for bio-breaks ("I need to pee!"  ). Radios are for communication of facts not chit-chat.... Well there are a few sentimental exchanges....   I try to return the favor when I'm leading but he's not that far behind so he usually sees whatever I would report.

As to group rides - I would describe these as 'invitation only' and posted, 'public' rides (like a Fast 400 in SoCal that we do in Region 1). The first one is that you know everyone involved (2-4 riders) and you know the pecking order and habits. These are quite enjoyable with no drama. With posted rides you go in knowing that you are riding with people you may not know as you can't control who shows up. It's about being sociable and a different kind of ride. We usually run a 'slinky' ride - faster riders in the front who will wait at the turns - you just have points where you have to wait for the slinky to catch up. Everyone rides their own ride. Of course you make mental notes about who you'll ride with in the future (or not) and there is usually one good meal.  

I've not ridden by myself in a long time, and I have ridden by myself, but I find it more enjoyable to have a buddy. That's just me.

I've done my share of formation group rides and have no wish to repeat those. I just can't watch the stupidity anymore.  

[cyjo]

Recently my cousin got into riding and going with him has opened my eyes a bit. After almost 20 years on a bike it's nice to be with someone who is cautious and just enjoys the open road. In the past a lot of people I've been with want to show off and my cousin is ok when I move a little faster. (He doesn't bother to try and keep up) makes me mute aware of what I'm doing and now that I'm back north I'm not that much faster on the back roads anyway. That will just take time.in a way I've fallen in love with motorcycles again.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

[sprint_st]

Thanks Doug for my morning entertainment    I know you did not intend it that way, but the irony in your story had me    The absolute most dangerous thing I EVER do on two wheels is passing gaggles of cruisers.  You can predict chicken and squirrel reactions way better than those guys.  I have ridden with you up in WV once and know you to be an excellent rider.  I must commend you for your self discipline in dealing with that situation.  

[R Doug]

Thanks Doug for my morning entertainment    I know you did not intend it that way, but the irony in your story had me    The absolute most dangerous thing I EVER do on two wheels is passing gaggles of cruisers.  You can predict chicken and squirrel reactions way better than those guys.  I have ridden with you up in WV once and know you to be an excellent rider.  I must commend you for your self discipline in dealing with that situation.  

Here's something add to the story.  I recently read a book which I passed along to my boss who also loved it.  I think she understands where I'm coming from.

Here' the book:

[Cablebandit]

I ride with the same 3-4 guys when riding in a group.  Pretty much everyone else hates me so it makes the decision to ride alone most of the time easy.  

[esqualey]

Here's something add to the story.  I recently read a book which I passed along to my boss who also loved it.  I think she understands where I'm coming from.

Here' the book:

Great book, definitely worth many re readings!  Thread heist over.

Paul