Lake Geneva Sport Tourers Meetup

[FJRider]

I started a meetup so those of us near the Wisconsin-Illinois area could organize rides together. Feel free to join or add interesting routes you are fond of. This is just for people who want to get together and ride. No money is involved. No dues. Nada. The only requirement is to have a bike that can keep up with the group.

http://www.meetup.com/Lake-Geneva-Sport-Tourers/

[Stripes]

Dangit! I was all excited when I saw your thread title... I assumed that you were speaking of the Lake Geneva near Ashtabula Ohio where I used to hang out as a kid in the summer w/ my family & friends. WI & IL is a little far to go for day rides on a whim for me. Oh well... I'm sure you'll have a few participants from the WI area. They seem to ride for coffee all the damn time for no reasons other than riding & coffee of course!

[Breadman]

 The only requirement is to have a bike that can keep up with the group.

I was prepared to join until I read the above sentence.  Oh, well.

[OU812]

I was prepared to join until I read the above sentence.  Oh, well.

 

[FJRider]

I was prepared to join until I read the above sentence.  Oh, well.

We gotta have some restrictions.

Although there is always the Hot Babe on a Vespa exemption, of course.

[sleazy rider]

I was prepared to join until I read the above sentence.  Oh, well.

*snerk*

If you're too slow, I'm most definitely out.

[RedCBRRider]

I'm in.  Looking forward to all the fantastic motorcycling adventures to come.  

[mxvet57]

I was prepared to join until I read the above sentence.  Oh, well.

one time you passed me there  was a big cloud of dust following you.

[xsPain]

Well, I am definitely out. Y'all have fun, though - I'm pretty sure I'll be just fine.

[lrr308]

Well if Breadman is shying away from this sort of ride.. then there is no way we could participate and would become lost by the group in no time.

Alas.. once the Platinum AARP card arrived,  My only recourse for going fast seems to be a prune juice smoothie.

[OU812]

I joined.
I'll take them all on!








 

[bomber]

We gotta have some restrictions.

I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.

;-}

Or, alternate answer, can I pick the route?

[Mark Milanowski]

The only requirement is to have a bike that can keep up with the group.

So, Matt will have to ride his KLX 250? If you turn him loose on the SV or the FZ or the XB or his mother's MP3  the group doesn't stand a chance.

[mxvet57]

So, Matt will have to ride his KLX 250? If you turn him loose on the SV or the FZ or the XB or his mother's MP3  the group doesn't stand a chance.

That is so true.

[FJRider]

I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.

;-}

Or, alternate answer, can I pick the route?

Anybody can suggest a route. That's what it's about.

[FJRider]

I was prepared to join until I read the above sentence.  Oh, well.

If you're a reincarnation of Mike Hailwood who's riding a Honda PCX-125 and can keep up - go for it. We welcome you.

Seriously, I'm about the most cautious rider around. My objective is to always get home the same way I left. However when you open up a meetup group you will get riders of all sizes of bikes.  Not that there's anything wrong with it. But to have to stop frequently for the rider on the 125 to catch up every half hour or so tends to make some riders annoyed. To say unless you ride and XYZ find another group is harsh. So I just put the disclaimer of having to keep up. I'm easy to keep up with.

[sleazy rider]

So, Matt will have to ride his KLX 250? If you turn him loose on the SV or the FZ or the XB or his mother's MP3  the group doesn't stand a chance.

They're just be two rides.  His and the rest of the group.  

[bomber]

Anybody can suggest a route. That's what it's about.

Just yankin yer chain, F . . . . . .would show up on the KLR and find some sand for you -- this would mean I would get 20 yards further down range before dropping the bike ;-}

I agree that some riders do not belong with some groups of other riders, but also firmly believe that:

1 -- it has more to do with the rider than the bike, more often than not, and,

2 -- there might be a less "us and them" way to discuss that fact . . . . .sometihg along the lines, perhaps, of "we ride in a spirited manner, follwoing the preecepts outlines in the "Pace," but ask that veryone rider their own ride.

or somtihng.

[OU812]

Just yankin yer chain, F . . . . . .would show up on the KLR and find some sand for you -- this would mean I would get 20 yards further down range before dropping the bike ;-}

I agree that some riders do not belong with some groups of other riders, but also firmly believe that:

1 -- it has more to do with the rider than the bike, more often than not, and,

2 -- there might be a less "us and them" way to discuss that fact . . . . .sometihg along the lines, perhaps, of "we ride in a spirited manner, follwoing the preecepts outlines in the "Pace," but ask that veryone rider their own ride.

or somtihng.

We just need to call a DS ride and let those that have one(or some) join in!


We can rule the world!


(or ride).....

[FJRider]

Just yankin yer chain, F . . . . . .would show up on the KLR and find some sand for you -- this would mean I would get 20 yards further down range before dropping the bike ;-}

I agree that some riders do not belong with some groups of other riders, but also firmly believe that:

1 -- it has more to do with the rider than the bike, more often than not, and,

2 -- there might be a less "us and them" way to discuss that fact . . . . .sometihg along the lines, perhaps, of "we ride in a spirited manner, follwoing the preecepts outlines in the "Pace," but ask that veryone rider their own ride.

or somtihng.

I really tried not to make this an "us and them". I sure hope it doesn't come across that way. Everybody's invited. As far as the pace goes I'm not sure what that will be. I like rides down nice country roads which have interesting stops. For example, northwest of Madison there are quite a few Amish bakeries. Damn good homeade stuff. You can ride at a spirited pace on beautiful rolling hills but also stop to taste the homeade chocolate cashew brittle along the way. That's how I see Sport Touring. The sport part is the rapid pace on occasion and the touring is the time to appreciate the things along the way. Life is too short to run it as a death race.

[bomber]

F -- since I likely came off as a dick in my last post (for which I apologize), I'll try to make up for it now . . . . .


Typically, when Capitalized, the Pace referes to a philosophy (how grand sounding) first put forth buyt Nick Ienatsch in Motorcyclist magazine . . . . . .

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/flashback/122_0911_the_pace_nick_ienatsch/

Sounds like you're already riding this way ;-}

@OU . . . yeah, a good ride would be damn near as good as ruling the world (which sounds like a full time job  . . . . .)

[Gary B.]

Hey, I'm always up for meeting newer older people.

[mxvet57]

Hey, I'm always up for meeting newer older people.

When is Gus's opening date?  

[Gary B.]

I'll try to find out for ya!

[Thunder7]

Isnt that what we pretty much do here already, except for the "cant keep up" thing?

[FJRider]

Isnt that what we pretty much do here already, except for the "cant keep up" thing?

1. The Keep Up Thing: On some other Motorcycle Touring Meetup Groups people show up on small bikes not capable of sustained highway speeds. Or are not comfortable traveling at speeds in excess of 55 mph. I am simply trying to discourage that. There are other meetup groups for them.

2. It this is what you already do then keep doing it. I am not trying to change anything. I am simply spending my own money to try and help people organize rides together. I am getting no $ from this. It is free to all. If that's a problem then it's a problem and that's the way it is.

Damn, ... such resistance to what is typically a good idea.

[sleazy rider]

Please realize this group is having some fun at your expense.  I've ridden with them.  Good luck keeping up.    Join in on one of the coffee meets and meet them.  You'll find it to be a damn fun crew.

[FRZY]

Please realize this group is having some fun at your expense.  I've ridden with them.  Good luck keeping up.    Join in on one of the coffee meets and meet them.  You'll find it to be a damn fun crew.

Very much agree. Do join for coffee some day  

[FJRider]

Please realize this group is having some fun at your expense.  I've ridden with them.  Good luck keeping up.    Join in on one of the coffee meets and meet them.  You'll find it to be a damn fun crew.

I look forward to this.

[Thunder7]

Speaking only for myself, I wouldn't call it resistance. I cant recall when we've run into a problem with people who cant keep up. Worst case, the ride split into faster and slower groups for those who had their different comfort levels.

Of course I cant speak for recent rides as due to business I haven't been able to participate in as many as I'd like to have.

As its been said- Join us for coffee. You'll find overall a good natured bunch of people.

[FJRider]

Speaking only for myself, I wouldn't call it resistance. I cant recall when we've run into a problem with people who cant keep up. Worst case, the ride split into faster and slower groups for those who had their different comfort levels.

Of course I cant speak for recent rides as due to business I haven't been able to participate in as many as I'd like to have.

As its been said- Join us for coffee. You'll find overall a good natured bunch of people.

I have run into the situation in both motorcyling and bicycling meetups. For example:

1. Someone brought a 125 cc Honda scooter to a ride that was to take us from Crystal Lake, IL, to the area around Prairie De Chien. They didn't realize the distances and speeds involved when they signed up. I had to change the route, on the fly, so they could go along.

2. We had a 75+ mile bicycle ride planned through the steep hills around New Glarus. Some guy brought a 45 lb, full suspension, mountain bike. That's not going to keep up with a peloton of 16 lb carbon fiber racing bikes averaging 22 mph.

So what do you say? "You can't ride with us"? You let them learn by falling further and further behind and my enjoyment as the ride leader is curtailed because I am personally shepherding them all day through the ride.

The same goes for riders who think regular maintenance is nothing but a concept. Here I spend my day helping riders continue the ride by fixing things that should have been caught before the ride. In the bicycle world I have learned to casually test the air pressure in everybody's tire before we ride else I spend an hour or so fixing flats. You could ask, "Why in the Hell are you fixing other riders problems on your organized rides?" The truth is, that's the way I am. I never leave someone behind.

I want to limit this as much as possible with this meetup group. Here on the Sport-Touring.net you are all accomplished riders with a keen understanding of the requirments to go on a group ride with others just like youselves. Unfortunately, in cyberspace, when you open an event up to *anybody* you don't have that dynamic. You can make light of my silly stated requirement but keep in mind that it is through many years of leading group rides that this was developed.

Yes, I will join you all for coffee becuase you all sound like really interesting people. I like to be around interesting people. I might even fit in.

If I can keep up.  

[mxvet57]

If you want to talk about scooters keeping up just ask fourstring (Nate) about that. His first ride with some of us he was on a Suzuki Burgman scooter. I didn't think a scooters could go that fast. He was pushing 70 in some of the corners and keeping up with us 1000= cc bikes.

[FJRider]

If you want to talk about scooters keeping up just ask fourstring (Nate) about that. His first ride with some of us he was on a Suzuki Burgman scooter. I didn't think a scooters could go that fast. He was pushing 70 in some of the corners and keeping up with us 1000= cc bikes.

Burgman's and TMAX's are pretty fast and could keep up with a group easily. A scooter in name only. I used to own a TMAX. It's great for bopping around town.

[Scottyfizz]

I need to know more about the prune juice smoothy! Does it make you faster? Or does it just pass faster thru smoothly?

[FJRider]

I need to know more about the prune juice smoothy! Does it make you faster? Or does it just pass faster thru smoothly?

It may be a shock to your system if you're accustomed to Similac shakes.  

[Thunder7]

It may be a shock to your system if you're accustomed to Similac shakes.  

Not that I didnt think differently before but I have to say- The dude is ok in my book!

Hope you can join us on NYD. FRZY (One of our veteran riders) just posted a meet for January 1 at one of our favorite places.

[Squidbuzz]

Just tell Lurker not to ride his Harley and things will be fine.