Ride Your Own Ride.

Totally agree Mr O to be honest I think we've all been guilty of doing it at sometime, you soon learn each others riding skills are not the same, so long as your all agreed on an end point then get there safe and at your own pace.
there's always going to be the piss taking from them faster or stupider than you when you arrive but its only banter.

 

• Or they just say “sod ‘Im!” And leave you behind!! Eh hem!

 

That video is a stark reminder to us all. Even with many years riding experience it is very easy to to forget and get caught up in the ride. Thanks to you Mr O for the reminder......
Wessa

 

The guys very lucky it was a grassed field and not a brick wall or on coming traffic.

 

After going out once with a bunch of IAM riders who hurtled off at breakneck speed on soaking wet roads, I turned round and went home. Spoke to one a week or so later and when he asked where did I get to I told him straight why. He really could not understand me and I honestly think he thought he was invincible because he had done some advanced training. Others said the same about this lot who thatnkfully buggered off onto Farcebook soon after and were never heard from again.

I prefer to ride alone now, at my own pace. It also means I can go in whatever direction my whims take me if I feel like it. And stop for a pee without having to flag some one down who has shot off a mile or two ahead...

 

These days I tend to ride at my own pace. Most importantly I admit that I'm not a super hot rider and I don't need to do the sort of riding that puts me out of my comfort zone. Especially when I'm on unknown territory......sod what the next man thinks......I do my best to be cautious. Don't get me wrong. ....I do open that throttle for some spirited riding but then again there is going fast with you in control of the bike and then there is going fast with bike in control of you

 

Men suffer from this sizist thing. The thing is, the ladies are less impressed by speed than longevity. It just takes some longer than others to figure it out and, sadly, some just peak too soon and never get back up.

 

One of the problems when riding in a group is that if the rider at the front is riding quick then the riders at the tail end have to ride very quick just to keep up.

 

It is the elastic caterpillar effect. Each additional few seconds taken up getting past an obstacle stretches the overall convoy creating ever greater oscillations of speed and duration along its length to return to ‘normal’ spacing. The leader has to regulate his speed to minimise its effect and he effectively creates it.

 

(In the UK)
Wasn't there that law recently where if someone was at the back of the pack and exceeding the speed limit to catch up, then the leader of the pack (or whoever organised it) could also be charged for creating a situation where someone they are responsible for has to speed to stay with the group...

 

Here is a reference in MCN 2009 (so not that recent)

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2009/november/nov1909-speeding-penalty-for-leading-rideout/

Being the lead rider in a group is an aggravating factor making you partly responsible for speeding offences of those behind you according to the decision.

 

.......I believe so.

My experience was with long convoys of military trucks......and that was bad enough.

 

Not sure about this, but it is worth considering the impacts that the front runners on a group ride have on tail end charlie. One for discussion at the GMU when we will be riding in large groups.
Wessa

 

I led the first 2016 GMU rideout around the Peak District and kept the speed down on purpose because we had quick riders and slower riders riding a variety of bikes from sports bikes to cruisers.

Although we used the drop of system, unfortunately we lost some riders towards the end of the day

 

I thought you did a great job Dave,the pace you set at the first GMU was spot on if you are leading a large group it's common sense to keep the speed down, the last thing you want is someone having an accident trying to keep up

 

One of the reasons we use the drop off system for every ride out we do from our club. Just as on the GMU. That way slower riders can be overtaken (safely) but always knowing there will be someone waiting to show them the way, and TEC behind to ensure they don't get lost.

 

Ah, I should have read that mate before I posted the one above.

And to be honest we've had that a couple of times in the club rides, but so long as the TEC is there with the route map he can then lead the catch up.

 

...and to stop to re-group every so often.

 

It wasn’t the TEC’s fault I think it was the call of an ice cream parlour in Matlock was one excuse