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Group Rides vs. Solo Rides

2K views 32 replies 22 participants last post by  lance22me 
#1 ·
I have a confession: I don't get the fun of group rides. You have to follow and pace with another rider(s).

I'd much rather go riding solo, exploring new places and roads. I have the freedom to take a turn whenever, and stay at each location as long as I want. Don't get me wrong, I like socializing as much as the next person. In fact, exploring a new location solo can get lonely sometimes. I just don't get socializing with riding.

Can someone elucidate me what the point of a group ride is?
 
#3 ·
I definitely experienced both this past weekend. Went on my first group ride and I had tons of fun. Met some great people the fact that they knew the territory made me feel that much more confortable. Also there is always that chance that something can go totally wrong. a fucking squirrel can end your life when on a motorcycle. Having the group sort of ment that atleast someone could pick me up or at least call an ambulance for me. Riding solo is also fun. You can go where you want but then again those new territories can be tricky and you might end up in a sticky situation.
 
#7 ·
Eh, I'm mildly similar. Don't wanna lead, don't wanna follow. More fun with just me and the road. BUT it's also fun to ride with folks some times too. Fun to see other people's riding posture, style, lines, etc. same as snowboarding. I prefer solo cus I can go as fast as I want, but some times you wanna carve it up with some folks.
 
#10 ·
If you find the right group it can be fun, the local bunch here in St. Louis run a pretty fast pace. I have only been on a couple of rides and always end up in the back. But they wait on me to catch up every few minutes on the back roads. Hope to pick up the pace in 2013. But I do understand the appeal of the solo ride, that is how 99% of my riding has always been. This group riding has been a real experence. Try it both ways.
 
#11 ·
i understand what your saying about riding in a big group. the group is cool because ive met a lot of cool people and learned a lot. its nice once in awhile to do the big group rides, solo rides are kind of lonely. but within my group me and 2 of the other members are really close so we really never ride solo its always all 3 of us together or maybe just 2. id rather be in a group if i go down than by my self. it may be embarassing in front of everyone but at the same time i know they would pull over and make sure im ok. if you crash by yourself and get pretty banged up and end down in a ditch who knows how long youll be there
 
#12 ·
I def. prefer to ride with a buddy or two most of the time. Most of my riding used to be commuting which was fun. Get to ride at whatever pace I feel like and take any which way I want.
That being said a lot of my other riding is from long trips. Which is always more fun with someone to share it with. It's great to follow someone when you don't know the area. It's more fun and I think it can be safer. But then again you have to have a similar riding style and or pace.
Goes with snowboarding as well. It's great to have someone of similar strengths to push the limits a bit. Otherwise it can get boring. Oh, group rides are ok but you can't always expect too much out of them except for some socializing.
 
#15 · (Edited)
I ride with three other guys.
When we ride, we ride. Go for a hour or three before stopping.
Not down with the parade ride. I did a Ruck meet once. Ever half hour we would meet with others and sit around parking lots to look at each others bikes. Boring as fuck, I bought a bike to ride the fuck out of it.
I ride solo, but mainly commuting. I started driving very late in life, so I always had somewhere to be. So I'm not the best at getting lost.
So usually my friends show me the good roads.
 
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#22 ·
+1 for this. I still haven't gone to a bike night yet. I know *some day* I will... but I don't understand the "standing around looking at eachothers bikes". Lets ride! And big groups, it's just like snowboarding to me... when to push off, waiting for other people, and/or pace (diff pace for diff ppl).

+1 for small groups, and another +1 for no parade ride. I didn't buy a sport bike to "cruise".
 
#16 ·
I don't like riding alone because 1, I won't really push and 2, nobody is around if I go down.

I'll ride in any size group but the most fun is when there are riders that are faster than me.

Daytona 675, zx-6r and a Yamaha R6 on the Lowman Loop. - YouTube

So, group riding to me isn't really about socializing, it's about being pushed.
 
#18 ·
Seems like most people here go for the small groups. I guess that's what I need to do; find someone who has a similar riding style/taste as me. I still don't get what those big group parades are about. Sounds boring as fuck, like ArrhythmiA said.

I like getting pushed when I'm snowboarding. I'm trying to go faster and faster, but if I fall it's ok. When I'm riding my motorcycle, I'm more about enjoying the scenery.
 
#19 ·
Seems like most people here go for the small groups. I guess that's what I need to do; find someone who has a similar riding style/taste as me. I still don't get what those big group parades are about. Sounds boring as fuck, like ArrhythmiA said.

I like getting pushed when I'm snowboarding. I'm trying to go faster and faster, but if I fall it's ok. When I'm riding my motorcycle, I'm more about enjoying the scenery.
Yeah my 636 is WAAAY to uncomfortable for that. :laugh
 
#25 ·
I generally prefer a ride with about 3 to 5 other riders of similar experience levels... And a solo ride is always nice to clear the head and go where the road takes you.

That said... With my group Central Coast Street Bikers I've organized many 20+ bike group rides. The key is to set some ground rules before setting off. So we always have a group meeting right before we take off to discuss where we're going, hand signals we'll use, and make it known that there will be NO asshatery or you're riding alone. Many times we have had riders of varying experience so there are usually two groups... beginner and intermediate pace. We generally will have someone in the back running "sweeper" looking for anyone on the ground and at least two leaders... one for faster riders and one for beginners. We've even had groups so large we've required "blockers" to block traffic (illiegally... :( ) at 4-way stops so everyone can get through as a group.

I like the bigger group rides provided there are good people to hang out with and enjoy the day.

All in all... I just like riding. period. As long as there are ground rules a large group ride can be a shit ton of fun!
 
#26 ·
"blockers" huh? damn. I didn't know you were a part of that "ride of the century" deal. lol. ;) :p

Some good stuff here. I like all the prep and the "classes" and what not. Makes sense.
 
#28 ·
best part about a group. Make sure the leader is faster than you and make sure the last bike is slower. They will get stuck with the ticket. lol..

But other than ^ that. If someone goes down you have help right then and right there.
 
#29 ·
Another thing I like about riding in groups is sharing the excitement of the ride at the stopping points. Usually after a spirited leg you can see peoples eyes bugged out when they start taking their lids off.

It's like a bunch of little kids on christmas morning. :laugh
 
#30 ·
Never been on a group ride and have been wanting to more and more. There's a Christian club I got invited to go on a ride with on every 2nd sat. Honestly that really did it I've been trying for two months now to get that day off but no dice. Having a 16 mo year old at home is too enjoyable to be taking off but I'm watching the local forum for a group ride that lands on a day off and I'm going. I'd like to check it out.
 
#33 ·
Riding in a small group is a great way to 'disciple' newer riders. You can watch what they do and give advice. Saves a ton of trouble down the road. If the person has a squid mentality they will resent anything you say and lesson learned they are doomed to learn the hard way. If they have a good attitude and love riding more than they love their image then they will listen gladly and become great riders.

I'm not sure that one can make adequate improvement being totally solo. Riding a sport bike is fraught with subtleties. Much that can make the difference between life and death can be so small that it's almost not noticeable. But a good rider knows how to pass on important lessons and those who will become good riders will always listen.

In the Cruiser World, group rides are about little more than being friendly. There are no real skills to pass on because of the riding style. Not so with sport bikes. The group ride is about discipling oneself to better riders and doing the same for novices. Of course, the brotherhood and comradery are great perks but most of all it's a way to learn.

Groups of no more than six are great for this. Even one other person who is a better rider is great. Giant groups become complex and it takes great skill just to stay out of the way ... no place for a nub.

FWIW.
 
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