| Author |
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Jaimec
| | Posted on Thursday, December 23, 2010 - 11:44 am: | 
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Let me explain what I mean when I say "Group Ride."
I'm referring to up to, but no more, than a dozen friends riding together.
This is NOT to be confused with what I refer to as a PARADE, where you can have HUNDREDS of total strangers all following a leader on a set route. I avoid those like the PLAGUE.
I've seen way too many A**holes trying to show off to the crowd and taking out a slew of riders with him. NFW will I get anywhere near that scene. Sadly, they seem to be the most popular "organized" rides where I live. We prefer the runs where everyone is given a route sheet and the participants go off on their own at their own pace. |
Fast1075
| | Posted on Thursday, December 23, 2010 - 12:24 pm: |
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+1 to Jaimec. |
Crackhead
| | Posted on Thursday, December 23, 2010 - 01:08 pm: |
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Shouldn't the leader be trying to minimize the rubber band effect? through consistent speed rather then max speed?
If I am in a group ride it is not about being fast, heck my group rides have usually involved us loaded down with camping gear.
Now I done some speed group rides but I don't like to be close enough to see their lines through the corners, just close enough to see their brake light through the trees. This stops me from target fixating. It is more like you are stopping at certain places together then riding together.
If you want a nice relaxing group ride, trying Skyline drive in second gear on a Blast. We where going slow enough that my buddy didn't have to stop for smoke breaks. |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Thursday, December 23, 2010 - 01:36 pm: |
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Crackhead, I think you've hit upon a valid issue. What is the intent if the ride?
You can't have a "spirited" ride with 20 people.
Mixed objectives are a recipe for disaster. |
Blake
| | Posted on Thursday, December 23, 2010 - 01:47 pm: |
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Danger Man,
>>> I have big ones at the moment because my last 100 miles were all around town.
Sometimes context really is a good thing.
FtB,
>>> We have alternated positions with rides where experienced riders take turns at the rear.
Sometimes context is a REALLY, REALLY good thing! |
Danger_dave
| | Posted on Thursday, December 23, 2010 - 02:41 pm: |
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Quite right.
I have big ones permanently. |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Thursday, December 23, 2010 - 06:43 pm: |
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Me too. I'm icing them with peas. |
Thumper74
| | Posted on Thursday, December 23, 2010 - 07:41 pm: |
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I've never been a big fan of group rides. Not sure why...
When mountain biking, we did club rides every Saturday. We had the FFGs, medium group and the slow group. The FFGs took off first, a few minutes later, the medium group, then the slow group. This allowed each group of like minded riders to do their own thing, stop for mechanicals, etc. without holding back the entire group.
The biggest motor cycle 'group' ride was Wolfridgerider, MikeF5000, three others and myself from Columbus, OH to TWO in Georgia, but it was freeway riding. That was just a matter of tayloring the gas stops to the person with the smallest tank, me. |
Brumbear
| | Posted on Thursday, December 23, 2010 - 08:03 pm: |
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When we do group rides with the NJ Buell owners group we group folks or try to by desired pace in groups of 5 spaced a 5/10 minutes apart that way everyone is as close to the speed they want to be. We always preride the given route and everyone is encouraged to preride it's often as much fun as the ride. We ride a spirited pace even in the slow groups at times our fast groups we recommend you not start there if you are a first timer you can always move up if your group is to slow and back if its to fast. Believe me the fast group is as fast as one normally well even abnormally likes to go. Matter of fact it can be a 2 hour track day to the chow spot and a 2 hour track day back. We did have a fair share of mishaps which goes with the territory, but we strongly promote gear and well frankly allot of luck and GODS good grace has stopped any serious accidents so far. But for the most part I will lead a spirited but not "track day" group and usually Jornum1 will lead a spirited group as well and Froggy comes out and helps allot also AVC and a few others. Don usually leads the "wacky racers" All in All I think we did a fair job of it last year the 2nd annual Catskill ramble was a bit rough cause the weather was awful and hazardus but still we had a good turnout. |
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