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Author Message   Thump4fun Posted on Sunday, October 10, 2010 - 07:49 pm:        We couldn't have asked for a better day to ride today. There was a baker's dozen of riders (12+1) that turned out at 11am this morning. I apologize for being a few minutes late with an empty tank -- especially since I was the one that said to be sure and show up with a full tank and ready to ride at 11am. Doh! Regardless of that minor glitch, we headed off about 11:20am after a brief talk about the ride and etiquette. We made it to Zanesville without any issues, enjoying a "teaser" twisty road on the way. Some food, gas and we were on our way down 555. Apparently sometime in the past couple of weeks the county or state decided it was time to tar and patch the road -- which made for some even more interesting riding then originally anticipated. But we had a good group of riders and we made it through without incident. At some point on our way back through Wayne National Forest, we made a turn and I neglected to follow my own riding instruction - to stop and wait at every turn. I thought I saw the distinctive lights of our "sweeper" after the turn so I continued on. My bad #2. We lost 4 riders at that turn. One caught up with us at the next turn but said the others had gone a different direction. We pulled off to wait a few minutes to see if they came along, but...no joy. The missing 3 were all very experienced riders with a couple GPS between them, so we figured they either decided to go another way or would catch us along the route at some point. Sure enough...15 minutes later, they pulled right up behind us! Looking back at the map when I got home, I noticed that I had also taken a wrong turn after we lost them (should have continued on 93 South, not turned on to 93 North), which took us a slightly longer route around...allowing them to catch back up to us when we re-connected to the planned route. Worked out perfectly! haha All in all, I think it was a great ride. The curves were plenty twisty, the weather was great, the leaves were changing and barely covered the road, and we had some good company. A very enjoyable ride, if I do say so myself. :-) I hope everyone that came enjoyed the ride as much as Lisa and I did! P.S. Riding 2-up with the wifey helped me keep the speed down, the twisties a little less "scary" and helped ensure there were no "performance awards" given out (as I tend to have a lead wrist at times without her on the back). She did a great job as our guardian angel!!   Wolfridgerider Posted on Sunday, October 10, 2010 - 08:20 pm:        Sounds like FUN!! beats trimming trees, mowing the grass, tilling the garden and burning the tree trimmings. But I get to ride to work in the morning!   Birdy Posted on Sunday, October 10, 2010 - 08:42 pm:        It was a good ride no one got left behind or ate by Wolves! I had fun and that's what counts. The roads reminded me of The Blue Ridge area from when I lived in VA. Of course my ride was a couple of hours longer due to the ride over to the ride start and then back home. Dennis and I met up and rode over and part of the way back so it wasn't too lonely! And yep the Stradas are now dead and I need to buy new tires ASAP. BUT they held in there for close to 10,000 miles! Not bad I think Birdy Now when's that next ride?   Thump4fun Posted on Sunday, October 10, 2010 - 09:45 pm:        It was brought to my attention that perhaps we should have a little better instruction on how to ride in groups, not just for newer riders but for all of us. It would be good to ensure that we all have an equal understanding of what's expected not only of the leader and the tail rider, but of everyone. I personally don't think we have had any big problems or anything, and all our group rides to date have been run pretty darn good. But ensuring some consistency in expectations is certainly a good thing, particularly as riders come and go. So rather then some elaborate list of rules and guidelines, I went ahead and put a simple and straight-forward "Top 10 Group Etiquette" guide together and placed it on our website. Take a look at it here: http://www.cobrabuell.com/group-riding-etiquette/ Feedback welcome!   Jjr1125 Posted on Monday, October 11, 2010 - 01:16 pm:        It was a great ride. You did a fantastic job organizing it and keeping it under control. Thanks for doing it. We could have gone a little faster but you never know if you're going too fast(for everyone's riding skill level) until bad things happen. Then it is too late. I thought the pace was good for a group ride on sportbikes.Thanks again! (Message edited by jjr1125 on October 11, 2010)   Dennis_c Posted on Monday, October 11, 2010 - 03:14 pm:        Great ride just kiding   Birdy Posted on Monday, October 11, 2010 - 06:57 pm:        Dennis you "Spiced" things up when were chasing down the group with the Trail Ride! If I'd know we were going dirt biking I'd rode the KLR! Well the two Ulys and My STT did OK and they are tougher than a typical street bike in that gravel, sticks and dirt doesn't bother them a bit. I was just glad we didn't get shot by a POed farmer myself!   Thump4fun Posted on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 - 09:38 am:        I appreciate that guys, even though I temporarily "lost" 4 riders. LOL! Sorry about that Dennis!! Sounds like Mark enjoyed the gravel tour though...haha! So glad you guys found us though -- and without getting shot at! I have a couple pics from before the ride, and Jason took a few too. If anyone else has pics they want me to post here and/or on the COBRA website, shoot them over to me. I'll try to get them posted tonight, but I'm working late so it may not be until tomorrow. Maybe from the 12 rider group pic I took, people can point out who they are so others can put a face to a name/nickname? Oh, and as for going faster...not with the wifey, the newer riders and such a large single group. Like Jim said, it's a balancing act between skill levels and conditions...riding at the lowest common denominator makes it safe and relatively fun for everyone. Finding and keeping that level throughout the ride is the challenge, at least for me. I thought at times I was going too slow or too fast for the group. To top that off, the new tar/patching made it a bit more challenging anyway...as if 555 isn't challenging enough to start with. Of course, that's why the ultimate rule is to "Ride Your Own Ride" -- something else I neglected to mention during my little pre-ride talk. I also should have introduced myself and my wife. Instead, since I was running late I got a little flustered and just dove right in. She called me out on that one - doh! Sorry about that guys. The best lessons learned come from experience though. Next ride? Well, since you spoke up Birdy, I guess that means the next one's on you?! Where we going? :-)   Birdy Posted on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 - 06:47 pm:        Well maybe I should'a kept my mouth shut! I'll have to see what I can find that can follow 555...going to be hard without a long run to get to 129! Maybe we do the same rode backwards? Dirt and all (I liked that!)   Loud_and_low Posted on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 - 08:00 pm:        Hopefully the next ride will happen on a day I can attend. Looking forward to riding wit yinz and meeting you all. There are so many good roads in SEOH it's hard to pick just a few for one day.   Jjr1125 Posted on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 - 08:43 pm:        I highly recommend including SR-41. I found it accidently on the way back from KY. Take it south from Washington Court house to the Ohio River near Maysville. It is full of sweepers. It was a pleasure to ride even after I already had 400 miles in the seat that day. So many good roads and so little time.   Jasbiz66 Posted on Friday, October 15, 2010 - 04:35 pm:        GHOST TOWN IN HERE.................   Birdy Posted on Sunday, October 17, 2010 - 07:30 pm:        Hooked up with Dennis foe a short rise outside Marysville. Looking for a road for the next group ride and let me tell you 555 is going to be hard to follow without a long road trip. It was a nice ride day even though I had to take the KLR, the front pads on the Buell are so worn out the only have one side! Have to get a set next week. I did OK until Dennis took off and the KLR was toast! Who know's maybe 555 will be the next ride we do with a bit of a different meeting point and lead in route. But I still need to run down 41 to check it out.   Shagg1970 Posted on Monday, October 18, 2010 - 07:27 am:        Last night my wife bought a Buell Blast to learn on. It is a 2004 with 2300 miles. I cant wait to start customizing it. I'm gonna make it into a little ully. The only thing I can see wrong is the rear wheel bearring on the rt side is leaking grease, should be an easy fix. We pick it up Tuesday after work and I get to ride it home from Gahanna (about 30 Miles).   Wolfridgerider Posted on Sunday, October 24, 2010 - 10:24 pm:        WELL???? how was the Dirt Bike class??   Mikef5000 Posted on Thursday, October 28, 2010 - 02:00 pm:        The dirt bike class was AWESOME! Started out slow, just to get us a feel for everything. sitting slalom, standing slalom. Counterbalancing over the hill. But THEN things got interesting! PIVOT TURNS! Slide sideways with the rear brake locked coming into the sharp turn, pivot on your inside foot to keep balance, while you drop the clutch and hammer down, and spin the back tire while still sliding sideways powering out of the turn. Holy hell, I could've done that triangle of pivot turns all day long. The more you do it, the more you trust the tires. I found that the more it was leaned, the more the knobs bit, and the more traction I had. Man you could lean that thing OVER, and still drop the clutch and power out! Next lesson... LOFTING THE FRONT TIRE! Hell yes! We dropped some 4x4's in our path of travel, and practiced bouncing the suspension while goosing the throttle to launch over them. One guy went down on this one. Went down pretty hard too! Landed his wheelie on an angle both tires slid out to the side while he plowed strait into the ground. Probably going a good 20 MPH too! He jumped right up and was fine, but I was right behind him and was thinking he was down for the count for sure. Ended up bloodying his elbow. Next up, and on to the unofficial lesson for the day (yes pivot turns and lofting the front wheel are actually officially in the MSF teachers guide book). Moguls! He had two 18" tall moguls set up about 4' apart. First we went over them slowly. But then.... Then it was time to jump them! Come up to them in the middle of second gear, bounce the suspension and goose the throttle... then FLY! Sure their little baby jumps, but for a street bike guy, this was fricken amazing. We ended the day with a group ride, following our teacher. This was the highlight of the day, as it was about 15 minutes of follow the leader through pivot turns, wheelying over the boards, wheelying up the hill, jumping the mogals, more pivot turns, through a rock patch, more pivot turns. We all ended sweating our asses off dying laughing. It was simply awesome.   Wolfridgerider Posted on Thursday, October 28, 2010 - 02:55 pm:        Great write up!! Wish I could have made it.... but bambi was calling!   Thump4fun Posted on Tuesday, November 02, 2010 - 07:02 pm:        New Member!! Please welcome Pete Angelas! Pete hails from Bellville and brings the first Ulysses XB12XP (police version) to the herd. I wonder now if we can just cruise through the lights on our rides??? LOL   Loud_and_low Posted on Tuesday, November 02, 2010 - 07:14 pm:        Hello Pete! I'm just down 97 in Galion.   H2opatrol Posted on Thursday, November 04, 2010 - 09:03 pm:        Hey everyone glad to be here. Sure wish I would have found you guys in the spring instead of the fall haha...... Like I was telling Bruce, no lights or siren, but it would sure be nice! Mark, how far up out 97 from 314 are you? I'm 2 miles east of Johnsville off 42.   Arctic9r Posted on Friday, November 05, 2010 - 11:59 am:        anyone been riding this week.... I rode the past 2 day and plan on riding some more next week. Guys take a look at AD Farrow's newsletter and come join me for the endurance ride1 It's the longest running ride in history! It would be nice to see some of you guys out again.... and not just Dennis.   Loud_and_low Posted on Friday, November 05, 2010 - 06:30 pm:        Pete, I live in the city of Galion.So, about 8 miles from 314. Arctic, I am up for a ride on Sundays, my only day off. I'd love to get out one more time this year.   Thump4fun Posted on Monday, November 08, 2010 - 08:54 am:        New Member!! It may be getting a bit nippy out, but we still have new members coming out. Please welcome Adam Smith to the club, riding a 2006 Uly. Welcome Adam!   H2opatrol Posted on Wednesday, November 10, 2010 - 01:00 pm:        You know there's nothing quite like getting on the Uly after a few weeks of solid four wheel transportation. Grabbed a fist full of throttle today getting on 71 and every hair on my body stood straight up. Almost felt like spring. I swear that feeling never gets old.   Jasbiz66 Posted on Wednesday, November 10, 2010 - 05:53 pm:        I was driving down 71 today and they were watching it closely at around 5-ish. Had the Heli in the air going up and down and multiple oinkers on the ground........ be careful.....   Wolfridgerider Posted on Wednesday, November 10, 2010 - 07:29 pm:        BLS and Clutch are at the LC tonight I should have went   Jjr1125 Posted on Wednesday, November 10, 2010 - 08:18 pm:        "oinkers" Now that is something to remember   Thump4fun Posted on Wednesday, November 10, 2010 - 08:39 pm:        Tomorrow is supposed to be 70' AND it's a federal holiday so I have the day off....suhweet!!! Grabbing the woman and hitting some roads...any road...to anywhere...or nowhere. Just riding!!! :-)   H2opatrol Posted on Thursday, November 11, 2010 - 10:06 am:        Oinkers.... They don't bother you much when you are one. As long as you aren't in the 130s like the couple troops heading out 70 last year. I would imagine they had a hard time explaining that one   Dennis_c Posted on Friday, November 12, 2010 - 07:48 pm:        any one riding on sat or sun