Do you prefer to do it on your own, or with others?

riding of course! I ride the bike quite a lot on my tod, but would prefer to be out with others although none of my mates ride so its not so easy. One of my only biking buddies had an accident a fortnight ago which has made him turn his back on bikes for good (he came off pretty bad).

So which do you prefer?

Originally Posted by robchester

riding of course! I ride the bike quite a lot on my tod, but would prefer to be out with others although none of my mates ride so its not so easy. One of my only biking buddies had an accident a fortnight ago which has made him turn his back on bikes for good (he came off pretty bad).

So which do you prefer?

I like both. It's nice being 'naughty' and riding on your own, doing the odd slightly silly thing just for the guilty pleasure of having got away with it and no-one else knowing. Most of my mates don't ride either (probably true for most bikers) and it's nice having a little world that's all your own, and they're not privy to. Like brain-bending, time-shrinking acceleration. Or even simply 'leaning over to go round corners'. It's your little pleasure, they can't even imagine the enjoyment we all get from a simple 25 mile ride one random evening.

On the other hand, it's nice to stop halfway round for a pint/ice-cream/cone of chips etc with some mates, a collective whinge about the muppet in that Audi, and a giggle about the copper you saw stuck behind a lorry whilst you were doing well over 100 going the other way.

[anna]

Originally Posted by robchester

riding of course! I ride the bike quite a lot on my tod, but would prefer to be out with others although none of my mates ride so its not so easy. One of my only biking buddies had an accident a fortnight ago which has made him turn his back on bikes for good (he came off pretty bad).

So which do you prefer?

I love ride outs on my own, but since riding with the s&w lot my riding has improved so much more quickly... I have been able to follow others lines in the road and to see where I am going wrong, or which bits I have got right.

There is nothing like having a fantastic ride out and having others to share it with. Being able to talk about how you ride and look at each others styles has proved invaluable to me.

Previous to owning the SV I had only ever done city riding and there is only so much you can learn going up to 3rd gear and filtering in and out of traffic.. whilst it's great for slow speed control it's nothing compared to ride outs in the country when you can explore your bikes potential!

We now have a core group of about six of us and because we have been riding together for a while now we have become accustomed to each others riding style and whilst my riding is probably the least experianced in the group I find myself constantly learning on my rides with them.

[northwind]

I don't enjoy being followed... Makes me paranoid, but also self-conscious. I suppose me ideal is to ride places by myself and meet people at the end

[TSM]

I like riding in a small group. Usaly i ride with a couple of peeps that have TLs and have good rides, but we are fairly well tuned into each others riding styles which makes it much easier as you are fairly sure they wont overtake you somewhere when its likeley that you will too etc....etc...

I prefer to go out either on my own or with 1 or 2 others. I'm not at all keen on big groups.

The thing about group riding over here,(be it Brit guys or europeans) after the first few kilometres it is all flat out. Now dont get me wrong I enjoy the buzz of speed and taking bends at pace. But when your ride is at that level for several hours it does become very draining.

I am yet to go out for a group ride here in Spain with just the occasional blat punctuating a medium paced and enjoyable ride.

I do though very much like being out there on my own, just me and the bike. With me dictating the pace I want to ride. This depending upon my mood and whether I feel in "the groove" can be from cruise pace to letting her rip.

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by Amanda M

I prefer to go out either on my own or with 1 or 2 others. I'm not at all keen on big groups.

I used to like riding in big groups. Now I dont enjoy it as much. I like being by myself or when its just me and Liz. Liz and I have got to know each others riding and I can tell by her body language on the bike when she's going to overtake and stuff like that.

Small groups I think are better if you want a good paced rideout.

Where stuff like AR06 or some of the SWS rideouts are more a social event so as long as I dont expect to go to fast then I find those OK normally.

If I really want to go fast then I just go out by myself.

My opinion: Big groups are too slow to have real fun in, unless you're on a smaller/weaker bike, or at the less experienced end of the Spectrum. I went for a rideout with the SV1000.zyns lot and it was fun (when I was riding with the intermediate, rather than slow group, at least) because I was riding as fast as I would on my own, but keeping up with the others without exceeding my limits.

Riding in smaller groups is good. As people say, someone to talk about the ride with afterwards.

I have to say though, the most fun rides I've had have been on my own. As fast or as slow as you like. No one other than yourself to "look out for" (I mean worry about their safety; not that you don't have to bother with observation! ). No one else spooning it and nearly taking you out, etc.

The dream would be to have a mate who matches your riding abilities exactly, on a similar bike, who you trust implicitly. Someone who doesn't slow you down, or encourage you to go too fast. My best mate fits the bill, but his speed is a bit iffy; too quick in built up areas (ex-pushbike courier ), too slow on the NSL roads.

Both.