Ride alone or in group?

[TEC]

Originally Posted by zunkus

Hope that someone is not reading this buddy!

She wont

rode in a group ended up solo, i managed to miss the turn off and didn't realise until 2 miles later....but like both depends on who your riding with, can't deal with mega speeds on twisty roads but like the social before and after riding.

[dizzyblonde]

I love the social bit on the big group rides. Its the camaraderie between those that I'm close to on the org, and new folks.....add a few lunges in to the mix and its all good I choose rideouts that i know will be more techically challenging than the ones I ride on here.
I don't rise to speed about and push myself too far. I think most that have ridden with me have found I just go to my own pace, sometimes its rather good, sometimes its poo, depending on my mood.

I've also found out that doing very long rides on my own is rather good...because theres less earache (usually from Im thats sat on the other end of the sofa )


OH and I just don't dooooo pillion....except Gladys!

Prefer riding in a small group, say 2-5 riders. Then you still have some of the freedom of riding on your own with people to talk to when you stop.

Never fancied carrying a pillion, too much weight high up.

[mattSV]

I enjoy any riding, whether it is solo, with a pillion or in a group. I have ridden with some large groups (around 3000 bikes!) which needs a very different set of skills and mindset to riding in smaller groups.

One of the best group rides I have ever done was the first North/South. We all naturally split in to groups of similar ability, so there was never any pressure to be riding outside of your comfort zone - having said that, some of the sections we rode were at an extremely 'enthusiastic' pace.

Riding in groups is all about knowing and trusting the people around you - if I don't know anyone else I am riding with, then I always take it easy.

I always enjoy riding with Scoobs - our riding style/pace is pretty similar I think, we always leave room for each other when overtaking, and always postion ourselves so that the person in front can see where we are. I can also always guarantee which bit on the ride home from Poole he is going to do a 'flypast'

It appears that apart from solo outings many of you aren't comfortable riding in big groups but prefer smaller groups[2-5] when you are familiar with your fellow riders riding style.
My preference is the smaller group with everybody knowing the route,where to stop and ride at the pace you are comfortable at. When it is this type of situation I find it much more enjoyable because you are not constantly looking for people in your mirrors,playing catch-up and if anybody wants to have a blast they can as you know where the next stopping point is.
Its an individual choice but being of the older generation and preferring the quieter life
having seen the consequence of large ride outs and its social antics I give them a miss
in favour of the small group or solo.
Having expressed my opinion does not mean that others should not enjoy larger gathering as I have done in the past. They can be loads of fun,just not my cup of tea
BUT WHATEVER YOU DO AS LONG AS YOU ENJOY IT THAT IS WHAT MATTERS

Bit of a tough one, I reckon - I just enjoy riding, and I'm not too fussy about who with or how far. The only thing for me is that I don't take pillions (the seat on the SV lasted all of an hour on the bike, before I fitted it again to trade it in, and the GSXR doesn't have a seat or pegs any more). Not really sure why, but I've never needed to and so I've never learned how to past revising the questions on my test.

When you are familiar with the riding of the people you're with, that helps it a lot - you can relax because you know what to expect out of the rest of the group (even when that might be what you'd call dodgy).

Meh, on my own i think, i like choosing where to go.

For long rides I like riding alone, going where I want, when I want etc & able to go totally at my own pace.

Group rides like the AR are a lot of fun, but if I'm honest it's more about the social side, chatting at tea-breaks and exchanging those 'did you see that...' stories

I dont mind the annual rideout's, they are well organisd and cater for all experiance levels and paces.

I do get a bit iffy when I'm out in other groups, and feel bad bcause I'm often the slowest

I don't mind being on my own....

...but its best when I have maria on the back to share a good ride with