NW Rideouts & accidents

[dizzyblonde]

Originally Posted by Baph

I agree completely mate, there's nothing wrong with the time-tested marker system.

The thoughts in my head about the group idea was basically that the faster group would ride longer distances, but each group (however many) would meet up at all the stops (ideally - though practically?). That would allow people to swap groups whenever they fancied it.

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I've never had a problem with the marker system, it works fine no matter how big the group, unless your as blind as a bat like me and go the opposite of where the marker is pointingor round the roundabout again...lol

'the faster group ride longer distance idea...to me wouldn't work, you can't say someone who rides fast has the endurance to ride further, as is I can ride all day long. I don't have a problem with long rides, but I don't ride fast.(0r fliipin slow) Some weekend warrior( scuse the stereotype) may ride fast, but get knackered and make mistakes because they can't go all th way.

Each group meet up at all the stops....isn't that just the same as a large group naturally splitting into their comfort zone, meeting up together anyway?I don't think it would be practical if 'faster group riding further' was still actually slower to get to destination or slower egroup being really slow( a case of probability, vs time and distance rubblish mathematical analysis going on there)and waiting around for ages at the stop off, and ultimatley making the rideout even longer?

would allow people to swap groups whenever they fancied it........TBH people do that anyway. When on a group ride I purposely park up behind the person who leads the lot, so when they go I am usually pretty much up there with the fast lot. oooooo sounds like the starting block for motoGPThis in turn allows me to slowly fall down the pack of faster paced riders to a more comfortable middle ground, as I wave people past me so not to hold them up. If I start off in the middle, its garanteed I get stuck behind someone I don't like riding behind, and I can't pass them for various reasons( as happened on NW3 when my chin strap came undone and for a section was at the back in front of Moses TEC)
As said earlier with my scenario with Drew, with my personal approach to riding, I find I'm at the head of the middle group( as now I found DD was beind Drew and many more by the looks of pictures from quiff)

Its a good thing that perhaps a different formula could be discussed and Baph you were brave to try, but IMO I'm not sure anyone can change a good thing

i have only been on 1 NW rideout, but they are no differnat to any other IMO.
and i just put it down to coinsedance(?) that there has been a crash on all 4 of them.

i dont think theres anything you can/should do to change things.

[dizzyblonde]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

However, getting close to the end of a ride and having the option of directly to the end/bunkhouse or going and doing another 50 miles... you could call that a group system and it's not going to lead to teddys being thrown because it's a voluntary thing.
.

now I couldn't disagree with this thought, as on NW3...... rain, plus specs, plus pitch black dark, a mountain and SV standard lights, scared the carp out of me, and thanks to a very patient Jamessunhill and Blue Pete, I was last in, but safely in. Getting to the end of a rideout and being faced with a choice of this or, 'we could go this way and get there quicker (maybe safer) would Imo be perhaps something to be discussed, as it is a valid point

[yorkie_chris]

I don't think anyone would have wanted extra mileage at that point lol. I was glad to get to petes eats and I usually enjoy riding that sort of road in the dark.

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by Speedy Claire

Personally no, I am not lying to myself when I say that on all the rideouts i`ve been on I have never once felt obliged to keep up.... NEVER!

OK being honest, I have felt like that in the past, I certainly remember thinking "oh sh*t I dont know where I am and I am going to get lost" and it made me ride faster.

I'm more experienced now and I know that

1. I dont need to do this.
2. Its not a race.
3. I wont get lost.
4. People will wait for me.

Its all to do with me in having experience in taking part in a rideout that makes not feel the need to this. also I've got the point where I dont really care anymore either about getting lost of being left behind its all part of the adventure.

I think theres some things you could do that might help.

1. Print off a route map and give a copy to everybody to stick in their pockets, rationale being that if they get lost or behind well they have a map.

2. Publish the group leaders and TEC phone numbers on the map or make sure everybody has it in their mobile, that way again if peeps get lost they can ring to say "I've got lost" and you can go and find them etc etc.

3. You organise markers in advance and they reccie the route, this ensures that the markers know what they are doing and then everybody has trust in the marker system including the lead rider and therefore the drop off works better and then people dont feel pressured into keeping up.

Just a few thoughts dont know if they are useful or not...

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

OK being honest, I have felt like that in the past, I certainly remember thinking "oh sh*t I dont know where I am and I am going to get lost" and it made me ride faster.

I'm more experienced now and I know that

1. I dont need to do this.
2. Its not a race.
3. I wont get lost.
4. People will wait for me.

Its all to do with me in having experience in taking part in a rideout that makes not feel the need to this. also I've got the point where I dont really care anymore either about getting lost of being left behind its all part of the adventure.

I think theres some things you could do that might help.

1. Print off a route map and give a copy to everybody to stick in their pockets, rationale being that if they get lost or behind well they have a map.

2. Publish the group leaders and TEC phone numbers on the map or make sure everybody has it in their mobile, that way again if peeps get lost they can ring to say "I've got lost" and you can go and find them etc etc.

3. You organise markers in advance and they reccie the route, this ensures that the markers know what they are doing and then everybody has trust in the marker system including the lead rider and therefore the drop off works better and then people dont feel pressured into keeping up.

Just a few thoughts dont know if they are useful or not...

I dont think its a question of organisation Fizz, the organisation of every NW rideout so far has been absolutely brill, all this was about was is there anything that could be done to reduce accidents, as we are all adults we can choose our position in the overall group and we can rag the ar$es off our bike if we want to, just want people to enjoy it and be safe and come back again, thats all I am saying on the subject now.

[_Stretchie_]

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

I'm more experienced now and I know that

1. I dont need to do this.
2. Its not a race.
3. I wont get lost.
4. People will wait for me.

Number 2 for example, I was having fun playing with Rick, (oo-er missus) because I liked the way he rides, all morning at one point there was Rick, Myself, then Neio.

Neio backed off from us, obviously not feeling comfortable keeping up (no reflection on him) and me and Rick carried on, and when I wasn't feeling comfortable keeping up I backed off (no reflection on me)

At no point had I (and I hope this was the same for most) ever thought that day 'Oh my god what am I doing?!!'. I was just having a giggle all day and enjoying myself with no agressive tendancies towards the throttle. It's good to push yourself, but best to do it on your own roads with your own people

But I suppose that comes when you have done a few rideouts with member of the org, you get to know the points the Fizz mentions above

The org is a lovley place full of lovley people and as Rick said to me 'you needed help, we were there' and that to me is the org all over..

WE LOVE YOU

Originally Posted by _Stretchie_

It's good to push yourself, but best to do it on your own roads with your own people

In the words of my instructor:

If you want to push the envelope, the safest way is one variable at a time. Unknown bike, unknown roads, unknown company, all at the same time is just asking for trouble.

Originally Posted by _Stretchie_

.

Neio backed off from us, obviously not feeling comfortable keeping up (no reflection on him) and me and Rick carried on, and when I wasn't feeling comfortable keeping up I backed off (no reflection on me)

Exactly
When rick took off and you followed I kept up until I felt I was pushing a bit to hard for my own comfort in the wet. So sat there pootling around on my own for a bit.

I am man enough to admit I am a fanny in the wet LOL

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

1. Print off a route map and give a copy to everybody to stick in their pockets, rationale being that if they get lost or behind well they have a map.

Everyone has the link to the map and is advised to take a copy. I don't feel it is up to the ride organiser to hold folks hands by doing this for them, but I take on board what you say. Perhaps folks need this.

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

2. Publish the group leaders and TEC phone numbers on the map or make sure everybody has it in their mobile, that way again if peeps get lost they can ring to say "I've got lost" and you can go and find them etc etc.

We try to ensure everyone has the ride leader's number and at least one other. Again this is left to individuals, but they ARE told to do it. Taken with the map idea this is probably a good idea.

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

3. You organise markers in advance and they reccie the route, this ensures that the markers know what they are doing and then everybody has trust in the marker system including the lead rider and therefore the drop off works better and then people dont feel pressured into keeping up.

Will be hard to organise the markers before hand, but will bear it in mind if I organise another ride.

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

Just a few thoughts dont know if they are useful or not...

Another perspective is always useful. This helps with the organisational aspect.