Group riding etiquette

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Stw

Stw

Former Staff
Joined
Aug 8, 2012
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6,381
Location
Dallas.Tx
Forgive me but I need to vent...:)

I ride with a group of guys regularly and every one is cool..except this one guy... To me there are certain things you do not do when group riding.One is pass the leader..seems obvious doesn't it??
Not to this guy... We are riding and everyone finds their spot in the group depending on ability etc...so this guy is one of those guys that waits for the straight ...zooms past everyone and cuts in behind the leader...come the bends we all have to slow down cos he rides his brakes and is horrible come the curves...so the leader has to slow... we all bunch up and actually end up passing him...but sure enough come the next straight here he comes zooming past again.. I find it infuriating... Saturday he even missed an exit due to his nonsense so then we had to wait for him to do a U turn... I talk to him..I yell at him...still no change...
I am at the point of giving up on this group..but that's so unfair as everyone else is cool...but if I want to ride with this group I have to deal with this ........Ugh

Out...
 
You can't possibly be the only one in the group who feels this way. Democracy rules, man. Organize a mutiny and kick him out. The more friendly (some might say passive/aggressive) way to do it is to create a new group (a subgroup) that contains everyone but him and organize rides that way.

When I saw this title, being a native New Yorker, I was expecting to read about large groups taking over all lanes of a highway and then slowing down all traffic (with a brake check or two thrown in for good measure) so they can leave a huge open runway ahead to speed through. There are few things on the road more infuriating, I assure you...
 
Jello said:
You can't possibly be the only one in the group who feels this way. Democracy rules, man. Organize a mutiny and kick him out. The more friendly (some might say passive/aggressive) way to do it is to create a new group (a subgroup) that contains everyone but him and organize rides that way.

When I saw this title, being a native New Yorker, I was expecting to read about large groups taking over all lanes of a highway and then slowing down all traffic (with a brake check or two thrown in for good measure) so they can leave a huge open runway ahead to speed through. There are few things on the road more infuriating, I assure you...
Click to expand...

I don't know dude... I seem to be the only one who has issues with this guy... So I'm not only venting but i guess in a way I am seeking affirmation or otherwise of my feelings... The rides are supposed to be fun and stress free.. I am not feeling that lately..:(
 
I'm with you. I can't stand that ..... I don't enjoy partaking in a lowlife group. (NYC West Side style, classy). I prefer under 10 people all riding in unison.
 
Might be time to find a different group. As much as the other members are cool, if you're having a ...... time, then what's the point? That said, I would hate riding with that effer too.

Oddly enough, I was thinking about group dynamics just last night while riding with a buddy. Mid-corner I remember thinking about how fortunate our group is for having great chemistry. There's not a lot of us, but we trust each other enough to rip around on these machines together.
 
It only takes that one guy that will screw up your day or life. I've seen it happen to many times before. If the rest of the group doesn't mind him riding like a Squid find another safe group to ride with. If you enjoy riding with this particular group then ride in the back so you can observe everything.
 
Phl said:
Ride by yourself. I quit riding in groups larger than 3
Click to expand...

I agree. I think riding in groups is fun but not more than 3.

Steve,

if your group think this act is ok, you better leave because its not. I be furious if he got other people/including me hurt.
 
forget this group if nobody else is covering you. these kind of guys are really dangerous!
find your friends that have the same pace that you have. i had the best expiriences in my life with guys that drive the same way as I do. It's like flying a fighter with your combatants left and right to you. forget the mediocre cafe racers...
 
Stw said:
I don't know dude... I seem to be the only one who has issues with this guy... So I'm not only venting but i guess in a way I am seeking affirmation or otherwise of my feelings... The rides are supposed to be fun and stress free.. I am not feeling that lately..:(
Click to expand...

I think you are going to be hard pressed to find people who are not sympathetic to your situation on this forum. Color me biased, but I imagine if you were posting on a 'Busa forum, it would be exactly the opposite.

If you really like the chemistry of the group (when not riding, I'm assuming) and don't want to ditch them, I'd still suggest you pick your favorite 2-3 and make a smaller group (I agree with others' comments that groups of approximately 3 in number are ideal), or at the very least take the opportunity to start poking fun at the guy who "seems fast til he gets to a corner" to see if others will pile on and shame him out of his current behavior. He's possibly completely unaware of what a tool he is being.
 
Jello said:
I think you are going to be hard pressed to find people who are not sympathetic to your situation on this forum. Color me biased, but I imagine if you were posting on a 'Busa forum, it would be exactly the opposite.

If you really like the chemistry of the group (when not riding, I'm assuming) and don't want to ditch them, I'd still suggest you pick your favorite 2-3 and make a smaller group (I agree with others' comments that groups of approximately 3 in number are ideal), or at the very least take the opportunity to start poking fun at the guy who "seems fast til he gets to a corner" to see if others will pile on and shame him out of his current behavior. He's possibly completely unaware of what a tool he is being.
Click to expand...

If he is unaware then my communication "skills" are sadly lacking.... The problem is I am the only who gives ........ I think your idea of pick 2 others and make a 3 man group makes a lot of sense....:)
 
The groups I ride with and lead almost always ride off a route sheet and/or GPS file which includes gas and lunch stops. Everyone up front knows they are expected to be able to self navigate the ride so they can ride their own ride. Bitching that the group was too fast, too slow or lost someone is frowned upon, since implicitly it means the bitching person wants everyone to ride their ride or to somehow be responsible for their ride.

Sometimes someone passes a leader and some of the group follows and the group splits into two. Sometimes people leave the group to ride faster or slower. No big deal, everyone knows where the route is going and where to meet along the route.

I've been running an AMA sanctioned rally for over a decade (www.mstatwistar.info) using this approach. The rally generally draws about 100 people for a 300-350 mile twisty ride. A bunch of Jarel's customers usually make the trip over from Nebraska for the rally. Generally people break up into groups of 7 or less. Pretty much exactly what happens on the more casual group rides when larger numbers of riders show up.
 
OT: I typically like to hang in the back of the pack to get a feel for the group. Generally speaking though, ride your own ride but if this is a constant thing shove him in the back to run sweeper.
 
ScrapperX said:
It only takes that one guy that will screw up your day or life. I've seen it happen to many times before. If the rest of the group doesn't mind him riding like a Squid find another safe group to ride with. If you enjoy riding with this particular group then ride in the back so you can observe everything.
Click to expand...

That's it, and chill out down the back while you're at it.
That way you can ride your own ride without hassles and enjoy the scenery.

Not every riding group is perfect;)
 
Germcati said:
if this is a constant thing shove him in the back to run sweeper.
Click to expand...

That's a great idea.
Maybe not necessarily shove him at the back end.
Perhaps it's better to utilize his natural talents as the dedicated(TEC) Tail End Charlie;)
One day he may well ask, "why do I always have to ride at the back as the TEC"?

This Lone Ranger will have the opportunity to learn how to be a team player within the group, and also learn some discipline and responsibility.
Or he will get the ..... with it, and give up riding with the group.

It's much better in the long run, to work with him as best you can and either grow into the group, or have him leave on his own accord if it comes to it.
Rather than you distancing yourself from the guys you like to ride with.
 
STW you the "moderator" go and moderated his ..., I don't ride in group because of .... like that, it only take one person to start speeding and by the end of the day the all group is doing over 120 mph on the 45 zone , or some ... clown is going to start doing wheeler the cop is going to stop the group and everybody is getting ticket. I ride by my self at my speed and if I ride with somebody else that person need to be at my riding skill lever I don't ride with novice because they will try to catch up which is not safe for them.
 
Safety is /should be paramount to all of the riders in the group. If they cannot see that he is jeopardizing everyone's safety get a new group man.
 
Steve,
How long have you been riding with this group?
From my experience it does take time to 'build' a group that is very sensitive to their fellow riders and environment.

Typically new people join the group and some leave until you get a core of people that knows how everyone rides and what their skill levels are.

The respect for each other and the support from the group makes it fun.
I have to admit that riding with a top notch group taught me a lot about etiquette and improved my skills immensely.
 

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