Riding in a Group

Riding in a Group

by Rita
(San Antonio. TX)

Advise please? I now own my 2nd motorcycle. 1st was a 750 Honda Shadow Spirit, sold it for my 09 Harley Sportster 883 Iron. Love them both. I commute on a daily basis to work and back and some times even convince my Husband to ride the speed limit with me to help me get more exposure. My question is...I need to learn how to ride in a group. I don't like sharing my lane? What do you recommend? My husband does not seem to have enough patience/or maybe I don't feel at ease trying to explain to him how I feel about not being comfortable at keeping up with high speeds?

Rita

Comments for
Riding in a Group

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Feb 19, 2011

Ride with a Women's Group
by: Julianne

Try finding a women's riding club. I belong to Women on Wheels. My chapter was very supportive when I started to ride, and continues to mentor newbies.

Feb 13, 2011

Riding In a Group
by: Anonymous

Wow...I feel better already. Thanks for the tips. Believe me, I will put this advise to good use.

Feb 13, 2011

Group Riding
by: Mary

You have to be sure of the group you are riding with. We have been on 4 group rides. Two with ABATE of MN and WI chapters; these folks know how to run a ride. Didn't go too fast and the leaders were excellent.

One was horrendous with a group put together by a bar. The leader went about 75 plus on the country roads and went 60 through a residential street posted at 45. Ya think those residents had a good opinion of bikers after that? When we mentioned that the leader was going too fast because we fell behind trying to be sane, he actually went FASTER. We should have dropped out. Also, A LOT of drinking. Bad deal.

Feb 13, 2011

The only risk you regret is the one you don't take...
by: Sandy

It may seem like a scary proposition, to ride in a group....but like the writer before me said, just relax, look ahead and trust your instincts. You know you are a good rider, and your skills will be there when you need them!

I was nervous to go on my first group ride, but I told myself, "it's now or never" and it was a blast! It was easy to share a lane with another rider, especially when the group is staggered. I met a lot of great people and rode through some awesome countryside just outside Minneapolis!

You know that if you start going and it doesn't feel right, you can always exit out and try again another time, but my feeling is, you'll be very happy you went for it and will not regret any part of the ride!

Remember, 99% of the things we waste our time worrying about never happen....

"The only risk you will regret is the one you don't take..."

Feb 13, 2011

Ride w/My Husband's Buddy!
by: Sandra

He forces you to share, whether you want to or not! LOL

Seriously, it sounds as though learning from your husband is a bad idea, just like it does not work for me - in my case, my husband has too much anxiety for my safety to be a good teacher to me. So I simply turn to other riders for that kind of support.

Ever heard of a poker run? It's a nice day's ride around nowhere, doing nothing but enjoying your ride and collecting cards for a poker hand at the end of the ride from several watering holes along the chosen route - I do not recommend having a beer or two, as many people will. My skills are not sharp enough to have me dulling them any!

But if you can get into a ride, such as that, and just talk to people telling them of your inexperience; usually there are a couple of more experienced riders who are willing to hook up with you for the ride and teach you some basic group riding skills. But be specific about your abilities and needs; there are others who will be totally annoyed w/a beginner "slowing them down" and "ruining their ride". BLAH!

For the most part, bikers are a pretty decent bunch of folks, who get a kick out of sharing THE RIDE w/others; but there are a few jerks in EVERY nice bunch of people, right?

Relax, (seriously, every few minutes take a breath and relax any tense muscles you are scrunching up like those shoulders and fingers!) keep a sharp eye a good 12 seconds ahead of you, and enjoy yourself!

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