2013 SE Ohio Spring Ramble - Ride Groups

[luvtoride]

luvtoride... Heidi...I could fit in with group 1 or 2. Have GPS & Comm. Prefer to follow since I'm not at all familiar with these roads.

 

[luvtoride]

As previosly stated, my brother and I will be venturing out on our own. Otherwise I would be in group 1 all the way.(of couse, since I am not going in a group!)

My feewings are hewt.

 

[RaYzerman19]

Good question for conversation. Typically, it is considered the courteous thing to do in letting a faster rider by with a wave. For me, I will stay behind a rider until they acknowledges and waves me past. There is no way of reading what's going on inside that helmet in front of you - you don't know if he sees you, knows he's holding you up, etc. I would highly encourage everyone to take a minute and have this discussion in the small groups before you head out. If I see I'm holding someone up, I'll slide to the right, slow, and wave then around.

Do you guys normally allow passing in the group if the rider in front is not quite fast enough for you, providing the way is clear?

I'm not advocating racing and you can go in group 1 if that's your style. Just had to bring it up, as I've been in groups where no passing was allowed and sometimes you can get 'stuck' if you know what I mean. 'Stuck' can prey on your patience, concentration, your enjoyment and your safety. It's always the polite thing to do to wave somebody on if you want to reduce your pace to your comfort zone that day, but some are shy and can get caught trying to keep up to the guy in front, realize they are out of their comfort zone... etc. I just didn't want to have anyone to be offended. It's also polite to stay behind and not push someone out of their comfort zone until there is sufficient straight stretch of clear road. It's all in the interest of safety. The pre-ride chat is good to see where you want to be in the group initially. Smaller groups easier to manage.

I've lead many a ride and try to keep track of the group behind me. Had this sort of thing happen a couple or three times........ Once I had a slow rider in position 3 in a larger group. The two of us up front weren't particularly on an agressive pace, but #3 was lagging 1/2 mile holding up a half dozen others whom I knew would have liked a more reasonable place, but they were too polite to pass. So I stopped and asked #3 if skills didn't permit him to keep up would he mind dropping back, tried not to be too critical. I didn't know it.... never assume... Later, turned out he was a skilled rider with many years of riding, but was watching his partner at the back of the group not keeping up and had slowed so the partner could keep up with the rest of the group, obviously didn't realize he was damping the spirit for several in the group. It would seem not a lot of GROUP riding experience. Anyhow, it was all good in the end.... lesson learned, never assume and always eat your crow warm.

All that said, it's always best just to ride your own ride, don't feel pressured to keep up, especially in SE Ohio. Me personally, I will pass if I'm stuck (mentally safer in the end if you get frustrated easily) and I have been known to do double yellows. BTW, what's the official Ohio rule on double yellows... e.g., in NY it is illegal. In Ontario, it is OK to pass if safe and you have a minimum sight line and you don't exceed the speed limit (oops).

 

[Bungie]

In Ontario, it is OK to pass if safe and you have a minimum sight line and you don't exceed the speed limit (oops).

I was going to call you out on this one but decided to check it first. SOB your RIGHT!

36 years of patiently waiting for that solid/double yellow line to change. I feel like crying.

Course, the cops up here will likely pull you over anyway.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Officially, I don't believe passing on the double yellow is a sanctioned activity. So do so at your own risk.

Also, I will tend to pass if I am stuck as well...so all the people in whatever group I am in will know that before heading out.

EDIT: I also believe that group riders should move over if another bike group comes up on them during the day...to allow safe passing when it is clear. We don't want to be like a bunch of HD riders clogging up the roads. Believe it or not, you may not be the fastest riders out there on that day.

Just common courtesy...you have fun...and let others have their fun as well.

 

[BikerGeek99]

BikerGeek, Andy, Group 4, GPS, whatever.

I can tell that I will not be ready for serious twisties. I'm considering a RTE over to Hillbilly Hotdogs, and my pace will be slow even for a lollygagger.

And WTF is this aboot petey coming up???

On a side note: work has gone to crap for me. There is a chance I won't be able to make it anyway, but who knows...

 

[Bungie]

I can tell that I will not be ready for serious twisties. I'm considering a RTE over to Hillbilly Hotdogs, and my pace will be slow even for a lollygagger.

Hey my bud Jim mentioned he'd like to check that place out. Might want to mention it to him if you make it.

 

[wheatonFJR]

And WTF is this aboot petey coming up???

Yeah, petey's my roomy...just like old times in Hooterville.

 

[gray ray]

No passing on the turns

No passing on the inside

Passing only on the outside on straightaways

It is the sole responsibility of the passer to make a safe pass

JSNS

 

[luvtoride]

I'd think this is all common sense... but apparently not. lol!

 

[wheatonFJR]

Passing only on the outside on straightaways

If we aren't passing on the curves (which we aren't), which side is the "outside"? (I hope you aren't saying outside half of the lane ...yikes)

 

[gray ray]

The outside would be the left side if you are looking at the riders butt (which I do alot of)

It would be the right side if you are watching the riders come at you.

When you get passed as many times as I have, you come to appreciate a safe pass.

I once clicked handlebars while being passed on the outside of turn three at N.L.at about 105 MPH by an AMA PRO rider. After the race he came over and apologised to me for not making a safe pass.

Can you imagine an AMA PRO rider apologising to an old fart like me. I'm what is commonly referred to as lapped traffic. Again, "It is the sole responsibility of the passer to make a safe pass".

 

[El Toro Joe]

Ray, he probably apologized for making you soil yer leathers.

 

[RaYzerman19]

Passing only on the outside on straightaways

If we aren't passing on the curves (which we aren't), which side is the "outside"?

(I hope you aren't saying outside half of the lane ...yikes)

If you can't change lanes to pass, then please don't pass. There be's a no clicking handlebar rule ya know. You're right, Heidi, it's all common sense so all can play and have fun.

 

[RaYzerman19]

In Ontario, it is OK to pass if safe and you have a minimum sight line and you don't exceed the speed limit (oops).

I was going to call you out on this one but decided to check it first. SOB your RIGHT!

36 years of patiently waiting for that solid/double yellow line to change. I feel like crying.

Course, the cops up here will likely pull you over anyway.

I ride occasionally with a retired LEO here, and we've discussed a few times...... A cop will look at you if you do the double yellow or solid, and there is some fine print.... some language about minimum distances, and you can bet if you're more than 20 kph over, you're gonna get a talking to by the fine officer, and just pray for no paper at that point. You just admit up front, looked down and oops realized I was speeding so immediately backed off, explain that the traffic was light and the guy in front was dawdling below the limit, blah blah, while down on one knee. OPP are less tolerant, and no tolerance if you're on a 400 series highway (for other infractions).

 

[FJRacer]

I'd think this is all common sense... but apparently not. lol!

More "Common Knowledge" for most FJR riders I would hope, since most have(or had) other Bikes. Usually SportBikes I would guess.

But in the World of SportBikers there's all kindsa stupid out there.

 

[road runner]

lets just ride.

 

[scrapedup]

Scrapedup, Dave, Group 1, No GPS, will definitely be blasting my ear buds so forget trying to talk to me while we're ridin, have little or no sense of my speed, nor do i care, colored blind, especially when it comes to the color yellow, pretty much pass when ever I feel, I'd be more than glad to lead anyone crazy enough to follow me, my screen name pretty much say's it all. If it's any consolation I haven't crashed yet this year, but granted it is pretty early in the ridin season. PS. Thanks to everyone whose prayed for me, my double vision hasn't been bothering me that much, and I've not been wearing the patch over my one eye, unless it's really sunny, when I'm on the bike.

Dastardly Dave #65MotoSeries

 

[wheatonFJR]

Scrapedup, Dave, Group 1, No GPS, will definitely be blasting my ear buds so forget trying to talk to me while we're ridin, have little or no sense of my speed, nor do i care, colored blind, especially when it comes to the color yellow, pretty much pass when ever I feel, I'd be more than glad to lead anyone crazy enough to follow me, my screen name pretty much say's it all. If it's any consolation I haven't crashed yet this year, but granted it is pretty early in the ridin season. PS. Thanks to everyone whose prayed for me, my double vision hasn't been bothering me that much, and I've not been wearing the patch over my one eye, unless it's really sunny, when I'm on the bike. Dastardly Dave #65MotoSeries

Dave, you take yer crew over yonder...

...we'll head this away.

 

[road runner]

As previosly stated, my brother and I will be venturing out on our own. Otherwise I would be in group 1 all the way.(of couse, since I am not going in a group!)

My feewings are hewt.

mine too. FYB