I went on my first ever ride out tonight.

[thx1138]

I'm so chuffed. It was organised by someone in the Motorcycle Club that I joined earlier in the year, an improtu ride out, I got an e-mail about it today, and I just turned up at the petrol station. There were just 5 of us.

I was the greenest, and the slowest, but no-one minded. They had an agreed no overtaking each other, and a chap leading and at the back. Then if we got to like a big junction or whatever, the guy leading would indicate to the next person to wait and point the way, then when the guy at the back arrives, you move off, and so change position in the queue as it were.

I don't think that I will ever be very fast, or get my knee down, or anything like that, I'm happy riding about at my own pace.

They reckon I am an okay rider, and though I go a bit slower than they'd like, said it was better to go at your own pace and be safe, than ride at a pace I'm not comfortable with.

Some pics can be found here;
https://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v616/THXII38/Bikes/

[.....]

Glad you enjoyed it mate - riding with others can be great fun

You'll find that riding with people quicker than you will help you learn as well. Just watch what they do and improve your technique at your own pace.

[MarkJ]

Glad to hear you enjoyed it. On my first (and only) rideout we had an agreement where if someone was left behind the front person would wait till everyone had passed and then he would join the back. Seemed to work quite well, considering it was me at the back That Hornet looks ace too!

[Kam]

nice! cant wait 2 start goin on them myself like!
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Proud owner of a Honda CG 2005 model with 1005 Miles on the clock - Bought on 19/12/2005

[paulthewitt]

big to them for being responsible and making sure you knew going at your own //safe// pace was better than risking things to keep up.

glad you enjoyed it, as said following better/quicker riders lines will see you gradually improve. i helped me.......not that my knee has gone down yet!

Paul

[suzi_bandit]

Well done!
It's loads of fun riding in a group isn't it? It's completely different to when you're riding on your own. As long as the group know that you're less experienced than them they tend to ride to your abilities. Some groups ride with the view of riding to the person behind and not to the person in front which is great when your starting out.
I'm really aware of how much better my riding becomes when I follow someone more experienced than I am. I follow their lines and I have prior warning about what's going on ahead of them by watching their brake light. I've also followed some really bad riders and on those occasions have just left plenty of room between them and me purely because I don't want to run them over when they fall off.
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I want a big boys bike, preferably a Speed Triple. To date I have ?7:42p stashed away to put towards one. Need to get it in the bank & earning interest asap.

[Annabella]

It sounds like you had a really good time.

It's nice to hear about people going on a well organised ride with considerate riders around them.
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Avast! Pirates ahoy!
I did Cadwell!
www.bikepics.com/members/bella

[kawakid]

So jealous, i'm the only biker I know.

No one I mean no one I know has any interest in bikes. I could honestly change my bike and as long as the colour was the same no one would notice.
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I've a twin and a 4.

[niff5855]

Well done mate, good crack innit.

So now that you're no longer a virgin (~snigger - I said a (semi) rude word (oo-er semi, thats a bit of a rude word itself in certain circles)) - Sorry bout that, off on a tangent.

I'll start again.

Well done mate, good crack innit.

Now that you've done it once (Guffaw), make sure you keep at it.

I'm the same, none of my mates are into bikes so I now have 'normal' mates and 'bike' mates. Does that make sense??

Fuck Im drunk
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Live fast - die....erm...well...old !!!

[suzi_bandit]

[kawakid]

I have riden up to Devil's bridge, had somet to eat and a drink a few times, but i'm by myself.

Don't get me wrong, i'm married have kids , mates etc, just none in to biking.

Perhaps I should try Squires.
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I've a twin and a 4.

[Kam]

[DEN MONKEY]

Nice work mate they are heaps of fun.
Especially when you find a sensible group who will hold up if needed to.
Went for a ride out 300kms a few weeks back in the worst fog and rain Ive seen and you literally lost the guy in front of you if he got a bit ahead of you. The corners were real tight and in spots there was a major drop off the side of the road.

Hadn't met 2 of the guys. They rode nice and slow to meet the conditions. I made sure to thank them when we arrived at our first stop and told them it was much appreciated that they didn't push it.

Some quick advice though. While it's great to learn off more skilled riders. Don't get caught up in watching them too much.
It can be a little easy to get out of position for your own ride doing this. It can also make you miss items coming up that you would normally see when doing your own thing.

A mate once said that when pushing it he was so focused on the guy in front he kinda ended up out of line because the guy was a few seconds ahead and this put his whole timing off.

Additionaly there were 4 bikes that piled up on some twisties near here because they were too focused on the guy in front.

He left the road and they all followed him. 2 died i think.

Go in a group, keep ya distance and remember to ride your own ride.

Most of all though...enjoy.....its what its all about.
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meh

[thx1138]

went on another one tonight, about 25 of us this time.

Loads of scenery went to a little pub by a canal, they'd phoned in advance to let them know we were coming, it was excellent. Really enjoyed myself. Windy country route there, and a faste A road trip back.

I screwed up once though. When we were just set off on the return trip, I misjudged the speeds of a car I was overtaking and the oncoming traffic, and just cracked the throttle open to get out of the way. Not good though. I shouldn't have got in that position in the first place, dunno if I did the best thing, but I didn't panic, I chose a course of action that I thought best dealt with my mistake.


The other people were very helpful. For instance one chap followed me at the end, when I missed the final turning for the village where the club is based , and then overtook me, to point out the other entrance which isn't singposted, despite taking him on a needless 5 mile detour.

[Dark]

Nice one, sounds like you've found a good bunch there, theres not many around anymore.
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My Bikes in order:- Yamaha RXS100 / Suzuki X7 250 / Yamaha RD350LC / Kawasaki
KR1S 250 / Kawasaki ZXR750 H2 / Honda C50 / Kawasaki ZX7R P5 / Kawasaki ZX10R / Suzuki GSXR 400 / Honda CBR1100 Blackbird & Yamaha FZR 600

[Visitor Q]

There is nothing better then finding a like minded nutter on those occasions you really want to scare the crap out of yourself.

Being slipstreamed at 160 while on the A10 is lively, didnt realise how loud the sound of a bike roaring past you at that speed is
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China traffic/travel bike vid - When I make a sweeping statement, please add the word 'statistically' in to the sentence before you bitch...
From September 2014 to January/February 2015 I will not be using any English, nor reading any. As such, I won't be on here. PM at will, but I won't be checking/posting unless in emergencies. Certainly not for the first couple of months. Please berate me savagely if I break that rule...

[Dark]

[JonB]

[thx1138]