Riding dilema

[Tenko]

Here's one.

A group of us went out on Sunday - me on my old Gixer, 3 R1s and a Tuono. As usual it started out steady enough then turned into a testosterone-laden race across North Yorkshire. Apparently we touched 140 at the top of Sutton Bank but I cannot confirm this as I was too busy hanging on for dear life and trying to get it down for the long, sweeping left to look at my clocks...

One of the group doesn't come out often, in fact this was the first time since his wife left him over a year ago. He is a decent bloke and a damn good rider, but this time out he scared me. If you've ever followed anybody thinking 'he ain't coming back from this one...' you will know what I mean. Its as if he decided to play Russian Roulette with his overtaking and didn't care about who or what could be coming the other way. He did it on bends, crests of hills and past junctions. Even the normal nutter in the group had his head in his hands on occasion, and he is a man who thinks nothing of taking to the pavement in town to get around traffic!!!

We stopped in Helmsley for our usual tea and buttered scone, and nobody mentioned it. We all went our seperate ways and as far as I know everybody made it back ok.

My dilema is this - should I have mentioned it to him as a riding friend and potentially opened up a massive can of emotional worms (I don't know him that well outside riding so can't class myself as a confidant) or did as I did and kept quiet? I have no idea if he was on a mission because of things going on in his personal life and I don't think its right to bring that sort of thing up on a ride because we go out to escape all that rubbish.

Thoughts?

btw Chairman, if you read this, yep, its you, you mad bastard!!!

btw Plod, the above is purely fictional. Any similarity to persons alive or dead is purely coincidental. I spent the day in my underpants hunting squirrels with a clothes-horse...

[JoeDougieDoug...]

Might be worth mentioning it to him, but personally I'd just leave him to make his own mistakes... Tough decision, but he probably knows he's riding like a turd.
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CBT Passed - 22 / 10 / 11 >> Theory Passed - 16 / 02 / 2012 >> Mod 1 Passed - 07 / 03 / 2012 >> Mod 2 Passed - 18 / 05 / 2012.

[Boydy]

That's a tough one... I'd jus try to be honest with him and if you're getting worried, let him know.
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NSR 125

[P.]

Ride for yourself.

Thats how I ride in a group...

[Kwaks]

I would have a word, it may just be that he is rusty from being off the bike for so long and found it difficult to keep up.
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Fallen Angel "Nae sniffing my seat now!!!!! "
www.cliqueycuntsmcc.co.uk
I AM NOT A FAST RIDER!!!!!!!!!

[Rogerborg]

It's a tricky one, mental cases always think that their chosen speed and riding style is actually safe and reasonable. If they don't recognise that they're riding in a completely irresponsible way on public roads that are just not suitable for it, there's not a lot that you can do or say to persuade them otherwise. You just have to hope that they don't take anyone else with them when their luck runs out.

[Old Git Racing]

If he's a mate and a decent bloke you should be able to tell him, he's part of a group and what he does can impact on you. When the witness to the upcoming accident (where he kills himself/someone else/a kitten) says you were all racing plod will have you all.
I'd be more worried about me riding outside my comfort zone. Just don't. If he wants to do his thing let him get on with it, sounds like you didn't enjoy it so what's the point?
There probably is an emotional reason for it but he might just need a prod from a mate to keep him alive.

OGR
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2022 Tiger Sport 660 2019 Street Twin 2003 K3 gixxer 1000 1998 Srad 600 track hack

[yambabe]

My first instinct would be not to ride with him again.

Would I tell him why? Only if he asked. If he's a casual acquaintance who turns up as "friend-of-a-friend" on rideouts he shouldn't be too hard to avoid. If he was to ring me and say fancy coming out for a ride my reply would be no thanks, you made me feel uncomfortable last time.

Of course I realise that for a bloke to say that would be nigh-on impossible so you'll have to make up your own excuse!

One reason for feeling like that is that it wasn't so long ago that a group or riders who were with a bloke who was killed were all prosecuted (may even have been jailed) for dangerous driving even though they were not directly involved in the accident. Happened not too far from Squires IIRC, sure someone will be able to find a link......
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[DrDonnyBrago]

A discussion about succumbing to peer pressure... are you 12 years old?


Tell him he rides like a bellend and either not bother go out with him again or let him ride off into the distance alone. That said...

[Tenko]

We came back via Squires as it happens. Didn't stop though as it is full of overweight middle aged men who like to look at each other in the car park... lol

Its a tough one - my ego won't let me get left behind but my common sense tells me when something is amiss and getting too lairy... I've seen people die before and it is something I hope I left behind in my teens and 20s. I'm 46 now...

Perhaps its time to take up Scrabble.

[Fowlersrs]

[yambabe]

My bad, the other riders were charged but cleared.

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/General-news/2012/January/jan0612-five-cleared-over-ride-out-deaths/
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[Fowlersrs]

[_Troy_]

I've been on rides like this, but maybe a little more on the calm side.

I have a couple of friends who will overtake anything, anywhere, go double speed limits and generally be silly. They aren't all-weather riders, and do it on the odd weekend. I, on the other hand, have ridden pretty much every day for just over a year now. So, i think (i know) i'm a better rider.

So when we go on rides i simply leave them to it. I'll catch up when they decide to stop, and then i'll ask 'whats the bloody hurry?!'

If he is going to be a danger to yourselves or other road users, i'd have definitely had a word, even if it was a light hearted one.
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Current bike: ZX6R J1
Previous bikes: CLR 125 | GS500 | ZX6R G2 | SV650

[Tenko]

I have been called a few things in my time but never a 'mindless following sheep'. A little foolish - nay, positively giddy on occasion perhaps...

I am guilty of being dragged along true enough, and in this respect I did sucumb to peer pressure. That isn't the point of my topic though, oh wise, noble philosopher of the road.

[DrDonnyBrago]

[Tenko]

If you read the OP you would see that I wasn't bothered so much about the speed. If you know the road you will know that speeding is probably safer here than anywhere this side of a racetrack - it was the fact that he was playing Russian roulette with his overtaking. At no time did I suggest that anybody else started overtaking like him.

Mentioning it or not over a scone had more to do with potentially opening up a can of worms as it was his 1st time out after his missus left him, and I suspect his riding had something to do with that.

For some reason you chose to misunderstand the point of my post and have a dig at me instead. Its a bit silly really - you trying to goad me when we are unlikely to ever meet, and if by some slim chance we did I don't think I'd remember you or your words of wisdom...

[DrDonnyBrago]