How many times on doing a ride we say, "MEET at Billy Bob's Bar, tavern cafe' and etc. and on down the line You fill in the place, at eight AM for the ride."

People come staggering in. The "be early" group is alway 10 to 15 minutes early. The rest come sliding in over a twenty or thirty or more minutes after "Meet at eight".

To day the new tactic was "We are LEAVING at 8 AM from where ever. It works! We did give a five minute grace period and then left.
Everyone was happy. The late people caught up. Once the late people understand you WILL leave without them they seem to get the drift.

Some of the late people may turn around and go home, but hey, they were not that enthused to begin with if they do so.

Just a thought.

Great thought, I have waited up to an hour many times for some people to come dragging in. They always had some sort of excuse. I think I have waited my last time.

Another thing that gets on my nerves is there is ALWAYS someone who after signing up for a poker run or just going for a ride who has to stop and get gas. I guess all the fricken stations that they pass on the way to the ride just aren't good enough that time of day.

I have to wonder if these people really want to ride or just stand around and talk.

_________________
"It's a motorcycle, it's not supposed to be comfortable, quiet, or safe. The wind noise is supposed to hurt your ears. The seat should be hard and riding it should make you shit your pants every now and then. Suck it up......" - Scary Gary

Ironhead,
We meet at a gas station then go to breakfast or what evvvvver.
Beyond that,,,,, I'm sorry, I can't help them..

Guess that's why I end up riding alone most times. I will not wait for anyone.
Nothing pisses me off more than being with a bunch of people...we are all ready to ride...but damn it...there are one or two in the group...who just can't seem to get the sleep outta their eyes...coffee down their gullets, hair primped just right...or WHAT THE FUCK EVER....
And force the rest of the group to wait...and wait...and wait...until the day is fucking hot...fucking cold....fucking wet...fucking GONE.

I have waited like this a couple of times...and found that the wait wasn't worth the ride. Even when I have all my best riding buddies with me...there are always a few who whine, (Useally the ones who we FUCKIN' WAITED ON...) who make it hardly worth the effort. The best reason to wait...is only because the guy we are waiting on...is from the area...and knows the best roads...and is gonna take us. He forgot to mention...his OL is gonna be riding beside him...is new to being an operator...and is scared shitless of the mild turns and curves in the road. Forcing us to ride soooo slowly...I should have hitched up the bike to an Amish Buggy...and sat in the back of the wagon with the kiddies. They at least would have amused me with antidotes and history.

Sorry for the rampage...but I would rather ride blind than with a group anymore...and have found more great roads lately by simply getting lost...than I have with the "guided" tour hosts. When I am ready to ride...I want to ride. I also want to stop and see the view when it strikes me...I also will change my route when I see a road that seems to have some potential...even when it dead ends into a shack on the side of a mountain with blue tick hounds guarding the track to the shack. At least no one is whining when that happens...and I have a sheepish smile on my face as I backtrack to another road...that leads to nowhere.
MM

_________________
"Do not be too moral.
You may cheat yourself out of much life so.
Aim above morality.
Be not simply good; be good for something."
-- Henry David Thoreau

I ride by myself. Period. Doesn't matter if I am going to Sturgis or to the local beer joint. I don't have the patience anymore to deal with whining, being late, not filling tank before you head out, can't decide where to eat, my wife doesn't like to eat here, you are going to fast, I need to stop for
a piss brake when you just stopped 50 miles ago, etc. I have traveled on the road by myself working for 22 years and it's hard for me to travel with my family on vacation.

_________________
Live like you ain't afraid to die

I ride with one other guy because I don't know anybody else. I think I enjoy riding alone more. Oh, yeah, I've ridden with my neighbor and her brother. I think I like riding alone more.
To me, either ride close enough so no cars cut in but not too close and stay in your own track.,so when I hit the brakes you don't ride up my ass. And keep up, or don't.

I figure if you and I and the other guy know where we are going, and we all have cells now, why do I have to stay within sight if you're only gonna do 50.
Or if you make the light, you don't have to pull over and hold my hand, I know where we're goin, seeya there.
If ya get in trouble and I have to turn around and go back ???? miles, so what.
When we get to a light and are behind a car and you decide to whip around him and get in front of him, don't expect me to do the same....cause that was stupid , you gained one car space, and just pissed off some idiot steering a ton of metal, dumbass.

Oh, and when the light turns green and you take off like a bat outta hell and then wave me up cause you wanted me to lead cause you don't know where the fuck you're goin, well, fuck you dumbass, you're in such a big fuckin hurry , figure it out, cause I'm Putzin now just to fuck with you for bein such a dumbass.

Ya don't have to wait til I get to your place to warm the motor up. And then go get gas.

And if you insist on parking over there when I already pulled into a space, don't expect me to move just so our bikes can be next to each other, fuck you, I already parked, you move, or don't.

You can keep your comments and inuendos and rolling eyes to yourself too. I don't need the criticism and you ride like shit, really, you're downright fuckindangerous.


Shaking your right hand at something Does Not constitute a right turn signal !!!

AND TURN YOUR GODDAMNED TURN SIGNAL OFF

Solo... no where to go an noo hurry to get there. I stop when I please, I can't worry about makin other people happy. I make myself happy.... LTR

I'm beginning to see a trend here. I prefer solo also. I will say there were a couple of times on the long trip it would have been nice to shot the shit with a fellow rider at the end of the day, but that pang was more than offset by the ability to stop or go as I pleased. Camp or motel, my option. Short run or pound it, my option. Mc Donalds for breakfast or Dennys, my option. Leave a scenic site now or later, my option. The best one is to stop at a moments thought and snap a picture.

And the list goes on.

Because of my social association there are group rides once or twice a month. The "group" may be from three to fifteen in number and they all know how to ride in a pack. Some of them including me are ex HOG members, not that there is anything wrong with that, other than to say we have discarded some bad riding habits.

The most difficult thing in riding in a group is to get the sweep to block the lane from traffic the head bike has signaled to move into.

I must say though, there is a kick doing seventy down the interstate in a pack. Childish? You bet it is...........

Mr. Sonny (Barger) wrote in one of his books that 'on time IS late'. My wife and her kids don't like hearing that kinda shit!

_________________
Fuck This, Let's Ride!