FRIENDLY RIDE - SUNDAY 25th SEPTEMBER

[Bilko1000]

Hi I have never been on a ride out with SW Bikers but fancy riding out with some fresh faces.

I know the roads to Dulverton from Tivvy and some of the B3223 but otherwise I get lost quite easily. What kind of pace are you guys riding at friendly means swift right but not suicidal?

If I can keep up and weather good I'm in since my bike tyres rubbish in the wet

[Moley551]

Fat boys in..moley551

Well Fat boy may have to drop out, my Grans funeral has been arranged for the 26th, it's in Essex, not yet clear what travel arrangements will be..

[billinom8s]

What kind of pace are you guys riding at friendly means swift right but not suicidal?

If I can keep up

You need to read this

viewtopic.php?f=94&t=89587" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Not every ride is about showing us how fast gixxers go in a straight line.

[Bilko1000]

Hello Simon I keep the Gixxer for my Wife these days I have an S1000rr now but both corner well as for reading friendly section I've heard many folk say before rides out let's go at a friendly pace then give it the beans and claim after that's their normal pace so I take such things with a pinch of salt lol. Do you still have the Yamaha?

Also I think the changes on how friendly rides are run thread coincidentally illustrates my point.

[billinom8s]

Nope, both yamahas have gone.
Superduke R and a zx10r now Live in the stable.

That thread allowed people to get a lot off their chests. The new guidelines/rules for the friendlies have been written and will be posted tomorrow night.

The idea is to keep everyone together at a pace a 125 can join in on with the rider capability of a newbie or born again.

We have all been that nervous rider not knowing what to do, so the friendlies should be about encouraging the next generation of rider to join in and develop their skills. Not about making them ride out of their comfort zone to keep up.

[Smiler]

The idea is to keep everyone together at a pace a 125 can join in on with the rider capability of a newbie or born again.

We have all been that nervous rider not knowing what to do, so the friendlies should be about encouraging the next generation of rider to join in and develop their skills. Not about making them ride out of their comfort zone to keep up.

+1

When I first started riding, the people I met initially (in hindsight) were complete dicks, and had little regard for a newbie rider...almost made me give up frankly! So glad I didn't, a LOT of things have changed (bikes AND people!) but its for things like the friendly rides that help along the less experienced and I'm only too glad to have a more relaxed day where everyone can just enjoy being out on two wheels

Anyway, lets hope this friendly has a great turnout...its a rather ace route by all accounts!

[Bilko1000]

Ok I've gotta find the Mc'ds I thought it was the Burger King at top of Tiverton link road we were meeting, it the Mc'ds at the bottom of the link road turn left at roundabout and then head straight till you see the Mcdonalds?

[billinom8s]

That's the Puppy

[Bilko1000]

So when everyone turns up on a friendly do we check their riding ability level and agree the pace what pace do you set if experienced riders turn up without any novice riders can we agree a quicker
pace in that instance?

[Gimlet]

I thought friendlies were (more or less) legal speed limit rides suitable for any ability and any bike 125cc and above. They're social rides first and foremost.
If you want faster you need to go on a semi-spirited or spirited ride.

[Bilko1000]

I'm not fussed but if no novices turn up a spirited ride would be preferable without breaking speed limits seems silly for us all to ride at a novice pace if no novices show up usually my buddies agree the pace at the start of a ride with those that actually show up on the day

[scorcher]

A spirited ride is OK if theres only a handful of you and you've agreed the pace before hand. More than half a dozen or so and the spirited ride at the front, becomes an all out breakneck speed one at the back, with people trying to keep/catch up. Seems the last friendly became a bit like this as people were not going at the pace they felt comfortable with, but instead trying to catch up with the bikes in front all the time, which is why it became rather "unfriendly".

[Steve0]

Hi...

Its not just about folks on a 125, its all levels of abilities... new to biking, just passed your test, back to biking...

Friendly's are just that, its a group of folks going out as a group...

With me leading the group, it is at the posted limits for the road were on and for everyone to stay within there own abilities...

There will be some changes coming to the rules and how we run these rides, which i fully support... I will talk to everyone before we leave... its not about taking the fun out of it, far from it... but we have to all be safe, look after ourselves, this is public ride and anyone can view the ride, route etc

We all like to get a wriggle on from time to time, but on the rides I have been on, there is ALWAYS a mix of people, everyone is welcome along, there more the better, I think folks will like the route, plenty of stops, a place for lunch etc...

If your looking for a faster paced ride, this may not be the one for you...

Primarily i want folks to have fun and enjoy the ride... everyone home safe...

[Gimlet]

A spirited ride is OK if theres only a handful of you and you've agreed the pace before hand. More than half a dozen or so and the spirited ride at the front, becomes an all out breakneck speed one at the back, with people trying to keep/catch up. Seems the last friendly became a bit like this as people were not going at the pace they felt comfortable with, but instead trying to catch up with the bikes in front all the time, which is why it became rather "unfriendly".

I think the problem with the last ride was that a group got lost because of a junction marking error and then they were under pressure trying to find the lead group and catch-up.
If the marking is done correctly it shouldn't matter if you lose sight of the rider in front. You won't be that far behind.
Alternatively, it can be agreed beforehand that if the rider behind disappears you slow down until they come back into sight. If the leader does this too the group stays together.

With very big groups or if there's a lot of other traffic and tricky junctions that isn't always possible but as long as the markers stay put until TEC goes past it shouldn't matter if you lose sight of the rider in front and there is no need to feel under pressure to race to catch up.

I've been on spirited rides where getting stuck at a busy junction or caught behind a slow vehicle means you quickly fall miles behind, but in fact what feels like miles is really only a minute or so, and when the lead riders stop the back markers aren't as far away as you'd think.

On friendlies, as long as you can be confident there is a junction marker waiting for you it doesn't matter if you find yourself on your own. So what? Relax, keep riding and enjoy. You can't get lost, there's no need to race and you're probably only a few seconds behind everyone else.

[billinom8s]

I'm not fussed but if no novices turn up a spirited ride would be preferable without breaking speed limits seems silly for us all to ride at a novice pace if no novices show up usually my buddies agree the pace at the start of a ride with those that actually show up on the day

Which is why friendlies are no longer classed as friendlies. Sometimes people just want to bimble. You may not be a novice but if you have a pillion with you or a mate who doesn't know how the group ride then you all get classed with the pace of the slowest/nervous rider. That's the idea. Not, were ok, you'll keep up or we will wait for you.