Its always seems like a double edged sword when you ride in a large group (more then 8-10). On one hand its fun and feels cool. On the other hand that varied experience among the riders, poor communications and even worse bad to no planning leaves a wide berth for sh*t to happen. Mix in misguided egoes, negative attitudes and all that bad joo-joo, I don't know?

I do know if you can find 2-3 and even 4 solid guys and who know each other and ride often together..its the sh*t.

I don't seek or do group rides. My time is limited and I don't need a ride "supervisor" telling me where I am going next. Some folks like it for thier own reasons. Riding in a small group, say around 5 people, is not so bad, at least in my limited experience. I know some folks that look for groups that ride together. No one really knows one another, but they all roll together on a specified route. I have rode a few miles in my life, but not many miles in a small group and NO miles in a large group.

on another note... I was riding out of my neighbourhood and saw a few bikes rolling out of thier winter slumber. One guy had his ole ladie with him, they were wearing their vest with some kind of MC or RC patches and he lives one street over from me... I'm thinking, how could I live here for 4 years and never see them in the hood? Today, was the perfect day for riding here in Houston, Tx. Blue skies, cool breeze, clean air (clean as we know it)... God made days like this for riding.

In southeast texas there are very few reasons NOT to ride every day. We don't face the same challenges you guys do up North.

Jealous.

All your yapping about your 2012 Ultra still has me pondering that route again.

I agree with you - I don't need any supervisors either. The thing about living out here is the sheer amount of humanity - every where I go is crowded - on a motorcycle there is safety in numbers. I'm a part of the group - they help keep me safe - I help keep them safe - symbiotic!!

So far the group I found is pretty good - 8 bikes or less has been the norm. I made sure the organizers know I"m trying to help - I did my thing yesterday - I gave the safety talk - and everyone was happy to listen. I found out that they respond well to suggestions - as I get to know them better we are developing a good rapport. It is actually starting to be a really fun time that I look forward to. I've made a few new friends that I really like - they ride well and are down to earth. I'm going places I haven't been to in a long time or never got around to going to. All in all there are some con's to group riding but it seems the pro's out weigh them - for now...

Yesterdays ride went well - 7 bikes - only one rider had some trouble holding his line - after a short talk with him, he did much better. I feel that the only problem with this group is - there are over 100 members - and if they all decide to show up - I'm heading in the opposite direction.

Not knocking riding with others or solo. I've done both. Started off solo when I was younger and as I got older I experienced riding with groups, some of which was very organized and some that were a hazardous cluster f***.

Given the choice, best case scenario for me if I could control this aspect, at this juncture of my life...I think it would be enjoyable to ride with a couple other couples. 2-3 other riders and whose sig others are with. For so many reasons. Safety. Comamraderie on the road. And as a married guy I prefer not to do to much without my wife since she really enjoys the trips too. And since we would all have our sig others we should all be on the same page.

Since 2007 and the kids were gone she's been on every one of my planned long distance rides. And she's a trooper. Once organized as far as who does what once on the road we were clicking on all cylinders (she first thought I do everything and she rides like a princess on a stage coach...not,lol). On too many other occasions she dangled herself in harms way uneccessarily. That part kills me.

Fortunatley or unfortunately our trips will always be just me and her.

I was jealous of your wonderful riding weather. Hope you took advantage. Soon, too soon it'll be SFH out your way that foundations crack. So hot not fit for man nor beast...okay maybe a lizard or 2,lol.

As far as my spouting off on my 2012 Ultra...for where I've been and the bikes I've transitioned to over the 40 years the '12 Ultra is where I'm at. I've been fortunate in that thru out my life I've been able to by hook or crook, scratch what ever 2 wheeled itch I had. As well it was a very important part of my process to have built the '63 rigid with all the this/thats that I thought were cool and got that out of my system...same like you with your customizing your WG. I wish they would have had the fat boy low when I was younger as that bike is apealing to me but not the best choice for what me and my wife are doing. Most of my friends said I should have never gotten rid of that pan but I had 20-25 years of cranky antiquated technology. Truth be told the criteria for my perfect HD for where I am in llife 2 wheel speaking is the Ultra. I want reliability and MPG. 103 inch motor,6 speed tranny and 6 gallon tank,yuuuup!

The biggest bonus to riding in a group is most noticeable on the freeways. Having a multi bike presence makes life nicer. Pick up trucks and land rovers... are worst than BMW drivers.
Seems that most times in the group the cars give more space and consideration. I also find that once a driver sees one of the group she seems to notice the rest of us easier/faster.
We used our hand signals more this time and I felt much better - my safety talk worked wonders. Plus we rolled in a tighter formation.
Good bunch of riders this week.

Actually it was.
We have a ride planned for this Sunday through the "LA Alps" - very scenic and twisty. There is supposed to be a dozen bikes - I'm not sure how smooth this is going to go... I'm going to make some suggestions to make a 2 group ride out of it - 2 groups of six so everyone can relax and enjoy the ride... We'll see.

In a group with this many bikes the hand signals are key to safe riding. I think the organizers saw that in the last ride and now are hooked on them. They mentioned how well it worked - glad I brought it up.