Did a group ride this weekend, bunch of people went, did some fun roads, one dudes battery acted up and he was battling a loose connection his bike would cutout and then refire so I followed him to make sure he wasn't marooned. We had the sweep behind us so things were cool. The dude with the bad battery came as a guest of one of the members, but the member didn't hang around to make sure his bud's ride made it. I had some after thoughts about that... The ride leader - my knickname for him is KLOWN... nuf said, left us in the dust and the uneducated sheep went with him. We 3 bikes, tooled along at 20 below the speed limit when the his bike acted up but then it'd blast off - The leader was at least kind enough to wait at the turns so we didn't get lost...LOL
Here's the pics - enjoy!!

Here's the video - Thanks LT!! great job!!
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrS_9RyDpPU[/youtube]

Who decides who the leader will be?

Glad for you that you found a group to ride with and it looks like its working out.

The organizers decide - the Klown has been around for a long time - so I'm told. The regular guy was sick at home, so he called upon Klown to help. I wasn't impressed with his efforts. The funny thing is, they all think they are such great riders. Going fast on a group ride and splitting the group -only proves that they're not. Then there is the 50 year old beginners that can't keep up cause they don't have the skills yet. They think they're sliced bread... I've made some friends - they have the right attitude and we see things in the same light. I ride with them, we have a "sub" set. I let the idiots go up front and I hang in the back - away from any potential drama.... thats why I'm always in the videos - the camera is on the last bike.

You know I'd rather be ridin' with you and some of the others here - hope that day happens.
As for this group - I'm hanging in there, I meet new people on each ride. This past ride was kind of a cluster Fk, but I did get to see a couple buds even though I didn't really get a chance to ride with them.
My one buddy brought his wife and my GF got along great. So we are planning some stuff together. I'm really looking forward to that. There was 15 people - 12 bikes seems that the smaller rides were more fun.
I'm still figuring it out - I don't like the early starts - Sunday mornings are for sleeping in.

RK....perhaps you/GF and the friend with the wife should branch off and perhaps add more riders to your group as you feel would integrate and get along well with each other? With you and the friend, especially since the women folk get along...thats huge ,you'll find its more fun, less agrivation. F*ck other peoples BS.

I don't think you've heard the last from Klown. Sounds like him and his cronies will eventually shit on and ruin a potentially good thing. You see it all the time. Either you're with them or against them and if you're against them..well you know the rest. Groups tend to have to many follow blindly sheep riders who go along with the percieved status quo not even thinking for a minute if its right or wrong. You sound like a maverick for what you know to be right. That won't mix with Klown and his following over time.

Truth is BI, that was my game plan from the gitgo. I figured I'd meet a few people I got along with and then see if we could band together for some rides and maybe even a BBQ here and there. I have met some really good folks, and made friends - hard to do as we get older...
As for the azzhat Klown, He's a mob rider - every man out for themselves, so he's up front racing as fast as he can - I'm in the back relaxing and enjoying the time I have on my ride - I see him only at the stops and I stay clear of him. You're right - they do have a cliche but my skills and attitude over ride them and most of the group knows me as an excellent rider that looks out for them. I'm noticing that the Honda riders - the wing-dings, have an attitude problem- like their sh!t don't stink. They ride up in the front and don't look back, or pass hand signals.... I guess they're just too good for that peasant stuff -LOL
The organizers are laid back to the point of total non-confrontation. So they aren't really good leaders per say, but they do a good job of laying out the rides and the photography is awesome. I'm an Alpha type "A" person, I'm always doing my best - so when I ride with beginers and experienced riders with bad habits I'm not one to let mistakes go. I was always taught that mistakes are how we learn, do it wrong - get corrected and learn to do it right. I'm happy to explain the way I know - some like it - some don't... The ones that like it - learn. The ones that don't get schooled... I'm easy.

Its not the beginner riders (we were all beginners at one time) that are the burden, its the chest pounding ego driven w/ a hidden agenda aholes (Klown and his legends,sheep) who are. They screw it up for everyone.

Yeah like you, I recently experienced, once again, the wing ding and other non HD touring rig riders condesending attitude that day I came back from RI after meeting DS and working at my mothers. 2 older guys on matching (to the color) Kawasaki Concurs. I seen one had a NH license plate and the other had a Garmin GPS (which I'm thinking of getting) so I approached them to make small talk as we were all chilling at the rest stop. I told them that I rode and what. I was greeted with a cold reception and one word responses so I just nodded and walked away. Personally I think its a outward defense of denial because deep down they know they want an HD. Or perhaps they have had run ins with rude HD guys?

I've gone on 5 rides with this group so far. The chemistry works better as the group size gets smaller. Our first ride was into the mountains - a ride I really really enjoyed. The riders that went were all pretty good - we all got along well - and most importantly we rode well together. There were 5 riders - I was the only one with a passenger. Thing is the chemistry between the group was good.
Next ride - all different people except for the 2 organizers and myself. The people that went on that ride were not group riders. It was taxing - the group split up - we stayed back with the sweep rider (proper buddy system) while the rest of the group pounded chest and went like hell. After that ride I didn't want the GF along because I felt it put her at risk. I can handle the funky stuff but it scares the b-geebus out of her.
Good thing I followed my instincts because the 3rd ride was a cluster Fk I went solo because I had the feeling that history was going to repeat - and it did. On the 2nd ride I decided who was the reason for the problems - lack of chemistry - lack of cohesion - general break down in the group... The wind-dingers!!
When they go, the group ride becomes a mob ride. On the ride to Santa Barbara - they didn't go and the ride was awesome. The group rode well - stayed together - had great chemistry - no egos!! Last weeks ride the wing-dings went and left the 3 of us in the dust.
Let me make one thing very clear hear - I have no problem going the speeds they go or keeping up with them. Even with the GF on the back we can go and if i was racing them all they'd see of me would be fading tail lights... The group ride is not the time or place for that. It's posted as a "chill" ride - beginners welcome - no one left behind.

Here is the text as it appears on their site:
"PACE: A chill, 38 Miles - Twisty, easy ride with speeds posted limit, All skill levels welcome, new members are encouraged to come out and get acquainted. NO one will be left behind."

So if that's the case and we all ride together when the wingdings are not around then it seems pretty convincing what the effects are to the rides when they do go. They are also the ones that have sh!t to say when I posted some safety reminders about group riding.

SO YEAH - I UNDERSTAND THE CONDESCENDING ATTITUDE from them. Seems they have the most to prove by showing everyone else they are above what ever the proper etiquette would dictate.

IF the organizers had their sh!t together they'd see what i see and make the proper provisions. Make 2 groups - one that doesn't look back, the other that stays together and enjoys the ride - because the beginners feel they NEED to catch up they push themselves beyond their skills. Probably why I don't see them come back for following rides. They need to assign some road captains and brief them but because they lack the leadership skills they don't know how to get the better riders involved. I've offered them some advise - they did post some new pages about guidelines and procedures - but- never sent out any type of announcement - I came across them by accident... Which to me was no accident - they faun to the wingdings of the world. Which sux cause there are some really great people that are members of this organization and they don't ride that often with them because of it.

I'm at least getting out for a good ride once a week - I've got my buddy at the sweep and I'm riding.
I'm going to keep my thoughts to myself for the time being - I've offered all the "FREE" advise they can handle -