Do you remember the day?

[lovebothkats]

I've been thinking for a while about how things have changed around here and was wondering if anyone else has noticed a difference?

Things I still see the same and yes I'm going to tell it like I see it, it is nothing more than my opinion should anyone feel the need to flame get upset, or post an opposing opinion feel free that is what a discussion is, both sides.

First of all the biggest reason I haven't been around and I know most of you think it's because I'm married. Well yes there is some truth to that as to be expected, but I still get my saddletime in I just choose not to do it in a group anymore, WHY? Well here goes the reality check that will get most peoples panties in a bunch.

I remember last summer we got to a point we had a group ride almost every week. They were great rides we had a lot of fun and for the most part they were safe as safe as they can be. Then through the course of the summer riders started going down one after another myself leading the way. Each time we talked about whether or not there was anything we could do as a group to prevent this and everyone continued to say the same old line. It's not our fault, ride your own ride, leader isn't to blame, rider error or a hundred and one other excuses. I'm sorry but that is what they are in my opinion. The group through it's friendly razzing and hassling has started to create a lot of competition. Be it to have the best bike, best track times, best wheelies, whatever there is extreme competition and influence.

Now I know many will say I'm way off base here, and so be it but I have a question explain the statistics? In 1 weekend of NESBA events there are numerous run-off's and crashes. Now obviously to some extent this is to be expected after all it is the track. But now look closer at the number of riders that went down over a two day track weekend and only 1 of those riders that I know isn't a member of this board.

Am I saying CLSB is a bad place and should be shut down, NO NOT AT ALL. But this place along with any other board will only be a total representation of the members who contribute to it. So what are peoples thoughts on this? Is everyone happy with where the board has gone? If not are they willing to change, do you guys care if it changes? I'm interested because I've met a lot of great people through this board and I know there are other members who I would like to get to know because I can tell they are good people, but I tend to refrain because of an affect the group dynamics seems to have on the way people ride.

Flame away if you feel the need, it's my thoughts nothing more.

[YZFRabbit]

Lighting up the torch and pulling out the pitchfork.....:evil


Let's face it, on this board are a bunch of people that started riding what, 1 or 2 years ago and have low amount of miles/experience under their belt, they are going to crash wether they are riding in a group or by themselves....someone said once that it isnt if you are going to crash, but when you are going to crash. There are some that probably shouldnt be on a bike either here too due to the lack of motor skills or co-ordination (not everyone is an olympic figure skater in the same reference). And there are the guys that ride quite a lot and have been for some time, their number is coming up or has come up already. No amout of trying to make it safe will totally eliminate the danger inherant with this sport. THe fact that we are riding sport bikes kind of adds to the chances that something will happen eventually, we ride them because we like the performance over your average standard or cruiser bike. So, where am I going with this post?.,....We are on motorcycles, motorcycles are dangerious to an extent, and if you RIDE YOUR OWN RIDE you will have fun....just accept the risks. No amount of bellyaching will change the risks involved in what we do.

[Odysseys]

I hear what you are saying..heres my prospective:

This board is FREE to all its members...its not a membership, or an organization of a business nor a cult in its STRICT following, we are all free to think and talk our minds as it is our God given right when it comes to the members on the site.



Group rides, and how INDIVIDUALS act on them.

Well, let me put it like this.
A OPEN GROUP RIDE and invite to all, (could be people we know and it could be new people we don't know.)
this isn't some fanny may, little girl scouts club with a bunch of soft spoken, emotionally soft people. We ride bikes there for WE motorcyclist have a touch more BALLS to us, be it male or female. balls in the sense of EXCITEMENT we crave it.

If we didn't...then they better get a Volvo and drive with a football helmet. There for its in our nature to be a touch competitive from what I can tell on this board of members from me knowing ALMOST all of them. there is 99% OF SOME KICK ASS PEOPLE ON IT. And most ALL of them are willing to compromise on safety weather it be group or single riders in there presents.

Sure we got some BASIC rules of group rides...I mean shit its COMMON sense. NON of us want to get hurt or injured.

as far as what i see on the track with all the crash's, from my outside point of view is...(like my old thread, word to the wise)
is people rushing a bit to much to push themselves...BEYOND what they know they can handle. weither it be mentally or skills wise to control an uncontrolled situation on a bike when it gets out of hand..THAT where EXPERIENCE comes from. slowly learn and never forgotten.


back to group rides and i think your point of it being a HAZZARDIST place to be in your viewing.
we all know by now...HEY we meet people with your same interest of way of riding (weither it be CRAZY,NORMAL, OR SLOW) riding styles so we pare up with those riders in fun factor of the same type of riding for that ride.
then there's the i trust this guy next to versus the other. THAT mainly comes with time and sharing the road with he or she. then the trust factor builds. And that's great.

That's what this site was for...to meet people to have fun, to share an interest, and find friends hopefully threw it.

IF anyone thinks they will be putting them self's in HARMS way in form of a group ride (as much as i tell people to list what type of ride it is so others can join if they choose to par take in that level of ride) THEN DON'T RIDE IN THAT GROUP AND DON'T RIDE WITH OTHERS IF YOU CAN DEAL WITH IT MENTALLY. to be conformable in your settings is a good thing to always have...there is no need to put yourself in a BAD situation.

That's LIFE and anything we do in life has goods and bads...and its up to ourselves to choose what we do with what we want.


If crashing...is SO FEARFUL OF ANYONE RIDING A MOTORCYCLE...THEN YA BETTER GIVE IT UP...ITS GONNA HAPPEN...1 DAY IT WILL.
ITS JUST A MATTER OF TIME. We can drive as safe as we can to EXTREME measures...all it takes is 1 micro second to change your future....(example...some guy wants to side swipe you just to be a evil killing SOB)...boom its over.
we are exposed like a new born baby in a mist of wolfs.

That's reality....we are vonurable.!!!!!!

choose how to live life and have fun, do your best to have a happy life and a trouble free life. be as smart as you can.
CHOOSE what you do and CLAIM YOURSELF AS YOUR OWN MASTER of destiny as possible. But remember WE DON'T HOLD SHIT in our hands but a false illusion of safety.

(sorry if this seems a touch to much but its reality)




anyway...people are people good, bad, crazy, stupid, etc...choose who ya wanna deal with. and choose where you put yourself.


This site HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PEACE LOVE AND HARMONY.
This site is to have fun in our hobby and share knowalge of the sport and hopefully meet some new friends.


p.s. dave you know i like you a TON and consider you a GREAT freind...this post isnt focused towards you but in general to who ever reads it. some stuff pertains to you in helping to end this subject. of whos responsible if someone in the pack crash's. ITS THERE OWN DAMM FAULT..if someone didnt PURPOSLY take them out. simple as that.

p.s.s. and no i didnt spell check:laughing

[Kruz]

The statistics are against us...how many of the CLSB group have just recently been to the track? When I started last year at Putnam, I did not know anyone except Dave who I've know for years. I pitted next to Jack and befriended him. I also somewhat met Jim, Pete, Lupi, ?

Dave...you did disappear for a while. You were one of our regular good leaders at SOW...group rides became chaotic after that. I haven't been on one small group ride all year. I don't even ride on the street much because my choices are by myself (OK) or with the new CLSB group (disorganized chaos). I do try to make small private invite only rides when I can.

I guess my point is that as the number of riders in our group increase, whether it be street or track, there will be an increased amount of accidents. With such a large group of people who actively "chat" with each other...things will tend to get out of hand.

There are a lot of inexperienced riders on these rides.

You can't even compare trackday crashes to group rides. The spills at BHF were taken by good riders. I have been pushing it, but safely and to a reasonable extent. Jeff is a good rider....I also put myself in that category.

[Odysseys]

yeah thats another thing..ALOT of us old timers...know how to ride..(you older members of SBN and CLSB) know who you are...we get new guys that are less experanced etc...most guys who know HOW TO RIDE want to be with people that are the same skill level to cut down the I WONDER aspect....so what do you do you ask?

call that guy to made friends with and like to ride with and go have alittle private ride..SHIT there isnt no rules around here..IF WE ALL DONT RIDE THEN NO ONE RIDES:laughing thats bullshit..lmao

have fun, go with who you like..and if there is a group ride, be it small or large...choose to go (whoever is looking to go) if its in your happy riding time to join a open ride.

this isnt some cult were have to follow some GOD given rules.
the only thing I DO WHEN i go for a ride..and let guys know if they wanna tag alone is...if you are following me this and that should be done...for saftey for my ass and others around us.

then theres rides where ANYTHING goes.
just CHOOSE (who ever) what you want to put yourself in.

even on group rides that you want to be MORE aware of your saftey...WELL dont line up between people you dont know..OR fuck it..STAY ALL THE WAY in the back..and EVEN father back from the last guy...if you want to partake in the goup ride.

[Grover]

Originally posted by Odysseys
even on group rides that you want to be MORE aware of your saftey...WELL dont line up between people you dont know..OR fuck it..STAY ALL THE WAY in the back..and EVEN father back from the last guy...if you want to partake in the goup ride.

That's what I do, but I'm slow. :(

I use the group rides for a chance to chat/bs with people who enjoy riding and hopefully learning how to ride better. If somebody with 2 posts on the board asked me to go on a ride to Wisconsin for a day, I'd probably turn him down simply because I don't know how he's going to ride. I'd invite him on a different group ride to see though. But if the LITH folks invited me I'd be grabbing my helmet in seconds.

Statistically, the '2-5 years' of riding experience group have the largest % of crashes. That's due to KNOWING less than you THINK you know and by then the rider decided to buy that NEXT bike, be it the crotch rocket or the big cruiser.

Just my 2 cents!
Chris

[Odysseys]

Am I saying CLSB is a bad place and should be shut down, NO NOT AT ALL. But this place along with any other board will only be a total representation of the members who contribute to it. So what are peoples thoughts on this? Is everyone happy with where the board has gone? If not are they willing to change, do you guys care if it changes? I'm interested because I've met a lot of great people through this board and I know there are other members who I would like to get to know because I can tell they are good people, but I tend to refrain because of an affect the group dynamics seems to have on the way people ride.


i wanted to comment on this.
the board shut down? because of some guys that might be TOTAL assholes on the board.
my answer: the board will never shut down as long as me and tony can get the funds to keep it going and our hearts are still into SHARING what we like with other people. thats the whole point of the board. IF WE get TOTAL assholes on the board...i KICK THERE ASS OFF.
if they are on a group ridew with me and causing to REAL saftey issues...i let them know..HEY GO DO that fucken shit on your own time...(if the ride is not CLASSED as a demon run) but you gotta be doing some stupid shit for me to get going.


am i happy the way the site is going?

my answer: YES...myself i am trying to give lessons to those that want it for what ever needs the need to improve on. i see people gearing up, i see people taking the knee dragging and MASSIVE crazyness thats assiociated with MOTORCYCLING hudlums to the TRACK..where there they can focus on what they like to do..rather then the street.
i personally dont know anywhere i would feel comfortable..leaning full over at 100+mpr on the street.!

i see OLDER members from back in the day...taming it down a touch more and placing that (I WANNA GO FASTER AND LEAN FARTHER in the right inviorment)

new guys will catch on (IF THEY ARE SMART AND WANT to live a longer life)



group dynamics ?

my answer...we will never be a flassless orchestrated team of riders. unless we have numbered groups of people..constinyly riding and FOCUSing on some kind of format.

a format that the usual bikers law of standerd, (ride staggered, give enough space) etc....BUT for the most part...i see people doing this already EVEN when ive never said anything or given my normal speach group :rolleyes that the guys..just lov hearing:laughing


so all and all the site is looking good...if we get trouble makers on the site...we kick them off, we get trouble makers on a ride..we let them know (if it is a normal ride and not a demon ride , where anything goes)
as far as the site representing its self...there a bunch of smart and great guys and gals on here.
as far a the highest level...if someone wants to rate the site?
look at me and tony as the main leaders...its our site...there for we care what ever it might be.

p.s. ahh no i didnt spell check again..i am doing like 50 other things aswell..:laughing

[YZFRabbit]

Looking at this thread....Dave and Kruz, I havent seen you guys on any of the rides going on this board this year....maybe go on one of the rides and see what they are like? They are not all disorganized cluster f's. There have been a few of the more famous ones detailed on the board where the leader didnt make it clear what was going on to the rest of the group, someone had an axe to grind and started shit, or someone (very out of the ordinary, but it happened) did push themselves or their bikes too hard and went down, but for the most part they are not all like you think they are. Yes the stories get colorful...lots of the stories are loosely based on reality (this is the internet), dont let them sour your view on the topic. I have noticed that most of the concerns about the group rides that origionate on this board are from people that never actually are on any of the rides....we have to change this otherwise this topic will still pointless be debated ad nausium. To all...fear not and come join the rides, you'll most likely like them!

[Vcook]

on the flip side, i have seen quite a few people get much faster and become good riders. there are alot of different dynamics going on in a group ride.







ps. Dave, you are a good leader, no doubt.

[Kruz]

I've been on a few small group rides....I've also been on the carnage rides from last summer. I don't ever play follow the leader with the crazies....I ride where I feel comfortable. I haven't been on many group rides this summer mainly because I've been real busy at work and time on the bike is time away from the chick :D

I'll ride with the idiots to a point...I just steer clear.

[Odysseys]

you knoe the title to this thread (do you remember the day) is a old micheal jackson song...a love song..i almost thought this was gonna be some fruity thing:laughing

p.s. dave hows the house?
gotta have you over soon...(as i get some freaking A/C) i am being a cheap basterd..lmao

[bluebusa60544]

If you mix testosterone (even women have it) with a chess club and someone will talk shit. But the couple group rides I went on were real tame and organized. Just having fun. I crashed at the track because I was riding at my limit and something unexpected happened. But that's why I was at the track. I would never attempt to try that on the street, especially on a group ride, nor have I seen anyone else do so. A group ride, a track day, and message board BSin' are three entirely separate things and I hope everyone realizes that. I'm real glad to have hooked up with this group to expand my horizons. I've been riding for 15 years but this leaning shit is all new to me.:laughing I need to take Ody up on those lessons.

[Odysseys]

anytime bluebusa/gixxer...lol

[HDTony]

I get very conflicted on this subject from day to day when I think about it. Sometimes I think the board is getting to squidly and sometimes I think it needs to lighten up. But I am in the very middle of riding styles. On the very left you have your extreme stunters and on the very right you have your extreme railers. Anyone who has ridin with me knows that I love to get my front end in the air but I also love to see how fast in can get in the turns.

Now this is a battle we have seen on SBN for years now and its gotten worse recently. We seem to have a much quicker growth curve with this issue over here since most of us are existing SBN members and have been active in the message board community for a long time now. So sure a few members are going to look a bit more squidly and some may look like safty Nazi's but like I said it's all perception. I think a lot of it depends simply on who's more active in the discussions. The more one promotes thier individual style in the forums the more the whole perception of the board will lean twords thier particilar standing on the left to right scale of things. Now that is not directed at any members in particular that is my observation from being a mod over at SBN for 2 years now. I do see it happen here as well at SBN and I always try to be the balancing factor in a lot of those discussions and bring it back twords the middle where it will almost always be common ground for everyone. But if everyone jumps in and express's thier own personal view on everything than it will balance out automatically. Never be intimidated, by someones opinion, they are like assholes everyone has one, so feel free to air it out on here, thats why it's here.

This is also one of the reasons I started up the wednesday night bike nights at Strats. So people could get together outside of the normal ride pace and hang out for a few hours and get to know one another. I could care less if anyone ended up riding on wednesdays I just want to see everyones friendships grow there. We all share a common bond and we can all learn a lot from each other. Thats the beauty of all of this. Hell If it wasnt for Fred I still wouldnt be able to get my front wheel up in second gear, and a lot of people who are wheelie masters will learn how to turn better from other influences on this board. Thats what its all about guys.


So be safe out there and I expect to see everyone at strats on wednesday for a big group hug. :D Just stay away from ken he gets grabby in those moments. :D

[Pugsly]

My opinion is this: I think that a majority of riders on this board are good descent people to ride with......the problem runs into when friends of friends come. all of a sudden their are 40 riders!!!! maybe 10 or so are on the board. where did the other 30 riders come from? obviously you'll get the passerbys that stop but most of the time it's buddies that come and then those buddies tell buddies and so on and so on.

you can't frobid people not to show up, but most of the better rides have come from PM certain people or chatting at track days so we only get a handfull of people.

I think when you post group rides, we should also stipulate what kind of ride it will be....asshole only...great I know to stay away.

moderate pace ...great what time should I show up.

[Jim]

ive got to tell you this topic really wears on me. I enjoy riding with everyone be it fast or slow riders. I do my best to make it enjoyable for anyone who shows up, make sure they are aware of where we are going and what to expect. Ride thier own ride , pay attention to what the guys in front are pointing out. On the last group ride we had what 17-18 bikes of all experience levels, so we had to wait for 5 minutes on some stretches of road for the last rider to show up. i guarntee(s/p?) everyone had a good time and it was 100 degrees outside. I can go back to riding with just the original crew out there, its no biggy, although it is more fun to have everyone there to talk to after the ride.
like i said this topic has gotten old in my book, the more it is discussed and argued about the less i want to lead them. If you (the rider) can accept the fact that there are different calibers of riders in the group then you and everyone else will have fun. its not a race its a ride, there is no reason why the faster riders and the slower riders cannot exist on the same, the fact is they can as long as you ride your own ride(sounds like a broken record skipping doesnt it). then when the ride is over and we are all at hooters everyone can talk about how fun the ride was!
your(anyone of you) choice.:rolleyes

[Doc]

Well, I enjoy this board for the comradery and socialization. The group rides are great too, but I think I know where you are coming from. I love to get out there and ride with everyone, but, for me, visions and experiences still linger in my mind. It doesn't stop me from going on a spirited ride, but it does make me choosey. Also, I would rather spend the money to go on a track and ride hard than take my chances on the street. Now, I'm not saying anything about the rides or the leaders, because I give them props for all the responsibility they shoulder. Lord knows, I couldn't lead a ride and I am thankful we have some great leaders.

As to the track riding and the number of people that went down. I don't know if it has to do with egos. I know my incident was due taking a different angle to get the jump on traffic and follow John Malendorf, not leaning off enough, and not having a high mount pipe:rolleyes :p . Have I noticed some egos? Sure, but it would be hard to prove that they had anything to do with the wrecks that took place because I am not so sure that the people that went down had the over inflated egos. Although, I know what you're getting at.

And I agree with a lot of what you said, Dave. And I'm glad you said it.


Doc

[RdRUNNER]

Here is my take on all of this. I have been on this Board for 5 days now. I have not had the opportunity to go on any rides because I work weekends when the rest of the world rides:laughing . Seriously though, Before i joined this board I read some of the older topics and try to see what this message board thing was all about. I looked at SBN, EZboards, and here. I have focused a great deal of my attention to this board simply because I have an opportunity to go and ride with u guys.

In the last five days I have had guys give me advice about wheelies, tires, all types of mods, track and most importantly the importance of gear. I have been riding a rocket now for 5 years and riding motorcycles since I was a very little kid. This board has given me exposure to great minds that have enjoyed this sport at all levels.

Finally, I am a good rider. I am smart and focus on safety for myself and others around me. I am not the stuntmaster and I will never be the fastest in the pack (i have an R6 :laughing ). But I have no problem witnessing a great wheelie or someone breaking the sound barrier! I can't wait to get a chance to go and ride with you guys at all levels. Especially if you guys can get me on the track someday. It has always been a dream of mine....sob sob.

Dan

p.s. Thanx to you guys that run this crazy corner of the internet...for what it is worth, it's been helping me! I owe you guys a beer:cheers

[HDTony]

Originally posted by RdRUNNER

p.s. Thanx to you guys that run this crazy corner of the internet...for what it is worth, it's been helping me! I owe you guys a beer:cheers


Hey thanks for the compliment. And I am a big miller lite fan :D :D

[RdRUNNER]

Hell I guess that's better than buying you an expensive import!!!!

:evil :evil :evil



Bottoms up big guy!:cheers

[lovebothkats]

Peoples perspectives was what I was looking for so thanks to everyone who responded to this thread. For those who are sick of the topic it is now burried for me.

I will probably continue to ride on my own, simply because I find myself riding more the ride I want to. Not that it is anyone elses fault just because that is who I am and what I think is best for me. I will be attending more track days and look forward to seeing everyone at those events.

Will still be around the board giving input when I have something valuable to say. Hopefully everyone else will ride their ride and enjoy themselves. Sorry if I offended anyone with this post whether or not it was the apparent my intentions are good, maybe I'm a little too on the protective side of inexperienced riders. They will have to determine their own fate.

[Odysseys]

dave...i wanna grab your ass:laughing


(hope that changed the subject)

we all know where your comming from and every know and then...its good to get a smack of some critizism(SP)?

be it that it may...luv ya bro...hope to see you and the wifey soon...and that futura that can SCRAP PEGS?...this you gotta show me:laughing

later bro:thumbsup

[lovebothkats]

Originally posted by Odysseys

and that futura that can SCRAP PEGS?...this you gotta show me:laughing

later bro:thumbsup

Who said that? Centerstand not pegs, huge difference especially on that bike.

[Champ91]

Jumping in late into this thread. I basically have 2 differrent modes of thinking when riding. One is street and the other is track. As far as street riding. All the group rides I have been on have been great rides. No one has gone down and other than one incident with an oil cooler no mechanical problems. It helps, that on all the rides I have been on, I know that if for some reason I were to fall behind, I know the group will be waiting for me at the next stop sign. I have and will continue to ride my ride and watch out for the other riders. i do not need to go balls to the wall I KNOW MY LIMITS. I am more for the ride and having fun. Any demon runs will be rides without me. just not interested.

Now being competitive in sports and school all my life you can see whats gona happen in Track Mode. Here my focus is on getting better, smoother and ultimately faster. Thus allowing me to try to get in front. Push it a little. Get comfortable with the situations that now occur at a faster pace then push a little more. Keep this process going. Key is LITTLE STEPS. By the end of the day they turn out to have been leaps forward. Will I compromise safety. Probably a little. But if you do it gradually you will be used to situations that occur. I would not expect to go out and win a race. Nor do I really care. You wanna pass, go for it. Do I wanna pass everyone out there ABSOLUTLEY. But wanting to and risking it are 2 different things. I have learned so much about me and my bike this year doing track days its incredible.

As far as the crashes. Some sound like they have been unavoidable. We are not the only things out on the road. Some sound like people trying to keep up with the faster riders. IMO ya dont need to keep up that much that you ride over your head even a little. If the group does not wait for you then screw the group. No ride is worth that. Plain and simple. I'm a big boy, if the group were to leave me behind then i would have absolutley no problem doing my own thing. But this has never happened to me or any ride I have been on yet.

Track crashes and possibly how all but on from this weekend were CLSB members, 1 granted that were true I have no clue. I would just point out, Blackhawk is a local track and we had alot of members there. 2 the track is for learning. Pushing yourself slightly to get better. Putting yourself into situations that you may not be used too. Hopefully not in a situation that is over your head. Reacting to others that are learning as well. They too are pushing. Also if you look at our population here, alot of us are just starting to do track time. When 1 person comes back and says it was a blast, and the track is local, others will follow. We all want to have the same experience. And we tell more.

Ok I babbled too long. I'm tired and I'm gona go dream about the track again. :D

[Meulen]

Dave,

I've only met you a couple of times and you seem like a great guy. I'm sorry you feel the way you do and don't come around much. I also remember going through points in life such as getting married and getting a lot more concious about safety. I've been riding for a long time, but the kind of riding I've done was more like posing. Yes, get me on my old gixxer and I could get through the quarter mile darn near close to pro times. I chose not to do that anymore because of many plees from my wife to stop the late night escapades to doddy road and other non desireable places where you hit the gas as hard as you can and pray that no 15 year old girl turns off the 4000 watt stereo system long enough to open the car door and take you out. I understand my wife's concerns and to tell you the truth marriage puts a little fear in you anyway. there is someone else counting on your life. My screen name doesn't even seem to fit me anymore which is ok with me because the way I was would have gotten me killed eventually.

Now, in defense of the site. I've done some moving around in the last few years and finally settled in the Romeoville area. I haven't done much riding in that time because I didn't know many people that rode anymore. One day at work I come across Christiansportbikes.com and seezing the opportunity sent over an e-mail to Brobill. He hooks me up with SBN and I find all sorts of great people that live near me and that love to ride. In the short time I've been here on the site I feel I've fallen into some pretty good friendships. Some of these people would do anything for you even though they don't know you that well. Guy's like Ken take time out of his life to go out and show people how to pass there license test and show the more experienced guys how to step it up to the next level. Most people I know could care less how well another guy rides, and lets face it the better we get the safer it becomes. You got Tony and Fred who have devoted their time so that we have a common place to come and speak our minds, learn from others experiences and communicate and set up relationships. The others on the board contribute their knowlegde experience and comradery.:cheers . these are all positives functions of human life last time I checked.

Competition is only natural. It reminds me of being a kid and fighting for that starting position on the baseball team. We all tried to outdo everyone else to get that spot in the starting rotation. We were told by the coach that it was healthy, because it steps us up to new levels. As Ody and Rabbit said, our sport is risky and we don't risk getting hit in nutz by a baseball when we go through our learning curve. We risk sliding on the pavements at 100 mph. Does it have to happen, no....should it happen, no....CAN IT HAPPEN, YES YES YES. That being said I think this site and the people here only less'n the chance of this happening. I mean as apposed to going up to the forest preserve on a weekend finding a group of guys to ride with. Those guys don't care about you, they won't take you out to a parking lot to teach you how to ride, they might not even come back for you when your bike throws a rod in the middle of a questionable neighorhood.(yes, that is a life experience for me) They won't even warn you to ride your own ride before they go out.

Nobody here likes to see another rider go down. To me that is very evident. These guys seem to be here more to help. I wish we could keep hundreds of members rubber side down all the time, but unfortunately the numbers are against us. We do keep getting new riders that I would agree need to be warned that our rides may be over their head. I think we have done a great job lately with doing that and we need to continue that. It's going to be the only way we keep that happy medium between fun and tragedy that our sport entails.

So Dave, come out a little more. I think by having guys like you out there with us it will only help our odds of crash free rides, and help guys out so they learn to keep it within their limits. We need people like you.

my .02 cents

[Kruz]

CHAMP!!!!!:laughing

Change that dam avatar already!.....I was halfway through reading it thinking it was KIm talking. I didnt think twice about the"balls to the wall comment" (she is a tough chic :D)

Then I read, "Im a big boy" and had to take a double take on who the author was. :laughing :laughing


OH...BTW Im unsubscribing from this overdrawn thread.

[Champ91]

there happy now.:D

[2weelpilot]

Its real simple Dave, you dont want to come out and meet us somewhere ? Then we'll come to your place and drag your ass out with us kicking and screaming if necessary ! ! !:twofinger :twofinger You make the call..... See ya soon ! ! :D :D

[bnutz24]

Dave ,

I just started really riding this year(legally on a sportbike) but I have met some great people here. I went on a group ride led by Ken as we left he said mild ride - ride your own ride. As both a noob and an adult this ment if I was uncomfortable slow down. I still feel bad for crazy because he was back marker, as ken and the others showed their exp. going through corners at 60-70 mph I was only comfy at 40-50 so I took the corner at 40-50 mph at the stop signs Ken was there waiting. I learned alot on that ride and nobody went down. so I say this Dave if you lead a ride you set the rules. I hate I never got to meet you but in a sport where the machines are just wheels and an engine with mad power there is going to be some competitiveness out there if there wasn't nobody would get any better. so dave I say like Ken said to me ride your own ride if you are not comfy on group rides cool come out bs/chat and just decline but you really can't blame the board for people going down it's the nature of the beast.

just my two pennies

hope to meet you one day dave until then be safe and keep the shiny side up :thumbsup

[Ernie]

aw Dave, go on, get the hell out of here, you selfish bastard. who needs ya???

...well actually we all do :D

this is literally one of those "you're either part of the solution or you're part of the problem" type scenarios.

As others before have already stated, the squid factors have probably gone up a notch or two since last year and will probably continue to escalate unless it's brought into check by people such as yourself. You're a leader in the group that people look up to. Share your experiences and let some of the newbies benefit from your wisdom (or verbal chastising) without having to learn things on their own the hard way.

People value your opinion and the discussions you've entertained on the board and in the bars about gear tips, riding styles, motorcycle stories, and riding tips (what to do and what NOT to do :laughing)

I hope you change your mind and find the time to occasionally join us again...and if you don't, we know where you live. I'll lead a group ride out there to put shaving cream all over your new windows :evil

[Y2KR1]

I don't care how anyone rides, as long as they ride within their ability....myself, I haven't ridden much in the past year or so, so I'm getting back to newbie status..:laughing ....not that I'm trying to ovoid all you guys, just busy with family stuff, 2 boys, new house, new bills, etc....:laughing

I'll (wife & I) will try to get out on a ride or 2 this year if we can, but don't want to make anyone think I'm ovoiding the group stuff...:D