Rides for a new rider.

[TimFis]

Hey guys,

So I've heard of some charity rides happening in my area, but where I'm so new to a bike (less than a week on 2 wheels) I'm wondering if I should be waiting until next year to join them.

I feel very comfortable on a bike, though I still stall once in a while and take some wide turns. I just want to make sure I'm not going to put myself or someone else in danger where I've never ridden in a "pack" before.

Thoughts?

[93gc40]

I would NOT do big group rides till you have some miles under your belt, in heavy traffic. Riding with a partner , 2 bikes, is good practice. Groups rides can be about the MOST difficult riding you will do. Fun as hell most of the time, but not only do you have to pay 100% attention to your riding but you also have to be aware of those total strangers with questionable skill surrounding you

[TimFis]

That's kind of what I was thinking. Thanks for the confirmation!

[BrightRedVLX]

Originally Posted by TimFis

I'm wondering if I should be waiting until next year to join them.

Yes, absolutely.

But go now, meet some people, see how things work, contribute to the worthy cause if you are so moved...........

But do NOT let any other "bikers" talk you into going on the ride until you know you are ready......and they WILL try.

I NEVER go on big group rides like that because it always appears to me that about half of the riders who participate really have a skill level BELOW a trained beginner. Scares the crap out of me. I'm surprised that you don't hear about more group crashes than we do.

[93gc40]

Go to the EVENT, they can be very fun and they are usually supporting a worthy charity. just avoid the actual ride part for now. Follow behind the pack, fine, just stay out of the herd. Bike events are a good place for a beginner to learn about bikes and bikers. Maybe even find someone to ride with, and practice synchronized riding..

[jpr1968]

Originally Posted by 93gc40

Go to the EVENT, they can be very fun and they are usually supporting a worthy charity. just avoid the actual ride part for now. Follow behind the pack, fine, just stay out of the herd. Bike events are a good place for a beginner to learn about bikes and bikers. Maybe even find someone to ride with, and practice synchronized riding..

I agree with seeing what it's all about but as far as learning anything from a group ride, that I have to disagree with, al least around where I live and many areas that I have been in the past. A great many of these so called charity rides are nothing but excuses to go bar hopping and they tend to be very disorganized and the only thing you learn from them if your are smart is to avoid them like the plague.

[squidchief]

Originally Posted by 93gc40

Go to the EVENT, they can be very fun and they are usually supporting a worthy charity. just avoid the actual ride part for now. Follow behind the pack, fine, just stay out of the herd. Bike events are a good place for a beginner to learn about bikes and bikers. Maybe even find someone to ride with, and practice synchronized riding..

Gotta agree with my brother from Visalia on this one. There is no such thing as a cookie cutter ride. Each one is different. Different groups, different leaders, different reasons for riding. Just because one or two groups do nothing but bar hop doesn't mean that's what all rides are.
Go to the event, introduce yourself, tell them the exact same thing you posted here. If it was my group, you’d either be offered a place at the very front with the ride leader, or if you weren't comfortable with that, you could ride behind the pack and someone would ride along to be your wingman. That would give you a chance to see what it's all about.. see what the other riders are like. Maybe earn something, maybe not. If you found it waste of your time, then you probably won't come back. Either way..... Most of the time it seems the problems occur when there are riders who are new, but don't/won't identify themselves as first time (group) riders. With that said, it's also common that problems arise as much from seasoned riders, who are new to riding in groups or formations as riders who are just new to riding period.
Let us know how it works out for you.
my .02 anyway.

[TimFis]

Yeah, not interested in bar hopping on a bike. I have a few buddies that I ride with and learn from (though I did take the motorcycle safety course already), so I think I'll just avoid them for now.

[93gc40]

Originally Posted by TimFis

Yeah, not interested in bar hopping on a bike. I have a few buddies that I ride with and learn from (though I did take the motorcycle safety course already), so I think I'll just avoid them for now.

You don't have to drink at the bars you know???? Just that bars tend to be about the only businesses that don't mind a bunch of bikes coming through on a Saturday poker run. They know that MOST of the riders, are NOT going to drink. They also know that some of those bikers will and others will come back. Bunch of bikes in a parking lot tends scare the customers of other businesses away.

[jpr1968]

Don't you mean that MOST WILL drink.