Ducati Sporting Club UK > General > Idle Chat > Is this the way to run a big rideout?

[Ray]

While out on a ride a few weeks ago I came across some sort of HOG, Harley owners group rideout near Malton, North Yorks.

There must have been about 100 of em just pootling along at 55mph. The organisers had his vis bibs on and walkie talkies, about 8 or 9 or em.

While we all have our views on tractor riders I must admit it was a pretty spectacular sight and even though they were making a lot of noise from them screaming eagle pipes I got the impression that the general public were more tolerant of this sort of rideout than perhaps half a dozen plastic road rockets travelling at warp factor 10!

In terms of generating a more positive image for biking is this the way to go? (not necessarily on Harleys before anyone orders a new V rod)

If not what can we do to generate a more positive image for the race rep brigade?

Ray

[antonye]

That is indeed the problem - organising any large rideout is a nightmare because you're guaranteed to get the full range of riding ability from Wobbling William to Racing Ray (no offence!) in amongst the pack, so you have to find the common ground.

Having marshalls and the like really is the best way to run this kind of thing, otherwise it will all just go pear shaped with people getting lost and the inevitable chasing the fast boys at the front of the pack.

You tend to find that most sports bike riders go out in smaller groups - with a few mates - that all have roughly the same ability and this makes them able to ride together at a higher observed speed but probably more in control than it often appears. So while they may look fast (also remember that it is more difficult to accurately judge the speed of smaller objects at distance) they may actually be more safe.

I doubt we're going to get regular 100+ bikes on DSC runs, with the exception of mega-meets like Popham. If you've ever tried to ride out to Brands or Donington on a race day, you'll soon find it turns into a stop-start 15mph crawl with overheating bikes anyway!

[psychlist]

All depends on how "sussed" the leader is on the abilities of everyone following up, if you know you've got a group of nothing but proddie racers with you then there's no point trying to pootle around at 55 on the open road, just be sensibe about it, and, conversely, if you've got ANYONE in the group who's not a proddie racer then keep it slow and manageable. We always try to give a "sensible" impression in towns/traffic, especially with a larger group, you wanna come down and give the Sammy Miller run a try on the 4th July, got a LOT of appreciative looks from the grockles in Lyndhurst high street last year with over 50 mixed Dukes

[uncle porry]

from my experiance of sport bike rideouts, it always ends up in a race, the fast guys take off, then the slower riders go faster than they would normally to catch up with the fast boys, resulting in lots of tailgating cars, banzai overtaking and carving up...mr & mrs sunday driver out for a trip to see the grand kiddies, jump out of thier skins, when all of a sudden a couple of screaming bikes are along side ducking & diving...it all contributes to the bad rep we get from joe public...i would prefer a slower cruise, all in a group on a rideout, so, although i don`t like harleys, i think they have the rideout scene sussed....

[Fordie]

Im sure you get a faster ride out with only a couple of riders but I would say that you must ride in accordance to the number of the group. I personally find it pleasurable to keep the group together even if it means riding that much slower, enjoy the bends but keep the speed down on the straights. I for one don't like 8issing of the public with bad riding and would rather ride and leave a good impression . Ducati's are rather easy to identify than most jap bikes which then tends to put us in a catergory of fast riders. Right or wrong . If you are riding well then the feel good factor kicks in and hope fully you have a safe enjoyable ride out with all your mates .Its not that Ive seen many Ducati ride outs when Im in the car but I do like to see a safe train of riders acting sensible. 4D

[brownrigby]

All true enough, nothing annoys people more around here than a loud bike (not cruiser!) going through the village (a 30) at 50+++ !They think it's me whatever the bike anyway To gain respect we have to show respect in the 20/30 and 40 limits if it's a open road then whatever takes your fancy.

BUT............. a fairly hard line needs to be taken with some cage drivers

Originally posted by vman1000cc
No one on here is a World Super Biker Racer, so why pretend.

Just enjoy the ride....


[Edited on 23-6-2004 by vman1000cc]

Too true...........