A Lesson learnt

[TonyBKK]

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My experience has also shown that there usually is no constant leader when you have fast and experienced riders together. One person will suddenly accelerate off and one or two may give chase. Maybe even all may up the pace.
However, usually there will be a couple of riders who will be of equal ability and be so close that they may take part in their own little race. But the remainder will be strung out and there will be a decent gap between them. Sometime hundreds or meters, so relative safety is maintained.
This burst or speed will end at some point and the leading guys drop back to a much slower speed to allow the others to catch up. This Yo Yo affect is what I have experienced in many, many rides.

Wow- are you sure we haven't ridden together? You've described our dynamic on SSR rides perfectly.
Ride On!
Tony


ps. I think Ben's idea of starting a thread dedicated to motorcycle safety is a good one! I considered myself a fairly 'experienced' biker when I came to Thailand and have been really amazed at how much I've learned while riding with GT Rider guys here over the past few years. If I've learned anything, it's that you never stop learning! And someone who thinks they know it all.... Well... I'll hold my tongue but you know where that usually ends up

T

[johngooding]

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Wow Franz did you know what you were kicking off here. A great collection of individual views on why we ride, how we do it, and how to keep doing it safely.
I agree with the majority of views stated here and thats one of the great things about GT-Rider site..... there are people with different views and we can co-exist and enjoy socialising and sometimes riding together. The Recent Wednesday evening get togethers at Miguels have brought people with different bikes, styles and ideas, all have been enjoying the chance to share ideas, and also a chance to agree future rides together.
I will not repeat the many good principles and ideas already posted, just say thanks to those who contributed, a lot of food for thought.
I will say one or two things I think not said, I ride at different speeds on different bikes with different focus groups and generally enjoy each of those scenarios.
One thing I have repeatedly found out is that it is more difficult to give 100% concentration when riding slower, this can be dangerous. When I am going fast, particularly alone, I am totally focussed on the the road, the bike, the traffic etc, constantly assessing the road a long way ahead. I make fast progress and feel almost invunerable, because I feel on top of everything happening. (May be delusional, but its been OK so far). When riding with a group the pace is normally slower, apart from all the above things to look out for, I have to keep an eye on the guy in front and also an eye on the mirror for the one behind, there are frustrations, because progress will not be as smooth as I am used to alone. I find that sometimes my thoughts wander because I am travelling at a pace that, because I am normally quicker, some part of me feels i do not need all my concentration. Hard to explain, but it happens. So I feel concentration is the key, not speed. Travelling slower is not always safer, especially if you are constantly enmeshed in traffic and have fast cars regularly trying to squeeze past.
I had a great trip this week KK to CM, a few days in CM and back to KK on Brians R1. I will post my thoughts about it separately. Changed my ideas about the R1 as a long distance, and also an about town bike, enjoyed both. My average journey speeds, probably 25kph higher than my other bikes. Actually felt safer, loved the power available, and the great acceleration and flickability, braking etc. Did not corner too much faster than normal, but overtook a lot more cars a lot more easily (and safer!!!) Enjoyed hammering through the gaps, like a roller skater on a fast moving rink.
I am different from Luke in that I do not get enjoyment from wringing every last ounce of performance out of a smaller bike. For me I want to be in the smooth operating range of the bike, with power available instantly if I do call on it. So this week, I travelled a lot quicker on a much faster bike, and enjoyed the adrenaline rush, however I am glad I was alone, I would not have wanted to fight the urge to compete with the quicker boys, just because i had the machine to do it.

A brief one about wheelies, stoppies, burn outs (Trent), on public roads. Well of course you do these things where there are people to watch and applaud and admire. The key point is that you must be in control of your bike at all times, if the rider is in control, it is great fun and lifts the spirits, its good to see. If he is not in control and just showing off, then he should be doing it in a large private car park. Last week a certain gentleman whose initials are MR, left the XCentre pulling a wheelie, for a couple of hundred metres, totally in control, no danger to anyone and causing a lot of smiles. That was fun. Surely thats what we all want, safe motorcycling with the fun factor, and what is fun for some, will be fearful for others, but at least it lets them see what is possible further down the experience road. Long may it all continue.

[Kiwi Cruiser]

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The new "Safety" forums are now active, awaiting your input...

This is located in the General forum, see: Riding Safely in S.E. Asia
http://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-mot...-asia-f99.html

Under that, there are now 5 sub-forums;
1- Advice for Newbies: advice-for-newbies-f101.html
2 - Group Riding Concepts: group-riding-concepts-f100.html
3 - Local Variables: local-variables-roads-seasons-tyre-choices-f103.html
4 - Roadcraft: roadcraft-f102.html
5 - Safety; equipment, links: safety-equipment-links-f104.html

Those who have already posted their thoughts on Group Riding are welcome to re-post those comments in the Group Riding Concepts forum, and it would help if you specified what type of Group ride you are expressing an opinion on; commercial, club, informal, close friends etc.

Moving Safety-Related Posts:
- Moved this topic to the " Riding Safely in S.E. Asia" forum....

If you have previously written a 'starter' Topic on any of the 5 sub-forum themes above, and think it should be moved to one of those listed (or a new one) let me know the URL and I will do it for you.

[Mark Rossi]

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Good idea Ben to open a safety topic forum I applaud any positive steps in this area, if we can assist and learn from each other, better and safe ways, I am all for it.
Maybe you could get Khun Dtum involved as he genuinely has a interest in improving local ability to ride safer with his schools at Hang Dong raceway.
I do remember a quote from Travis Pastrana after crashing out of several race, I may stand corrected, but I think it was in 2003 at a Ama motocross National.
it went something like this "Motocross is a game of risk analysis and management, my analysis seems to be a little off at this time"
I think this comment stands true to all motorcycling as it can be a dangerous past time, there are many points including peer pressure of group riding can be a factor for mis-analysing the risk factors.

[daewoo]

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When riding with a group the pace is normally slower

Khun John is referring to me specifically

[johngooding]

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When riding with a group the pace is normally slower

Khun John is referring to me specifically

Not at all Darryl, I thought our small group of riders was well matched, bearing in mind we were mostly wanting to see the scenery as well. I was thinking of much larger and slower group rides. Of course I know you were also taking great care to run in Mr Beer's new Ninja, so keeping the revs down!!!