P500 First group ride. Didn't like it...

[trigger]

Wasn't he the one that published a book and tried pushing it here?

I believe you are correct sir.

 

[Robobrainiac]

Yes, this is me, lol...

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I have resisted going out on group rides for years; even riding with one other machine doesn't appeal to me for several reasons.

But, my girlfriend's dad invited me out with him and a couple of other people yesterday, so I gave in and went.

We spent 5 hours in the woods and covered 37 miles. Stopped for lunch and breaks for a total of an hour, so that's 4 hours of riding to cover 32 miles of Idaho backcountry. That means, we averaged 9.25 mph.

Doesn't seem like it, but it was too much ground to cover in too little time.

The other people were great. No showing off or peer pressure to try an obstacle you weren't comfortable with, lots of joking and laughing and people having a good time.

It's just that their idea of a good time riding is to cover as much trail as possible. They liked the actual riding more than the experience of the surroundings.

I like riding and overcoming obstacles as well, but I go into the woods to experience the woods. We whizzed by several muddy watering holes with lots of interesting tracks I wanted to look at. Went by a stump that a bear had just got done rubbing off his winter fur coat on. Would approach a view with thousands of acres of clear-cut areas where elk and bear like to hang out in and we would just power on by without stopping to look for wildlife. Possibly still some Morel mushrooms that high up, but never stopped at likely growing areas.

Just different priorities, I guess...

Which is why I didn't like it. Having the company was great. Having an extra couple of machines for support was great. Talking and joking with people on breaks was great.

Just seemed more like a mission than a recreational pursuit.

Anyway, here's the obligatory pics...

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I have a small group of people I like to ride with. Even within that group if there are certain riders that come I no longer wish to go. I am very confident my wife and I ride an average of half of what you posted. Our favorite thing is seeing everything. We do take comfort in group rides for safety purpose. Safety is our priority. If we don't have other machines there are alot of things we skip.

 

[trigger]

Depends on the ride. If it's just the boys, then balls out and let it rip. (Nomo 🐝🐝🐝) If the wife comes along then it's a different mentality. Regardless, I like to ride with a group that's watching out for others in the pack. I keep my eyes on the riders behind me in case they get into trouble.
Did a group ride at Drummond Island, which is a pretty rough trail system, @Remington was there. One of the couples in our group brought their daughter and SIL with them, driving their newly purchased sxs. They were behind me and then suddenly disappeared. I stopped, couldn't turn around and started walking back to find them. They apparently took a side trail that eventually met up with the main trail but no one knew they had taken it. They had to be schooled on group ride etiquette. When someone goes missing the ride comes to a grinding halt.

 

[GRANITE]

agreed @trigger.

I've been in big groups of 15 or more machines to only two. When you want to cover alot of ground 80-110 miles in a day the less machines in the group the better. Ideally 3-8 machines is ideal! When we go, we like to go with people that don't destroy their machines, keep up with their maintenance and do what they can to avoid machine failures trailside because it hurts it for everyone else. I mean flats happen, axles snap, tierods bend, SH!T happens but we are there to ride, not repair trailside if that makes sense!!!

 

[crewcabrob]

The wife and I only get to ride by ourselves. We have to trailer at least 4 hours to go ride any public land with trails.

When we do ride, we travel at a pretty slow pace. We would love to have some comradery of a group ride, but it would have to be with like minded people with a smaller, slower machine like the P500/520.

I don't mind covering ground at speed if there is not a lot to look at or see, but once we hit the trails, I want to see the hidden treasures that might be our there.

Rob

 

[RedorDead]

Usually we ride alone, but I’m not averse to group rides, sometimes fast, sometimes slow with lots of stops. All depends on the context.

One thing I won’t do is ride in a dust cloud. If it’s dusty, don’t look in the mirror and stop every time I’m out of sight. Because that will be often. Comms are good, and if it’s really bad I’ll say “we’ll meet again at location X”. Chase lights definitely not needed.

 

[trigger]

If it’s dusty, don’t look in the mirror and stop every time I’m out of sight

I accommodate for that. I'll stop and wait until they come back into sight and then continue on. But if they don't appear in a couple minutes I'll be circling back. These were rough trails, lots of water and rocks. I smashed my bash plate on one in the middle of a water hole. Thank God for seatbelts or we would've went through the windshield. If someone goes on their side in one of those, time is of the essence. For the sake of the riders and the machine.

 

[NTCPrezJB]

Wasn't he the one that published a book and tried pushing it here?

Sure is

 

[Remington]

Depends on the ride. If it's just the boys, then balls out and let it rip. (Nomo 🐝🐝🐝) If the wife comes along then it's a different mentality. Regardless, I like to ride with a group that's watching out for others in the pack. I keep my eyes on the riders behind me in case they get into trouble.
Did a group ride at Drummond Island, which is a pretty rough trail system, @Remington was there. One of the couples in our group brought their daughter and SIL with them, driving their newly purchased sxs. They were behind me and then suddenly disappeared. I stopped, couldn't turn around and started walking back to find them. They apparently took a side trail that eventually met up with the main trail but no one knew they had taken it. They had to be schooled on group ride etiquette. When someone goes missing the ride comes to a grinding halt.

Yup I do remember that. They got schooled on that for sure!

 

[Remington]

Nobody likes an unfinished story.

True Dat! But one things for sure with that guy, will never know

 

[Remington]

@trigger Talking about group rides, the hill but started with the infamous smoked drag race from Our old Friend DM-PH🤣

PistonHonda P5 In a drag race!

youtube.com

 

[Lenny]

No I didn't know that. I should have looked at the date he posted, Sorry. I didn't mean to cause any problems

 

[GovtMule]

No I didn't know that. I should have looked at the date he posted, Sorry. I didn't mean to cause any problems

No problems caused. We are just stupid and like to poke fun (nomo) when we can. Don’t take it personally, it’s happened to all (well, some) of us!

 

[Smitty335]

No problems caused. We are just stupid and like to poke fun (nomo) when we can. Don’t take it personally, it’s happened to all (well, some) of us!

Ow, I took it personally because I'm stupid! The NTC is a place you can let your hair down, if you have any. Have fun!

 

[Remington]

No I didn't know that. I should have looked at the date he posted, Sorry. I didn't mean to cause any problems

No problems my friend. We've all done it a time or two, just like to let you know. Were just here to keep u on tour toes!
keep on-a postin!

 

[Buggyman]

No problems caused. We are just stupid and like to poke fun (nomo) when we can. Don’t take it personally, it’s happened to all (well, some) of us!

been there done that more than once myself

 

[osobad]

Ow, I took it personally because I'm stupid! The NTC is a place you can let your hair down, if you have any. Have fun!

who has time to grow hair. Mine is just a solar panel for a sex machine.

 

[Smitty335]

who has time to grow hair. Mine is just a solar panel for a sex machine.

Is it working is the question?

 

[JenElio]

who has time to grow hair. Mine is just a solar panel for a sex machine.

🤔....where do the doule D batteries go when their's no sun though?..............😳 nevermind!!!!


NoMo!!!

 

[KyGal83]

Depends on the ride. If it's just the boys, then balls out and let it rip. (Nomo 🐝🐝🐝) If the wife comes along then it's a different mentality. Regardless, I like to ride with a group that's watching out for others in the pack. I keep my eyes on the riders behind me in case they get into trouble.
Did a group ride at Drummond Island, which is a pretty rough trail system, @Remington was there. One of the couples in our group brought their daughter and SIL with them, driving their newly purchased sxs. They were behind me and then suddenly disappeared. I stopped, couldn't turn around and started walking back to find them. They apparently took a side trail that eventually met up with the main trail but no one knew they had taken it. They had to be schooled on group ride etiquette. When someone goes missing the ride comes to a grinding halt.

I have to say.. I was guilty of this recently! I made 2 very rookie mistakes…

#1 - I changed course while on route to a planned POI.

#2 - I radioed I was changing course while under way.. but did not confirm everyone heard me.


Was on a 5 buggy group ride with good friends in our home area … I was the next to last buggy. I very much needed a rest room break ( not an excuse) .. knowing the trails extremely well, I knew a short cut was near and could make my stop then catchup without inconveniencing anyone. I radioed my change but did not confirm the buggy behind me got the message. He acted accordingly and stopped at the point I split off. This left him waiting on me to return, which I did not… and that left the last buggy hanging out there.

It was badly done and a very poor decision on my part. I knew better, been riding buggy’s for years and driving for a couple. Completely irresponsible. It put a damper on what was otherwise a good day. 🤦🏼‍♀️