Went riding today!

[ÜberDoober]

Just back from a couple hundred miles of riding on a beautiful, but slightly overcast day. Met up with some of the guys from SouthWestRides (http://www.southwestrides.com) and headed into the hills on the Kearney, Winkelman, Globe route. Got to meet local Doober, Mush, and his gorgeous copper colored SV-1000. Hats off to him for riding sweep for the leisure riders (slow-pokes) group I lead.

Some good lunch in Globe with good folks and no crashes or tickets. It was a nice easy going ride, great weather but a lot of bugs.

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my scooter
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[ÜberDoober]

Additional analysis and commentary from a post I made at SouthwestRides (http://www.southwestrides.com)

Since this was kind of our back to safety and sanity ride, I want to take time to reflect a little more on what we did well and what we might have done differently today.

All in all, I think it was a very positive day. Unfortunately, as most of you know, I cruised into the pre-ride meeting at the last minute and missed most of Lonnie's chat but I caught enough of it to know he was handing out some good free advice. Eyes up, looking through the turns and body position were all eloquently explained.

Just before we left, I saw how many bikes we had and asked Lonnie if he thought two groups might be good? Much to my surprise, he asked if I wanted to lead the leisure group, mostly I think, to quell my whining about speed limits and double yellows that I brought up in an earlier post in this thread. http://www.southwestrides.com/vbulletin/images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif At any rate, he asked Mush if he would ride sweep and our group filtered out and took off.

I do appreciate his confidence in me and to those who rode in my group. Most of you don't know me from Adam but I am an experienced rider with just a twich under 200,000 miles on the street, a former local racing champion (20 years ago) and former Gold Wing Road Captain with many miles of leading groups so Lonnie didn't just stick a n00b out there to lead you into oblivion.

Before I go any further, I apologize in advance if I ramble. I had a good day riding, got my work done in Phoenix, came home and grilled some burgers and just opened up my 4th Dos Equis. I'm also sorry that my bike is so loud and obnoxious and I will try repacking the cans, but I digest.

I tried to set a pace that would not put everyone totally to sleep but also not get us hauled off to the pokey. It's a tough call and I know, you can't please everybody. Solo, I usually run about 10 over but today ran just a few over that. I tried to properly slow down when we hit a lower limit and believe overall, we all rode quite respectibly. Our group did not make one pass over the double yellow all day even though there were a few times it was warranted and I could hear you guys in your helmets telling me to get it on a time or two. http://www.southwestrides.com/vbulletin/images/smilies/smile.gif I really backed it down to pretty close to 35 through Hayden because I can't tell you how many times I've seen a crusier hiding behind those big cottonwood trees there.

Before we got to Ray Mine Rd, the quicker group caught and passed us. It was all good but I did see somebody on a blue bike tuck back in front of a car they were passing pretty late into the corner. (Ok confess, who was it) http://www.southwestrides.com/vbulletin/images/smilies/smile.gif One point about that right hand downhill sweeper where Ray Mine Rd. connects - there is a lot of truck traffic coming onto the highway right there and there is always a lot of schmuckus on the pavement.

By Winkelman, I think everyone was feeling comfortable I wasn't going to lead them over a cliff or into oncoming traffic but when we all grouped up, we find out Lonnie had hit a bird. That's gotta hurt and lucky it didn't spook him off his line into the sagebrush. Then somebody (who?) notices that Lonnie's Busa is missing the clip off the masterlink. Scary stuff but good catch.

From Winkelman to Globe, it was just a nice easy cruise and I will admit that it took some self-control to not pick it up in a couple of places. There were plenty of corners where we could all put some of Lonnie's advice into practice and even though I could only see a few bikes back around my elbows, you guys all looked like you were doing good.

After lunch when things became unofficial, I just kind of took off at my own pace and hooked up with Don on his pretty red Honda. I kind of used the passing zones a little more than I should have and didn't have the benefit of getting any warning flashes and came up on the DPS car probably about 15 over? I snapped back into behavior mode after keeping a close watch on my mirrors for a few miles and hoping to not see red lights. That's when we hooked up with Phil for the ride back into civilization. The three of us ran a nice group, kept up with traffic without feeling the need to be the quickest thing in the neighborhood and it all felt pretty good.

This is the first ride I have been on since the weather cooled off that I didn't see the ton a time or two and it was okay. After my last outrageous outing, I told myself I wasn't going to be naughty this time and I pretty much stuck to it. In the future, I will be happy to lead more rides for the leisure group and if requested, will even go slower so that everyone is comfortable.

So, did any improve their skills today, gain a little confidence or make a mistake or two that you won't do on the next ride? Did everyone check their masterlink when they got home? (if you have one)

[ÜberDoober]

A few follow-up comments from SouthwestRides (http://www.southwestrides.com/vbulletin/index.php):

Lonnie wrote:

Great ride today guys! Thanks to Diane and Mush for showing leadership and handling the second group. That bird I hit left quite a mark on the inside of my right bicep, and feels very bruised. I received a warning from a cruiser rider about the DPS officer and it was a good thing. His radar was running in stealth mode and I didn't get any warning at all until he turned it on and my detector went from zero to KA9 instantly. I was in the non passing lane doing just over the limit when I saw him. I rode straight to KSS Goodyear and had them install a new press on master link before I went home. Great service as usual.

Klondike wrote:
Great time today. Thanks to Lonnie for a good post and a good ride and your advise is greatly appreciated.
OoberDoober and Mush thank you for leading and sweeping the leisure group. I found Oobers pace good, there were a few places I would have like it a little slower but I'm not complaining. I need to push myself a little to continue improving my skills.

I really don't know if my body positioning is where it is supposed to be yet. I am listening to you Lonnie and trying to apply what you are teaching me, Kiss the mirror/head over the inside hand... I think I am getting better but not always sure yet. I feel like I am over-exaggerating my positioning, I suppose time will tell if I look like I know what I am doing, or like an idiot.

I can't believe how much dirt those guys have moved in those mines...

Great time riding with everyone let's do it again soon!

Don wrote:
Thanks to all the riders on this ride for a great riding experience yesterday! The advice Lonnie gave out was invaluable. And, thanks to Michael for helping me out with the securing the helmet to my bike issue. Once again, I’m in your debt sir!

To Diane,
It was great riding with you yesterday and the pace you set for the leisure group was right on target. I like to switch riding within the different riding groups from time to time, but I wanted to take easy so I opted to ride with the leisure group. And, I didn’t mind bring up the rear for this group at any time. The pace was prefect and everyone managed to keep pace, ride safe and stayed in a staggered formation during the ride out to Miami for lunch. By the way Diane, your pipes sound great, I won’t change a thing unless you absolutely have too. Once again, your riding pace for the final push home was right on target. It didn’t peek the interest of the PoPo hiding in the corner. I gave him one of my standard PoPo salutes as we passed him by. It’s the same type of wave the Queen of England gives to her subjects when she rides in her carriage during royal percussions.

Again, I want to thank all of the riders who went on this ride for the great riding experience.

Guitarstrommer wrote:
Yes it was bedtime...I only now woke up. Great ride today, glad to see Klondike made it back with out too much oil loss, Lonnie that must have been quite the tensive ride to KSS wondering if that link was gonna go. Thanks to Diane & Mush for steppin' up to the plate! Great job! As far as the mid-packers, what is this? Amid a pack of Lear jets? I remembered to bring the camera, just forgot the high-speed film! No seriously guys, nice job today it was a blast. Glad I ordered when I did, the "be aware of what's going on around you" rule works great OFF the bike to! HaHa! Had a good brisk ride home, cleaned off all the bugs and dropped off for a little nap. Great ride guys!

DZSV wrote:
Quote:
Originally Posted by UberDoober
I'm also sorry that my bike is so loud and obnoxious and I will try repacking the cans

Diane, it was nice to meet you and you did a great job leading our group. I was on the cruiser right behind you, sorry if I was too close at times, I was prepared in case you picked up the pace. BTW your bike isn't so loud since I couldn't hear it over my own...

And I wrote back:
Thanks! You were never too close - your spacing was perfect and consistent and you dropped back and went single file in all the right places.

I always ride with earplugs except I didn't get one back in right after lunch and couldn't hear myself think. She might not be too loud but she does make plenty of racket so I run a gear high through town and short shift to keep the revs down. My carbs don't stay synched very long at a time either for some reason and when they're a little off, it annoys the heck out of me. At least it's a lower bass tone rather than a high pitched shriek but combined with having no airbox, the intake howl and exhaust growl, especially above 7K, is slightly more than socially responsible, unless you subscribe to the loud pipes save lives philosophy. Personally, I think it just makes me a cop magnet.

Now, if I could just convince some of the SWR gang to join up here and post. :brick-wall-101: