your pace, and others pace

[bshultz0930]

i feel like i NEED to post this enlightenment of recent happenings. most of us should know this, those who dont, will learn. most of us SHOULD use this, when a lot dont.

pace:

a : rate of movement; especially : an established rate of locomotion

b : rate of progress; specifically : parallel rate of growth or development <supplies kept pace with demand>

c : an example to be emulated; specifically : first place in a competition <three strokes off the pace — Time>

d (1) : rate of performance or delivery : tempo <a steady pace> <on pace to set a record>; especially : speed <serves with great pace> <a pace bowler in cricket> (2) : rhythmic animation : fluency <writes with color, with zest, and with pace — Amy Loveman>

this is the definition of pace. youve got yours, and the group or leader may have their own. do not breech your pace, unless your feeling like trying to excel a little better, but do it at YOUR OWN RISK. your wrist controls the throttle, no one else's. in turn your life is in your own hands. if your riding with a group or person that is too fast and you feel uncomfortable then SLOW DOWN OR STOP, move to the back of the group!! or you WILL get hurt. the group WILL wait for you, if they dont, then you shouldnt be riding with those assholes anyway. i can honestly not stress how important your comfort zone is when doing anything on a motorcycle. a motorcycle is not a toy. it is a machine built to go fast and handle exceptional, in the correct hands with the correct rider. you wanna go fuck around, have at it, do it on your own time. PACE! stay in your comfort zone, not in someone else's. i was lucky to get up and walk away when i wrecked. it was my fault, not leaders. im happy, privileged! to have wrecked. why? because it taught me an important lesson. since that day i have never respected my machine, and the sport, more then ever. i rode the shit out of that bike, and guess what? it bit back.

long story made short: we will not make fun of you for being less skilled. ill have more respect to the rider that tells me they cant handle the pace, then the rider that tries and fails. go no further then your comfort zone, its different for every single one of us. just please dont get hurt.

and again, anything that happens to you, is not the leaders fault, only yours for not following a few simple rules on a moto.

i love this family we have here, we need to stay safe.

Edited May 14, 2013 by bshultz0930

[ScubaCinci]

Good post. Years ago, I nearly bought the farm because I was attempting to keep up with some others and was riding outside my ability. Since that day, I've learned when to stay within my limits. I have too much to lose and I get the same amount of pleasure riding at what I consider to be a sane pace.

[MaximumJEFF]

A little more in depth

"September 21, 2006

By Nick Ienatsch

Racing involves speed, concentration and commitment; the results of a mistake are usually catastrophic because there's little room for error riding at 100 percent. Performance street riding is less intense and further from the absolute limit, but because circumstances are less controlled, mistakes and over aggressiveness can be equally catastrophic. Plenty of roadracers have sworn off street riding. "Too dangerous, too many variables and too easy to get carried away with too much speed," track specialists claim. Adrenaline-addled racers find themselves treating the street like the track, and not surprisingly, they get burned by the police, the laws of physics and the cold, harsh realities of an environment not groomed for ten-tenths riding. But as many of us know, a swift ride down a favorite road may be the finest way to spend a few free hours with a bike we love. And these few hours are best enjoyed riding at The Pace.

A year after I joined Motorcyclist staff in 1984, Mitch Boehm was hired. Six months later, The Pace came into being, and we perfected it during the next few months of road testing and weekend fun rides. Now The Pace is part of my life - and a part of the Sunday morning riding group I frequent. The Pace is a street riding technique that not only keeps street riders alive, but thoroughly entertained as well.

THE PACE

The Pace focuses on bike control and de-emphasizes outright speed. Full-throttle acceleration and last minute braking aren't part of the program, effectively eliminating the two most common single-bike accident scenarios in sport riding. Cornering momentum is the name of the game, stressing strong, forceful inputs at the handlebar to place the bike correctly at the entrance of the turn and get it flicked in with little wasted time and distance. Since the throttle wasn't slammed open at the exit of the last corner, the next corner doesn't require much, if any, braking. It isn't uncommon to ride with our group and not see a brake light flash all morning.

If the brakes are required, the front lever gets squeezed smoothly, quickly and with a good deal of force to set entrance speed in minimum time. Running in on the brakes is tantamount to running off the road, a confession that you're pushing too hard and not getting your entrance speed set early enough because you stayed on the gas too long. Running The Pace decreases your reliance on the throttle and brakes, the two easiest controls to abuse, and hones your ability to judge cornering speed, which is the most thrilling aspect of performance street riding.

YOUR LANE IS YOUR LIMIT

Crossing the centerline at any time except during a passing maneuver is intolerable, another sign that you're pushing too hard to keep up. Even when you have a clean line of sight through a left-hand kink, stay to the right of the centerline. Staying on the right side of the centerline is much more challenging than simply straightening every slight corner, and when the whole group is committed to this intelligent practice, the temptation to cheat is eliminated through peer pressure and logic. Though street riding shouldn't be described in racing terms, you can think of your lane as the race track. Leaving your lane is tantamount to a crash.

Exact bike control has you using every inch of your lane if the circumstances permit it. In corners with a clear line of sight and no oncoming traffic, enter at the far outside of the corner, turn the bike relatively late in the corner to get a late apex at the far inside of your lane and accelerate out, just brushing the far outside of your lane as your bike stands up. Steer your bike forcefully but smoothly to minimize the transition time. Don't hammer it down because the chassis will bobble slightly as it settles, possibly carrying you off line. Since you haven't charged in on the brakes, you can get the throttle on early, before the apex, which balances and settles your bike for the drive out.

More often than not, circumstances do not permit the full use of your lane from yellow line to white line and back again. Blind corners, oncoming traffic and gravel on the road are a few criteria that dictate a more conservative approach, so leave yourself a three or four foot margin for error, especially at the left side of the lane where errant oncoming traffic could prove fatal. Simply narrow your entrance on a blind right-harder and move your apex into your lane three feet on blind left turns in order to stay free of unseen oncoming traffic hogging the centerline. Because you're running at The Pace and not flat out, your controlled entrances offer additional time to deal with unexpected gravel or other debris in your lane; the outside wheel track is usually the cleanest through a dirty corner since a car weights its outside tires most, scrubbing more dirt off the pavement in the process, so aim for that line.

A GOOD LEADER, WILLING FOLLOWERS

The street is not a racing environment, and it takes humility, self assurance and self control to keep it that way. The leader sets the pace and monitors his mirrors for signs of raggedness in the ranks that follow, such as tucking in on straights, crossing over the yellow line and hanging off the motorcycle in the corners, If the leader pulls away, he simply slows his straight way speed slightly but continues to enjoy the corners, thus closing the ranks but missing none of the fun. The small group of three or four riders I ride with is so harmonious that the pace is identical no matter who's leading. The lead shifts occasionally with a quick hand sign, but there's never a pass for the lead with an ego on the sleeve. Make no mistake, the riding is spirited and quick in the corners. Anyone with a right arm can hammer down the straights; it's proficiency in the corners that makes The Pace come alive.

Following distances are relatively lengthy, with the straightaways taken at more moderate speeds, providing the perfect opportunity to adjust the gaps. Keeping a good distance serves several purposes, besides being safer. Rock chips are minimized, and the police or highway patrol won't suspect a race is in progress. The Pace's style of not hanging off in corners also reduces the appearance of pushing too hard and adds a degree of maturity and sensibility in the eyes of the public and the law. There's a definite challenge to cornering quickly while sitting sedately on your bike.

New rider indoctrination takes some time because The Pace develops very high cornering speeds and newcomers want to hammer the throttle on the exits to make up for what they lose at the entrances. Our group slows drastically when a new rider joins the ranks because our technique of moderate straightaway speed and no brakes can suck the unaware into a corner too fast, creating the most common single bike accident. With a new rider learning The Pace behind you, tap your brake lightly well before the turn to alert him and make sure he understands there's no pressure to stay with the group.

There's plenty of ongoing communication during The Pace. A foot off the peg indicates debris in the road, and all slowing or turning intentions are signaled in advance with the left hand and arm. Turn signals are used for direction changes and passing, with a wave of the left hand to thank the cars that move right and make it easy for motorcyclists to get past. Since you don't have a death grip on the handlebar, your left hand is also free to wave to oncoming riders, a fading courtesy that we'd like to see return. If you're getting the idea The Pace is a relaxing, noncompetitive way to ride with a group, you are right.

RELAX AND FLICK IT

I'd rather spend a Sunday in the mountains riding at The Pace than a Sunday at the racetrack, it's that enjoyable. Countersteering is the name of the game; smooth, forceful steering input at the handlebar relayed to the tires' contact patches through a rigid sport bike frame. Riding at The Pace is certainly what bike manufacturers had in mind when sport bikes evolved to the street.

But the machine isn't the most important aspect of running The Pace because you can do it on anything capable of getting through a corner. Attitude is The Pace's most important aspect: realizing the friend ahead of you isn't a competitor, respecting his right to lead the group occasionally and giving him credit for his riding skills. You must have the maturity to limit your straightaway speeds to allow the group to stay in touch and the sense to realize that racetrack tactics such as late braking and full throttle runs to redline will alienate the public and police and possibly introduce you to the unforgiving laws of gravity. When the group arrives at the destination after running The Pace, no one feels outgunned or is left with the feeling he must prove himself on the return run. If you've got some thing to prove, get on a racetrack.

The racetrack measures your speed with a stop watch and direct competition, welcoming your aggression and gritty resolve to be the best. Performance street riding's only yardstick is the amount of enjoyment gained, not lap times, finishing position or competitors beaten. The differences are huge but not always remembered by riders who haven't discovered The Pace's cornering pureness and group involvement. Hammer on the racetrack. Pace yourself on the street.-MC

[Pokey]

Good post!!!!!!

[Gunner75]

It would also help if those who arent all that secure on their platform to hang back towards to back of the pack on group rides. It holds up those who would rather run faster in the front of the pack. We wont leave you, and we will wait till you catch up

[bshultz0930]

All tips to this post are welcome. It's needs to be well stated and understood. We need NO MORE casualties.

[Helmutt]

Good reads guys, good lookin out and thanx for the reminders. Always good to reinforce the obvious that tends to be forgotten when we group up for a rowdy ride

[Pokey]

All tips to this post are welcome. It's needs to be well stated and understood. We need NO MORE casualties.

Somebody go down over the weekend?

[bshultz0930]

Somebody go down over the weekend?

not at all.. but after speaking with UP and his nephew, i feel like it needs to be reminded to the public. ive only met UP a couple of times, and hes a swell guy and can ride a motorcycle better then 99% of us here. he's beating himself up over the situation, and he shouldnt be. hes a good person and one hell of a rider. he doesnt deserve to be feeling like he is. too many people try and go out of their own pace and fail around him, so he feels like its his fault. when its not at all.

UP taught me a lot without actually teaching me. he's in a time of need and support just as much as his nephew.

as hellmutt said, this is a very simple rule to riding that is often forgotten or neglected, which then leads to injury. a simple reminder is all this is.

[Tpoppa]

Riding within your limits is easy advice to take when your reading a forum. It's harder to follow that same advice when in the middle of the adrenaline/excitement of a brisk group ride. If you feel like you might be taking chances...YOU ARE. Slow down. All it takes is 1 blown curve to ruin your day.

Smoothness leads to speed, not the other way around. The fast guys don't look smooth by accident. They know what they are doing. Don't attempt to match their pace if you don't know the proper technique. Ask them for tips before the ride, at gas stops, etc and practice.

7 or 8 years ago CORE went through something similar. There were suddenly a lot of new people showing up to groups rides. Rides went from 3-5 people of similar skill levels that were used to riding together...to 6-8 (or more) people with different levels of experience that didn't know each others riding habits. Despite pre-ride talks...there were a bunch of crashes mostly by new people that got caught up in the moment and got in over their heads. A few learned from their mistakes, most never came back. It was frustrating.

Ride Leaders: It's very hard for a ride leader to tell if someone is riding beyond their limits. You can only see so much form those tiny, buzzy, mirrors. I think the leader is responsible for setting a predictable pace, pointing out debris, and counting bikes at stops and that's it. The leader can't control the right wrist or ego of those riding behind.

An experienced sweep is VERY important when the group is not familiar with each other. The sweep needs to speak up when it looks like a crash is coming. I've asked more than a few riders to calm down during a group ride...some listen, some don't. I've also left plenty of rides because the group dynamics weren't right.

Edited May 15, 2013 by Tpoppa

[Hoblick]

i honestly hate riding in big groups.

im not the fastest guy out, nor am i the slowest. In general large group rides get into a cluster fuck, people get lost, people crash, trying to ride outside their limits, other people getting upset because of various situations. i like to keep to a 3-5 person group ride.

i ride my pace, and others can do what they want. usually why i hate leading. i also hate following though, so it fucks me all up. i like space, and lots of it. incase i make a mistake or someone else does, or incase i up or slow my pace im not hindering anyone elses pace, or someone isnt slowing me down.

its a love hate lol

[Pokey]

i honestly hate riding in big groups.

im not the fastest guy out, nor am i the slowest. In general large group rides get into a cluster fuck, people get lost, people crash, trying to ride outside their limits, other people getting upset because of various situations. i like to keep to a 3-5 person group ride.

i ride my pace, and others can do what they want. usually why i hate leading. i also hate following though, so it fucks me all up. i like space, and lots of it. incase i make a mistake or someone else does, or incase i up or slow my pace im not hindering anyone elses pace, or someone isnt slowing me down.

its a love hate lol

Well said.

[MidgetTodd]

I preach that at the beginning of every ride Tim and I do. There's always someone that doesn't listen. We always give the your own pace and we'll wait at the next intersection speech. Someone always tries to keep up and goes down. You won't change that by this thread either. Someone always wants to prove something.

That being said, UP is one of my favorite to ride with and I do push my limits with him as I have faith he won't over cook a corner and I follow his his line. One of the few here I will put blind faith in.

[Triumph]

Excellent post. I would add that the pace is not only dictated by ones abilities but also by the surroundings. Use your brain and make good judgement. Even if you can keep up it doesn't mean that you should. Not all group leaders are smart and many push limits in areas that should not be pushed in. If it isnt a safe area to ride at elevated speeds, then dont do it.

I would love to meet some new folks to ride with, but after riding with a few numbskulls with more testosterone than brains, I am reluctant in doing so.

[grapesmuggler27]

I would love to meet some new folks to ride with, but after riding with a few numbskulls with more testosterone than brains, I am reluctant in doing so.

[magley64]

I've really enjoyed some of my group rides here, following Lost and Jbot around the river roads was a great time, lost is a good ride leader, and sets a great pace.

Alzeimer is another guy that does a great job leading rides, knows the roads, sets a good pace, and keeps everything very smooth.

My first group ride was with Dweezel leading, that was a great experience.

[bshultz0930]

I feel like I jinxed gunner with this thread.

[Mr Anderson]

Great thread!

[grapesmuggler27]

I feel like I jinxed gunner with this thread.

He was riding by himself

[Gunner75]

Shultz you didn't jinx anyone! It was my fault and my own stupidity. I shouldn't been riding like that or alone like that. I was pushing myself to far and I liked it til I landed

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

[Mary#17]

Gunner75 - Glad to hear that you are OK.

Anybody who feels the need to ride at an extreme pace - really should get off the street and do some track days or race. Best thing my husband and I ever did for our street riding is start racing. You learn a lot. You will most likely crash. We both did -several times - but having medical personnel around is huge. We both are better riders because of the track. We are more cautious on the street and less crazy (age helped with that one too And crashing on the track and getting hurt humbles you. The feeling of being invincible fades quickly.

This isn't to say that you can't have fun on the street - we still do a decent pace but we are no where near as crazy as we used to be.

Having said all that, you can still crash on the street. Stuff happens. Gravel occurs. Brain farts will fly. Be safe and know your own limits and if you believe - pray for your safety and the safety of others.

Mary

[Jester_]

I like following al z heimer as well. Jerry is great to learn from.

[RHill]

I like following al z heimer as well. Jerry is great to learn from.

No love

lol

I don't think I've met anyone on OR that I didn't enjoy following. It is all about setting your own pace/riding your own ride. If you chase; no matter how experienced you are, you are increasing the chance of being sucked into a turn and ending up in a ditch.

[Strawboss]

And here all these years I thought the simple "ride your own ride" was all that needed saying. *note* The previous is called sarcasm. Of course I agree with everything posted here, these days though, we need to write pages long novels on how and why to NOT ride or ride a certain way that in years past was simply stated with a simple phrase that any second grader was able to grasp. Sadly, not so these days. Anyway, sorry to get off topic. Ride your own ride.

[what]

ride a slow bike, no pace problems ever. CBR takes off on a straight and disappears? no worries, i'll never catch him anyway ...guess i'll see him at the next intersection. sv650s club