group passes

[asp_125]

Let's face it, if we didn't pass in the canyons we might as well park our bikes at the 7-11. This is a fact of riding. Sometimes we have to go around. That old farm truck, or the winnebago, or the sedan with the out of state plates.

Specifically, I can see ma and pa Kettle from Iowa getting freaked out as 10 sportbikes zip by at mach 1. On every group ride I've been on this spring, there has been one Cager who's given us a finger or if not, must've said aloud "damned bikers!". You've all been there, you ride their ass hoping they see you and move over enough .. gawd those that move over in the wrong places ..

So how do we pass with consideration? I see a bunch of us who give a "thank you" wave .. but short of having red & blue flashing lights on the lead bike, are we forced to do these mass passes? One day some idiot is going to get pissed enough to move over on one of us as we go by. Or maybe I'm being paranoid and just need to take a valium before each ride?

I do it when I have to, I know some won't pass unless waved by. Some will pass anywhere / anytime, while others wait for a passing lane, etc. I know if it's just me or a couple of bikes, I will pass more often than when I'm leading a group. It's early in the season and some newbies might be wondering what the etiquette is when we go on these group rides.

[Nick_Ninja]

The main response that I have noticed on group rides is 98% of the riders in the group have no clue where the passing lanes are, where each corner is on the route, and where the basic stops are located ----- even with a 'group talk'.

When folks begin to pass, no matter when, where, how safe (or not) it invokes the 'mob mentality'. For some reason the pack gets the notion that they, (some times as in each-and-every bike) have to pass. I don't know if they feel that they will be left behind, the lunch stop will run out of grub before they get there, or if their ego's take over and they have to prove to themselves --- or to someone else, that they can do it too. Fucked reasons or not --- they happen and they happen this time of year most often. So ---- have fun, be careful and think.

[asp_125]

... Fucked reasons or not --- they happen and they happen this time of year most often. So ---- have fun, be careful and think.

Yep. Todays ride was pretty good, passes were made but hand signals (all clear, no-go) were communicated during the pre-ride meeting, and actually used on the road. We can't control what the cager will do, so we have to THINK for them as well. Just cause the rider ahead of you made it, is no guarantee the cager won't speed up, move over, or one of several outcomes.

[YZFRydn]

I have to agree with you on that one Jeff. I was waiting for the Red Lincoln on HWY 6 to take out the next person that tried to go around him because he was riding the front groups ass the whole way down. Ray and I were the next in line to pass but I think it was for the best he and I included chose not to.

I recommend everyone give a wave to the car if you're going pass or the move over or slow down at all. That small little wave goes a long way especially when 20+ bikes go cruising past them.

Let's face it, most people have an issue being passed and when a bunch of people are doing it illegally, people (cagers to be specific) tend to get worked up. I would hate to see some road rage come out from someone during these nice riding weather months to come.

Definitely use the all clear and no-go signals if you are the first or second bike in front of the cage being passed. It helps keep everyone a little bit safer and avoids us doing it if there is an LEO up ahead.

There have been a lot of people going down lately and I definitely don't want it happening to any CSC'ers, so be safe out there people. Where your gear and use your heads.

[mtnairlover]

Let's face it, most people have an issue being passed and when a bunch of people are doing it illegally, people (cagers to be specific) tend to get worked up. I would hate to see some road rage come out from someone during these nice riding weather months to come.

I couldn't agree more. Definitely, the "thank-you" wave is a good idea. And let's face it, sometimes we've been around one or two riders who seem to think the road belongs to them just as much as the cager does. The road belongs to everyone...so, most definitely, think before you pass. Don't pass just cuz the guy in front of you passed...don't pass cuz you think the guy behind you is getting too antsy. Do what you feel is safe, plain and simple.

I was riding with 2 people on Saturday and up front. We ended up behind a Vette, and for the life of me, I just did not feel like passing at any time. The first thought on my mind was the gravel in the middle of the road and then the idea of kicking up that gravel if I passed...I just did not feel comfortable at all. So, I rode 'granny-style' this weekend...meh, it's only the beginning of Spring. There's lots more rides to come.

[rforsythe]

One day some idiot is going to get pissed enough to move over on one of us as we go by. Or maybe I'm being paranoid and just need to take a valium before each ride?

It isn't paranoia, I've had it happen when a bunch of people in the group I was in passed someone in a gigantic mob. I waited a little bit and tried to do it safely, but he had just been angered by the whole thing, and moved his pickup over in an attempt to "block" me off the road. I finally got around him when he realized I wasn't trying to be a dick. I've seen cagers flip off bikers, chuck cigarettes at them, cuss wildly, etc.

The main response that I have noticed on group rides is 98% of the riders in the group have no clue where the passing lanes are, where each corner is on the route, and where the basic stops are located ----- even with a 'group talk'.

When folks begin to pass, no matter when, where, how safe (or not) it invokes the 'mob mentality'. For some reason the pack gets the notion that they, (some times as in each-and-every bike) have to pass. I don't know if they feel that they will be left behind, the lunch stop will run out of grub before they get there, or if their ego's take over and they have to prove to themselves --- or to someone else, that they can do it too. Fucked reasons or not --- they happen and they happen this time of year most often. So ---- have fun, be careful and think.

+1.

We have a lot of people out there working against us. Yes cars go slower than bikes -- that's just what they do. That does not give us the right to ignore anything remotely related to courtesy and do some of the shit I've seen happen on group rides. Here's a tip: When the number of bikes passing a car causes that car to have to make a dive for the shoulder just so there's enough room that someone doesn't die, that is not cool.

Now I've also had some really nice cagers realize that a bunch of bikes were trying to get around, and drive half on the shoulder for a while so we could all get by in the lane without having to cross double yellow's (which are painted that way for a reason, esp in mountains), and in that case I have no issue with it, but I'm still watching that cage's path in case he needs to come back in suddenly.

[Sean]

It isn't paranoia

It has to be a steryotype then. I was coming down Boulder Canyon on Saturday at the speed limit to +10, and cars would still freak out. I had no intention of passing any of them and still left 2-3 cars length in between us. I never pressured them to speed up. Yet 3 cars, at 3 different spots, throughout the canyon pulled aside on the dirt to let me pass by. It really let me know that a lot of people are making some questionable passsing.

I'm a fan of the wave as you go by. Even if it's in a passing zone. I think people get freaked out by a bike buzzing by them. In canyons, on group rides (because everybody needs to pass the car at the same time ), I at least try to do the "safe pass" signal of holding your left arm straight out. If I can't stop them from passing, hopefully I can let them know if there's a car in that blind corner that they are barreling into.

[Tipys]

see i have been pulled out on, fliped off, cut off, yelled at, called names. and this has all happened without passing and then people that do that kind of stuff is when i decide i dont want to be around so i pass them and for some reason that pisses them off more but i wasnt going to stick around there with them. i have also noticed it seems to be the guys in big trucks that get the most pissed off about it.

[arcatacat]

meh, it's only the beginning of Spring. There's lots more rides to come.

Exactly. There's no reason to waste the rest of the season trying to pass that one car that may be annoying you. Be safe. Double yellow lines are not intended to piss you off... they're engineered to keep you alive.

i have also noticed it seems to be the guys in big trucks that get the most pissed off about it.

There's a couple stories posted every season about some dood in a big pickup who followed/threatened/swerved into or otherwise harassed one of us. Hmm.

[Matty]

real simple..... if you wanna pass, then pass. if not, then don't.

If i'm in the lead then i'll pass whenever i feel comfortable (if people follow that's their decision). If i'm hanging back and riding in the middle and a few people in front of me pass another vehicle. i'll wait till i feel it's safe and then i'll make my pass.

Also, whenever i do pass i look back and let people behind me know when it's safe to make their move if they choose.

[MetaLord 9]

I'll pass when comfortable too. I've been in the pack mentality before where it's been "Oh fuck these guys are taking off & I have no idea where we're going, I NEED to hang with" but I don't ride with those kids anymore. I ride with folks who are gonna pull over before the next turn or even after several miles, just to regroup & make sure we're all ok. If I can't see far enough ahead of the car in front of me, I'm not passing. It did get to the point, however, that last year we started experiencing people pulling halfway over in their lanes to let us by without crossing the double yellow. That was a new wrinkle for me, especially 'cause I couldn't tell if they were being very nice & giving me room to scoot by or just being awful drivers!

[sag]

ride with hi beam hids? lol

most of the time i use my signals, wave and pass slowly so as not to startle them. even i get startled by my friends blowing past me and for half a second am very angry.

[haelo]

Maybe we should go the speed limit... hahahaha

[asp_125]

Maybe we should go the speed limit... hahahaha

We do.. it's called the n00b ride. LOL.

Srsly, there are times where we do, because it's not safe to pass, or passing would get you nowhere, like coming down 6 behind a string of cars.

[sprtbkbabe]

If ya can't pass on a bike and give the other drivers some respect in allowing them to let ya go by or give them a chance to respect ya back, then ya probably drive like an ass-hat in a cage as well.

And don't let another rider ahead of you allow you to ride just as stupid as they may have exhibited on a previous pass. Just with all group rides, a good mantra is "don't get sucked in"

Seriously, as the weather is nicer, tourists are too busy looking at "the pretty leaves on those trees..." give them an opportunity to NOT treat you like a group of dick riders.

For those drivers who just plain hate bikes, pass them and get the fuck away as safely and as fast as you can.

I believe this law was passed recently and it forces drivers holding up at least 5 vehicles to get over. But don't expect all drivers to have gotten this memo: http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news...08/detail.html

[DevilsTonic]

I normally don't pass, unless there is a defined passing zone or unless the car rides the shoulder and waves me past. A lot of time the drivers in the canyons are considerate enough to pull over when they can. There's also no reason to get all aggrivated and try to pressure them off the road. I realized while taking it easy in the mountains riding sat and sun this weekend, that it's enjoyable just to cruise at a very polite pace and enjoy the gorgeous scenery that we have here.

I do have my moments though and do pass when I probably shouldn't, but I try to behave myself. I would rather live to ride another day.

[sag]

i dunno about you guys but a couple weeks into having my bike i was going through the poudre a little faster then the speed limit and i got overtaken and smoked by some mail van

[Wyck]

i dunno about you guys but a couple weeks into having my bike i was going through the poudre a little faster then the speed limit and i got overtaken and smoked by some mail van

Hehe that's funny. Probably would happen to me too

[Wockilla]

I have to put my .02 cents in here and say that on my first ride up through Estes Park twisties, when everyone else had passed and left me behind, I did get a little nervous, however I just waited until I could pass the cager's safely. I just kept in mind that I would eventually happen upon the spot where everyone else had stopped to make sure everyone was still with us.

[asp_125]

I have to put my .02 cents in here and say that on my first ride up through Estes Park twisties, when everyone else had passed and left me behind, I did get a little nervous, however I just waited until I could pass the cager's safely. I just kept in mind that I would eventually happen upon the spot where everyone else had stopped to make sure everyone was still with us.

Good for you. Don't be pressured into making a sketchy pass.

[Desmodromico]

I had a funny one earlier this year when I passed a Ford pickup at moderate speed on an open stretch with good visibility and the guy took offense and started riding my ass. I decided to lose him and went into the next corner at a pretty good clip, dude got half way in and freaked out, hit the brakes, and ran wide into the other lane. I am pretty sure he learned his lesson and he was lucky there was no one coming the other way.

I have noticed a big increase in road rage in my normal commute, I think with the economy being rough and people stressed out about their jobs etc. they are just right on the edge of snapping...best advice is don't be an ass and wheelie down the freeway, lane split, or ride peoples bumpers, but even then just watch out for yourself.

[lightspeed]

real simple..... if you wanna pass, then pass. if not, then don't.

If i'm in the lead then i'll pass whenever i feel comfortable (if people follow that's their decision). If i'm hanging back and riding in the middle and a few people in front of me pass another vehicle. i'll wait till i feel it's safe and then i'll make my pass.

Also, whenever i do pass i look back and let people behind me know when it's safe to make their move if they choose.

+1 Couldn't agree more with this. Goes back to riding your ride and doing what feels comfortable to you. Then letting others know if and when it's safe to pass. I think the wave to the cagers is a good thing and also a courteous way to let them know we all share the road.

[Carlito]

The main response that I have noticed on group rides is 98% of the riders in the group have no clue where the passing lanes are, where each corner is on the route, and where the basic stops are located ----- even with a 'group talk'.

Whoa, whoa, whoa...hang on a second. There's passing lanes? I never knew that! And this whole time I've just been passing in the center lines or into oncoming traffic's lane at 90 MPH in second gear. lol

[Nick_Ninja]

Whoa, whoa, whoa...hang on a second. There's passing lanes? I never knew that! And this whole time I've just been passing in the center lines or into oncoming traffic's lane at 90 MPH in second gear. lol

And that, my friend, is why I will have a beer with you but not ride with you