Group ride gone wrong...

[Bry]

Lookit the images 1 - 18 (sequence) a group ride in Russia? gone wrong, found link in STN... couldn't beleive the carnage!!

http://ccc.ru/web/moto/


Bry

[scottybooj]

there are no words to describe that.

how fast was everyone going to have a pile up like that?

[dilligaf]

Wow, looks like a classic group "accordion" accident. Bad, bad scene.

[1MPH]

Holy Crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jack

[DJ Downunder]

Good one Bry.. ..thanks for showing me that.. ..two days before I join 500 others in the Barry Sheene ride to the Phillip Island.

Last year I saw a few close calls...it's the idiots coming up behind going too fast that I'm worried about.

There's a section of the highway that goes from two lanes into one for roadworks..when I saw that yesterday I thought..geees that could be trouble.

At least all our riders will have helmets on.

DJ

[marko]

Yeah, DJ watch out for the muppets on Grand Prix weekend.
The squids come out to play.
Your right, don't need to see that before this weekend......or maybe a timely reminder.
See you there.

[wncbmw]

WOW! What a bad scene!

That is exactly why I hate charity motorcycle runs. I fear just such a pile up. I usually donate my money and ride in a different direction!

Any word on injuries? At least most of the riders had some gear on and almost all had helmets. If it had been in the US in a no-helmet-law state, more blood would have been spilled!

[darthrider]

I *never* go on these gang-bangs anymore. This is only one reason why.
For me, a "large group ride" is 4 guys I've ridden with a long time.

[malcolmm]

Last year I saw a few close calls...it's the idiots coming up behind going too fast that I'm worried about.
DJ

Watch your back DJ. bloody yokals

Guess that's part of the skill, so many things to concentrate on. PPhheew!

Nice one Darthrider

I *never* go on these gang-bangs anymore. This is only one reason why.
For me, a "large group ride" is 4 guys I've ridden with a long time.

my sentiments precisely four guys? you'd be lucky. It's hard down here findin' anyone to go for a ride with

[dallara]

Darth said:

I *never* go on these gang-bangs anymore. This is only one reason why.
For me, a "large group ride" is 4 guys I've ridden with a long time.

Well, I don't draw the line at any real number, much less four...

It all depends on who the guys are, how they ride, etc. I have ridden with 20 other guys who did better in group situations than some groups I have ridden with that has as few as five... Just depends.

The groups that like to ride almost in "formations" are the ones that scare me the most. We have a group down here I have ridden with *ONCE* (and never will again...) that literally demands you ride in strict two-by-two, side-by-side lockstep, which is dangerous as hell by definition, all behind a designated "road captain" (what a goofy term!). He determines the pace, and since he wants to keep everybody behind him in sight in his mirrors he usually ends up going slower than the prevailing traffic and causing all sorts of accordion foul-ups... I rode with these bozos for about one-third the planned ride, then politely bid them farewell at one of the too many stops... I ended up riding more miles than they did that day, and was still home two-and-a-half hours earlier than they made it when I talked ot one them the next day... and all with far less stress of riding in a "box" and worrying about who was going to cause the *BIG ONE*!

Good groups get a bit spread out, but still wait and watch at the appropriate points for everybody to file in. No "road captains" or the like - just buddies all out enjoying the world and motorcycling at their own pace and comfort level.

Just my two pesos...

Cheers!

Dallara

(p.s. That was one hell of a Russian pile-up... )

[darthrider]

Well, I don't draw the line at any real number, much less four...

C'mon Allan, you know what I meant.
I don't draw the line at any magic number either, it just often seems to be about that many.
As Malcome says, it's often less.
Even with good riders, the larger the group the more chance for something to go wrong. Usually it's the slow guy who is still scratching his ass at the gas station, trying to find his gloves or taking a piss while everyone else is geared up, engines running...and waiting.
The larger the group the more problematic the logistics are. Different size gas tanks, different eating schedules, different riding styles & speeds.
And the greater chance someone who *does* know what they are doing bring along someone who does not.
The greater the chance for...

And *really large* groups like that Russian fiasco are just a real bad time waiting to happen.

[JCsman]

Man....apparently nobody had loud pipes...............

[dallara]

Easy, Darth-Man...

I wasn't raggin' on ya'!

Just wanted to point out that it often isn't the quantity, but the quality.

The guys I ride with down here most definitely have different riding paces, and we can get pretty strung out, but we long since solved the fuel capacity issue - we all just stop at the max range of the shortest range bike on the ride... Like my buddy Doug's Honda Superhawk was good for only about 100 miles when it had the stock tank. He has since adapted (and very stylishly and seamlessly, BTW) a VFR tank and he can get about 120 miles between refueling. Everybody in our regular group can go farther than that, but we all just stop when he needs to.

Same with feed schedules... We usually always end up with the group meeting for breakfast, even if some of us start out 200 miles away. We just leave early enough to hit the breakfast spot everybody from all around has decided on (usually the Utopia Cafe in Utopia, TX or the OST in Bandera) at the appointed time... Lunch comes when the first guy cries "Uncle" and we go from there. Not very scientific, but a definite "easy going" method that raises no hackles...

And we just *LOVE* the guy who fiddling with his gloves or still cleaning his face shield, etc. at the gas stops! Why?

Because he always gets unmitigated razzing and ribbing. Usually, because of this unrelenting jibing, that guy doesn't continue to be the tail of the dog for long... We have even left 'em at the pump before. That definitely cures it!

Then again, I have often piddled around the pumps on purpose... Just so I have a reason to haul arse and pass a few folks in the twisties...

All in all, we just kind of try and keep it good-natured and loose, loose, loooooooose... So nobody feels too much pressure.

And i would *NEVER* ride in a melee like that Russian debacle!

How was the Norton shin-dig?

Just my two ducats...

Cheers!

Dallara

[wncbmw]

Group ride are problematic simply trying to keep everyone together. One person passes a slower vehicle, then it takes miles for everyone else to make it. My favorite group number is one. Or two.

But I did ride with 8 the other day and it worked out. Everyone was a decent rider and no one was crazy!

I too think the "formation" riders are scary. Either the slow parades of cruisers or the tight "fighter pilot" groups of racer boys.

[marko]

They have a group ride from Cranbourne (about an hour from the Phillip Island GP) on the Saturday and i make sure i leave way before the group is due to, or way after they have left. A few hundred boy racers riding together for an hour is not my idea of a fun ride.

[DJ Downunder]

You know marko you're right...as much as I've been looking forward to this ride...and arranged the time off work...I've decided to pull the pin.

When I rode down to the Island the other day...I saw these roadworks...and two lanes into one...I thought two into one will not go..with riders riding two abreast..throw in a few cars...geees that spells trouble...here's a link about the poor timing for the roadworks.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/ ... 17623.html

And as far as ride numbers goes...three is a nice number...yesterday I had a great ride with boxerboy and Mick...we could ride fast...we could ride safe...three's a good ride number...here's a pic from our ride.

DJ

[marko]

DJ , i think the ride to the island from interstate that you were hooking up with is a different matter. Those guys have had to travel a long way and would be more responsible, it is more controlled and organised and a long way from Melbourne, so you don't get the thong and tshirt brigade.

The boy racers from the Cranbourne race don't have to plan the ride, just turn up on the morning, and while most would be OK, it is really just a big group of unknowns travelling enmasse. Unfortunately now lots of people line the streets through Cranbourne and on the route and there is an element that plays to the crowd.

[Pat]

"Group" rides, large or otherwise, can be fun......
and they can be a pain in the ass.

I usually choose to ride at the back.... with considerable distance between
me and the guys in front of me. If they are the type to pass cars on a
double yellow, speeding past obstructions (Harleys or otherwise) like
they are an annoyance; well, I jus' let 'em do their thang.

If I choose to catch up, I'll do so at my own pace. If I choose to break
off...... phuck 'em if I don't wanna race up to the "leader" and let him
know. After-all, it's their fault if they wanna drive like screaming butt crevice.

I've ridden with a local "Motorcycle Club" who ride in a staggered
formation; and they ride at a pretty good clip without bringing undue
attention to themselves. It can work if there is good communication
between the participants PRIOR to taking off. This same group has some
yahoos who choose to either race ahead, break off unannounced, or
even leave behind a rider who hasn't yet filled his gas tank & zipped up
his jacket in time. And actually.... it's a good "Road Captain" who will
dictate the rules and the pace. Without someone in charge,
it can become chaos.

Group rides or not, it's still a matter of "riding your own ride."
Alone or with someone else, I'm still Captain of my ship.....
and I don't wanna go down.
----------------------------------------------------------

That being said..... tooooo many folk on that Russian ride, and I'll bet that
klusterphuck was on a downhill slab. That may account for the number
of people who couldn't see anything happening up ahead, it was all
hidden by the (tumbling) mass that obstructed their view.

[dallara]

Have to freely admit to blatant plagiarizing, but...

My apologies to Boxerboy over in the "Off Topic" section. He posted this link to a video that shows absolutely unbelievable "Group riding" prowess.

http://movies26.enwhore.com/saigon_traffic.wmv

It'll take your friggin' breath away.

Cheers!

Dallara

[darthrider]

Friggin' "Net Nannies"!
I watched that last night and was totally enthralled by it...I'd love to ride there! But not every day...
Now here I am at work, wanting to show it to my buds and our filter denies access due to "tasteless content!"
What the hell do they expect us to do...work or something?