So, I went for a ride on Sunday with a friend of mine...

[JulesMaximus]

We are riding along (on expensive Italian motorcycles) on a busy 50mph 4 lane road in Temecula, CA heading out toward the local mountains when we come upon a large group of cruisers pulled over to the side of the road the first few of which are in the process of pulling out into traffic. 3 of them get out in front of us and the rest of them are now behind us so we're basically riding in with this pack of riders and the road has also narrowed to a single lane each direction.

Now, I personally don't like riding with large groups of people, especially complete strangers and my friend who is ahead of me must have been thinking the same thing because he was looking for a way past these knuckleheads but the guy in front of him is riding in his staggered formation to the riders in front of him and he's not moving over for anyone. Basically, we're stuck there. Anyway, we ride along like this for a few miles until there is a suitable gap to oncoming traffic and shoot past them.

I'm curious though, why would a group of riders want two total strangers riding in with their group? They have no idea what our riding skill level is so why not move over and wave us by? They wouldn't even have to slow down or pull over, just move to the right of the lane and wave us by. It makes no sense to block us in the way they did.

Ride was fun though and I put 180 miles on my motorcycle including a fun twisty bit on the 74 as it drops down into Rancho Mirage.

 

[notposting]

I don't ride, but the only explanation I can come up with is that they were dumb and/or asshats.

Not seeing a lot of motorcycles out around here right now.

 

[xaeniac]

The real question is why are you so anti-social?

 

[andylawcc]

maybe they were waiting for you guys to gun it and pass too.

and:

The real question is why are you so anti-social?

 

[waffleironhead]

They assumed you guys would be typical dbag bikers and just zoom past at 100 mph.

 

[DesiPower]

They just wanted to be friends...

 

[ringtail]

and as the passenger,
you WERE OF COURSE
wearing a full-face helmet, sunglasses,
and bright-colored hi-visibility jacket with armor in the shoulders, elbows and back,
and boots covering your ankle bones,
and gloves....
right?

(cause you ain't no idiot dummy)

 

[Crotulus]

Lol. I live just outside Temecula and have to deal with these knuckleheads pretty much every weekend. You get groups of about 30 to 40 riders, half of them stop for gas at the last gas station while the other half wait on the side of the road where Hwy 79 condenses down to one lane each way. Then instead of waiting to regroup and leave together during a break in traffic they just sort of all take off and mix into traffic. Luckily I get off the highway fairly quickly so I don't get to see the stupid crap they pull to get the pack back together.

79 - 371 - 74 is fun drive. Did you go back the same way or did you return east on 79 back to the 78?

 

[pauldun170]

We are riding along on a busy 50mph 4 lane road in Temecula, CA heading out toward the local mountains when we come upon a large group of cruisers pulled over to the side of the road the first few of which are in the process of pulling out into traffic. 3 of them get out in front of us and the rest of them are now behind us so we're basically riding in with this pack of riders and the road has also narrowed to a single lane each direction.

Now, I personally don't like riding with large groups of people, especially complete strangers and my friend who is ahead of me must have been thinking the same thing because he was looking for a way past these knuckleheads but the guy in front of him is riding in his staggered formation to the riders in front of him and he's not moving over for anyone. Basically, we're stuck there. Anyway, we ride along like this for a few miles until there is a suitable gap to oncoming traffic and shoot past them.

I'm curious though, why would a group of riders want two total strangers riding in with their group? They have no idea what our riding skill level is so why not move over and wave us by? They wouldn't even have to slow down or pull over, just move to the right of the lane and wave us by. It makes no sense to block us in the way they did.

Ride was fun though and I put 180 miles on my motorcycle including a fun twisty bit on the 74 as it drops down into Rancho Mirage.

Its a group ride on a public road. Its not some official formation or public display. If other traffic ends up merging in due to road layout I don't see why it would be a big deal. They would be asshats if they gave you a problem.

I've run into similar circumstances. As long as you don't do something stupid, you'd be surprised how many cruiser riders would welcome you to whatever bar\restaurant they are heading to.

 

[Exterous]

I didn't read your whole post but I can only assume that since you were on a two wheel contraption on a road you were in the wrong somehow and made life more difficult for the more important 4+ wheeled vehicles

 

[JulesMaximus]

and as the passenger,
you WERE OF COURSE
wearing a full-face helmet, sunglasses,
and bright-colored hi-visibility jacket with armor in the shoulders, elbows and back,
and boots covering your ankle bones,
and gloves....
right?

(cause you ain't no idiot dummy)

I was riding solo on my bike. My friend was riding his bike... neither one of us had any passengers.

As for gear? Full face helmet (it's the law-helmets that is, not necessarily full face), leather Alpinestars jacket, Dainese gloves (leather), Sidi boots and a pair of jeans.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Lol. I live just outside Temecula and have to deal with these knuckleheads pretty much every weekend. You get groups of about 30 to 40 riders, half of them stop for gas at the last gas station while the other half wait on the side of the road where Hwy 79 condenses down to one lane each way. Then instead of waiting to regroup and leave together during a break in traffic they just sort of all take off and mix into traffic. Luckily I get off the highway fairly quickly so I don't get to see the stupid crap they pull to get the pack back together.

79 - 371 - 74 is fun drive. Did you go back the same way or did you return east on 79 back to the 78?

We came back the same way. It was absolutely beautiful here on Sunday. Great day for a ride.

 

[DaTT]

I wasn't a passenger nor was I carrying a passenger. We were two dudes on two motorcycles.

Sounds like it could be the synopsis of a gay porn movie

 

[brainhulk]

It's pretty much the mindset, "we don't give a shit, we are going to go when we want to go. It's up to you to adjust to us"

 

[JulesMaximus]

Its a group ride on a public road. Its not some official formation or public display. If other traffic ends up merging in due to road layout I don't see why it would be a big deal. They would be asshats if they gave you a problem.

I've run into similar circumstances. As long as you don't do something stupid, you'd be surprised how many cruiser riders would welcome you to whatever bar\restaurant they are heading to.

I've ridden with groups of people of various skill levels and I'd rather not ride with people who don't know what they're doing quite frankly. Anyone can go in a straight line but riding behind someone who slows way too early for a curve can be really annoying at best or having someone follow you who tries to keep pace with you might ride beyond their skill level and end up crashing. I've had both those experiences riding with people I didn't know before.

I found myself trying to keep up with another rider once who was really pushing the pace on a very tight twisty road (this was a few years and a few bikes ago) and had to slow down and remind myself to ride my own pace at one point because I was definitely riding out of my comfort zone.

I'm all for meeting other riders and socializing but we had a destination and route already and I don't drink when I ride. Alcohol and motorcycles is a bad combination.

 

[DesiPower]

It's pretty much the mindset, "we don't give a shit, we are going to go when we want to go. It's up to you to adjust to us"

 

[JulesMaximus]

Sounds like it could be the synopsis of a gay porn movie

Maybe you could write and produce it? :awe:

You'll have to find your own cast though, I don't swing that way bro.

 

[JulesMaximus]

They were dressed like that but without the patches... oh, and they were much fatter.

 

[brainhulk]

They could have also been waiting awhile and the lead guy said screw it, ill pull out in front of assless chaps guy in the ducati while i have a chance

 

[manimal]

Bike envy.


If they are seen with a ducati they dont look as ugly.

 

[z1ggy]

This happened to me once when I was on the highway, on my GSXR.

Except I was in the middle of a crotch rocket gang. Did not feel okay about it, I eventually was able to pull into the right lane and let the guys behind me pass.

Yeah they grilled me hard.

 

[pauldun170]

I've ridden with groups of people of various skill levels and I'd rather not ride with people who don't know what they're doing quite frankly. Anyone can go in a straight line but riding behind someone who slows way too early for a curve can be really annoying at best or having someone follow you who tries to keep pace with you might ride beyond their skill level and end up crashing. I've had both those experiences riding with people I didn't know before.

I found myself trying to keep up with another rider once who was really pushing the pace on a very tight twisty road (this was a few years and a few bikes ago) and had to slow down and remind myself to ride my own pace at one point because I was definitely riding out of my comfort zone.

I'm all for meeting other riders and socializing but we had a destination and route already and I don't drink when I ride. Alcohol and motorcycles is a bad combination.

What I'm saying is that it seems like a non-issue to end up in a pack of cruisers.
If they are riding at a pace that meets falls in legal limits and you are uncomfortable with being caught up in the pack then that is completely on you. You say this was a group riding in busy traffic.

If its busy traffic, what difference does it make if you are in the middle of a bunch of cruisers or stuck in between 2 SUV's? Why should anyone care about a rider sharing the road in busy traffic.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

You can pedal fast enough to be on the freeway? Thats impressive.

 

[TwiceOver]

I had no idea what you were talking about until the last sentence. At first I was thinking bicycle ride and you some how ended up in between a bunch of police cars.

 

[DesiPower]

They were dressed like that but without the patches... oh, and they were much fatter.

Its must be almost like a social requirement in that community these days... you no biker if you have no cut esé