Yet another East Texas Butt Burner ride! 04/26/03

[Tourmeister]

Howdy,

:tab If you are up to testing the limits of your butt's endurance. Show up at my place Saturday morning by 9:30am in Huntsville. Here's the street address:

1617 Woodland Lane
Huntsville, Texas. 77340
936-295-0187

We'll leave from Huntsville and return to Huntsville. Round trip mileage will be near 400 miles. I've got room for about 6-8 guests for the night Friday or Saturday.

[bdmpastx]

Dang it, I wish I could go but I will be busy all month long. Oh and why a hotel stay for only 400 miles? I do at least that every weekend.

[Tourmeister]

Originally, this ride was going to be a tour. When the deadline passed and not enough people signed up for the ride, I cancelled it. My experience has been that many people don't like to do huge mileage in a single day. We were going to stop over at Hodges Gardens for the evening. That ride would actually be farther than the 400 mile round trip. Now we are just going to be doing a single day ride leaving and returning on Saturday. But we are getting back fairly late and some people may not want to ride home, so I give them the option of staying at our place before riding back to Austin orDFW for example.

[bdmpastx]

Gotcha...

[Anonymous]

Hi Scott.

Just a quick question. What will the breakdown of the ride now be, since it is not going to be a two day ride? What will your ETD's & ETA's be? Is this the ride you briefly mentioned when we met last Friday on the HSN ride?

Looking forward to possibly joining you.

Vittorio.

[Tourmeister]

Howdy Vittorio,

:tab We will leave Huntville at 10:00am sharp Saturday morning. Everyone should plan on being here by 9:30am. Generally, the route will be about 350-400 miles from Huntsville back to Huntsville (big loop). Near the end of the ride, a lot of the Northeast Houston area riders usually head South on US 59 from Livingston rather than coming back to Huntsville and then heading South. We generally eat lunch around 1:30-2:30pm depending on the pace we are riding. We usually get back to Huntsville by 7:00pm at the latest. It has not been getting dark until about 8:30pm lately.

:tab Most of the Houston area and Bryan/CS area riders come to Huntsville Saturday morning. Riders from points farther West and North may come in Friday night. I have room for about six or seven people inside and maybe eight bikes in the garage, more in the driveway. If someone needs to stay here Friday and/or Saturday, I just ask that they let me know a little ahead of time so we can make plans accordingly. For folks coming in Friday and those staying Saturday, we will usually grill something for dinner and hangout here at the house.

:tab Sunday morning I will be getting up and heading back down to Houston to do the Ride for Kids thing. Have to leave here by 8:30am to get there in time to register.

[Tourmeister]

Hey Vittorio,

Why don't you register here so you can use the email functions and private messaging functions. That way I can send you messages directly. ;-)

[Anonymous]

Hi Scott.

Thanks for your quick reply. I'll certainly do that. Looking forward to possibly doing this, if not I'll see at the Ride For kids.

Vittorio

[Scott]

This sounds like fun. I will have to ask for some special dispinsation to be gone two Saturdays in a row. :(
I am going to try to make this, though.

[Anonymous]

Scott,
New to this website and noticed your posting for a Saturday ride.
Would be interested in learning a bit more about your group and the type of riding you have in mind. I live inside the loop near Memorial park and don't mind the travel. I spend time on either a 97 900ss or 96 Daytona 1200. Been riding for 27+ years and have done the group thing with all sizes and experience levels. Prefer riding with experienced and responsible riders. Squids can have their fun, I prefer not to join in on that level. Performance riding or long distance touring are my main stays.
Sorry to make this sound like an interview, just trying to get a feel for the setting and hoping to avoid involvement with those riing on a death wish.
I an be reached at al.brussich@jacobs.com if you do not want to post on the general page.
Catch-ya-later
Al "phonse" B.

[Tourmeister]

Howdy,

Performance riding or long distance touring are my main stays.

:tab Right up our alley. If you have aver read the article entitled "the Pace" by Nick Inatsch (or whatever his lastname is... :-?), that is pretty much how I run the rides. No wheelies, no burnouts, no wild highspeed runs, and a focus on the ride being for the group, not a bunch of individuals riding the same route. Every rider is responsible for keeping track of the person behind them, if you lose them, slow down till you seem them or double back if they never show. I really need to find a copy of that article to post here.

[buck000]

http://zx.labiker.org/texts/thepace.html

[Rdslvr04]

Good afternoon Scott

Thanks for the article link.

Ride safe

Vittorio.

[ificsR6]

Hey scott this is Blake from the HSN ride. I am going to be getting my new tires (Pilot Sports) on Thursday or Friday and will be ready for the ride Saturday, so count me in!! I will just need some good directions to your house I suck with directions :|

[buck000]

:tab Right up our alley. If you have aver read the article entitled "the Pace" by Nick Inatsch (or whatever his lastname is... :-?), that is pretty much how I run the rides. No wheelies, no burnouts, no wild highspeed runs, and a focus on the ride being for the group, not a bunch of individuals riding the same route. Every rider is responsible for keeping track of the person behind them, if you lose them, slow down till you seem them or double back if they never show.

Hmmm, have you ever really had someone in your group that really did slow the whole group down to their pace?

My last day trip to the Leakey area was a group of 4 of us. Although the trip was my idea, we deferred to another rider who knew the good routes like the back of his hand. I wound up riding last, cuz I knew I was slowest.

Prior to leaving Dripping Springs, the leader laid down the ground rule: Keep the rider behind you in your mirror, slow down if you don't see him.

That went out the window within about 5 miles :eek: He took off, the other two guys ahead of me pretty much chased after him, and I was riding alone. I found myself pushing to catch up, and while I sort dug the high-speed nature of that riding, I really didn't like the overall feeling. I really enjoy just going the speed limit on my rides for a number of reasons:

* I can grab a glance at the scenery now and again
* I'm well within a nice safety envelope
* I don't really have to worry about speeding tickets or insurance points or increased payments.

At one point, rider #2 blew a turn on 337 and went straight into an embankment at slow speed, dumping his new GS. Rider #3 and me stopped to help (he was ok), then we went on down to find Ride Leader, gear off waiting for us. :?

Whew! Sorry, leaning toward a rant here. Bottom line: I don't think I'm group ride material. I'm certainly not gonna pay extra to be left behind; I might as well ride solo. :lol:

[Tourmeister]

Howdy,

:tab It sounds more to me like your riding buddies are not group riding material! When I lead a ride, I may go fast through a series of curves for a short section, but I ALWAYS watch my mirrors, not only for the guy right behind me, but I also count all the headlights to make sure everyone is still with me. If we are missing anyone, I will slow down until I see them. Doing this often keeps the taildragger from getting way behind. Also, it helps you gauge whether you should turn around because it really has been too long as opposed to it just taking a long time for the taildragger to catch up. It also helps contribute to the feeling that everyone really is riding as a group. Part of being a ride leader is developing the ability to feel out the relavtive comfort level of the entire group and adjusting the ride accordingly.

:tab I have been on "group" rides where the leader takes off, races to the next intersction, and then kicks back to wait for everyone to show up. At times it is almost like a game because it is a badge of coolness to be one of the people sitting around, gear off, cig lit, etc,... while waiting for the slow people to arrive. As the last guy pulls up, they are already putting their gear back on and getting ready to roll. It never seems to occur to them that perhaps the last guy might want a short break too! This is the main reason my wife no longer enjoys riding in groups, other than with some close friends. Can't really say I blame her either.

:tab A few years back, we were out on the Blue Ridge Parkway with some Sprint ST riders having a real good time. All of us got into a decreasing radius turn a little hot, but we all managed to just lean a little further and make it with no problem. However, I had a communicator on and Beth heard me mutter "shat!" under my breath, being inexperienced she locked up her rear brake going into the corner. I had the distinct pleasure of listening to her wreck over the communicators. Indescribable. I managed not to freak and get turned around to help her. It was only moments later that the guy in front of me also turned around, then the next, and the next... Until the whole group was turned around within minutes. This went a LONG way towards making both of us feel much better. She was fine, the bike was not rideable but cheaply repaired.

:tab I think the biggest issue on a group ride is the people in the group that think they have to prove to everyone else how fast they can go. A group ride is not about going fast, it is about riding as a group, period. That means being aware of the group, riding considerately toward other group members, adjusting group speed to accomodate the slowest person without making that person feel bad about being slow. I'd rather ride a little slower and have everyone finish the ride alive and in one piece than go fast and have someone wreck their bike.

:tab If you continue to ride with your friends, you might want to mention something to them about your concerns. Of course, you could also just do the solo thing all the time. But I think that would be a shame. Riding solo can be really awesome, but riding in a group can be just as awesome. Shared experiences are what bring us closer to people. As Martha would say, "That's a Good thing!"

[buck000]

Nice words, Scott, thanks. Watch out, though, I may just join one of your excursions and make you eat your words.....come on, come on, Paul, can't you go at least *2* mph over???!!! :)

[kawi jm]

I am still coming, but may be running 5-10 minutes behind. Is it kickstands up @ 9:30 or is there a little flexibility there? It is not like I can't make it up on that long straight slab called I-45 :twisted: :roll: , but I was just curious.

[Tourmeister]

:tab Hmmm... how do you already know you will be running a few minutes late? ;-) Historically, if I tell everyone to get here at 9:30am, most will be here about 10:00am. If I tell them 10:00am, they show up 10:15-10:30am. You see the pattern... So, I really want to leave my house at 10:00am. If we get away much later, it just gets that much later that we get back. My experience has been that around 5:30ish pm, people start getting a little antsy about getting back for some reason :-? 10:00am to 6:00pm is eight hours to knock out about 400 miles plus all the stops including lunch. That sounds like plenty because it only averages out to 50mph... Well, on group rides, everything takes longer: Gas stops, potty breaks, chat sessions, you name it. I don't mind, it is all part of the the group experience.

:tab So if you get here right at or just before 10:00am, be ready to stay on the bike and take off as soon as you get here. By the way, I assume you are coming up 149 to 1791 and hitting hwy 30 outside of town? If so, be VERY CAREFUL when you are slowing and turning onto 1791. They just did the tar and gravel repaving a few days back and there is LOTS of loose gravel in the turn. Once you are heading North on 1791 you are okay except for the long right sweeper. There is loose gravel in the center of the lanes and along the centerline. Stay in the tire tracks of the cars!!

:tab If you do come up that way, head into town on Hwy 30 until you reach the first stop light. Turn right and go behind our lame excuse for a mall. Go straight through the stop sign. At the second stop sign, turn left. This will first go down a long hill and then up and over another hill before crossing I-45. At the 3-way stop, go straight. This will be Ave S. It will immediately curve left. Go straight through the two stop signs (stop of course hehe), and the road dead ends, this is where you turn right, climb the very short hill, and then turn left onto our street.

:tab From Kings to here is 30 minutes coming up 149 and 1791 if you are cruising at about 75-80mph indicated.

[kawi jm]

I just have something to take care of early that morning and then BAM out outta there :-D I'll be coming from Conroe Proper :roll: so I-45 straight up. 70-75 mph :angel: I got the map to your place so I am set and very excited.
See ya Sat.
John

[brd]

Hmmm, have you ever really had someone in your group that really did slow the whole group down to their pace?

<snip>

Prior to leaving Dripping Springs, the leader laid down the ground rule: Keep the rider behind you in your mirror, slow down if you don't see him.

That went out the window within about 5 miles :eek:

Buck, I know the feeling. I've had ride "leaders" say, "Okay, we're just going to ride The Pace," or "keep a 3 second gap between you and the guy ahead of you." Next thing you know, there's a pack of bikes spaced mere yards apart blasting through corners trying to lose the others or show the person in front that they couldn't lose them. Oh, or your leader says he'll wait at every intersection, and then doesn't. I seem to recall that happening to me recently... :roll:

Anyway, the smartest thing you can do is to fall back and have the maturity to let them go.

(And yeah, as Scott says, it sucks being the tail guy who doesn't get a rest break at intersections. Or being the guy who has to do 80 or 90 to try and catch up on the straights. You get frazzled that way.)

Basically, what I think most of us (saner riders) find out after time is that eventually, you wil gravitate toward 2 or 3 other riders that you feel comfortable with that you end up doing most of your group rides with. Or you decide you only ride solo.

Riding with people of different skill levels is fun at times and it's always good to meet new riders, but it is difficult (and can be dangerous). There's lots of bravado and testosterone.


Oh, and here's a good one I've heard. Another rule of group riding is that you should put the slowest guy at the front, so that the group does not ride over his/her pace. Hahahaha. I have NEVER seen that one happen. Sadly, I have seen just the opposite, a newbie who had never ridden with some group put at the end and got in over his head. I heard from his "buddies" these details as the paramedics were loading newbie into an ambulance and his bike lay in the middle of a field on the other side of a barbed wire fence. :suicide:

[Tourmeister]

Another rule of group riding is that you should put the slowest guy at the front, so that the group does not ride over his/her pace. Hahahaha. I have NEVER seen that one happen.

:tab This is how Beth and I rode when she was first learning. Everywhere we went, she went first. The hard thing for the more experienced rider is to stay off the back of the slow rider so that you don't make them feel like you are trying to push them. I had to make myself just sit back and give her lots of room. She appreciated it and soon got more comfortable on the bike and slowly but surely, her confidence level began to rise and she began riding better, not necesssarily faster. For her, it is about the ride, not the speed or sensation of speed. She is not a lean freak. She gets her fixes of that when she rides with me :twisted:

[Tourmeister]

:tab Okay, here are the people that have told me they plan on attending the ride this Saturday.

Al "phonse" B
Scott (929 rider)
919 S Rider
ificsR6
kawa jm
Paul Parker
Will Bird
and Me

Have I missed anyone? If you are thinking of joining us, please let me know by Friday. If we don't know to expect you, we won't be sitting around waiting for you if you run late ;-) This is NOT permission to show up late :shame: :lol:

Bring money for gas, food and snacks along the way. Some of the gas stations don't have pay at the pump and we can't be stopping all over the place so everyone can use their particular credit card. If you have a clear visor, bring it. You never know if we will be out after dark. 8)

[Scott]

I will be there, but I will be on my Nighthawk. My 929 is down for repairs thanks to a brief but very important lapse of concentration on Hwy337 in the hill country.

[Tourmeister]

:tab No doubt the 929 would be more fun, but I bet the Nighthawk will be more comfortable?!

[ificsR6]

I am there for sure I am getting my new tires put on morrow (Friday) and I am going to spend some time breaking them in during the day. I still need to get directions to your house though. Will the ride go into night? If so I will have to borrow a friends visor. Seeyou all Saturday! I hope I don't slow anyone down=/

[Tourmeister]

I hope I don't slow anyone down=/

:tab Don't worry about that. You should be more concerned about riding a pace you feel comfortable with. If you are having to push, slow down! You don't have to impress anyone with how fast you can ride. I'd much rather wait a minute for you to catch up than waste an hour or more trying to deal with an accident! Besides, I watched you ride last Friday and you were fine. We won't be racing along at breakneck speeds. Remember Grasshopper... slow in... fast out... slow in... fast out... Just like the MSF guys teach: slow, look, lean, rollllll. Works great and you tend not to freak yourself out by screaming into corners way to fast. :shock:

My tires made it in. Unfortunately, the wrong size came! So I'll be wearing these right down to the bars for sure!

[Anonymous]

Ok Now just the directions and I am in!! I also picked up a pair of riding boots cause my sneakers were not cutting it anymore.

[Tourmeister]

Howdy,

:tab I will assume you can get to Conroe the fastest way you know of. From there, shoot up I-45 to Exit 114, it is the one right after the Hwy 19 to Trinity Exit. Stay on the feeder, go through the light and stay on the feeder again. Go down big hill, come back up to 3 way stop and blinking light. Go right onto Ave. S., it will immediately curve back left. Go to next stop sign, go straight. Road bends slightly right at bottom of hill, come to next stop. Go straight. Elementary school will be on your right. Road ends, you can only go right up a short hill. At crest of hill, turn left onto Woodland Lane. We are second on right. It is a dead end cul-de-sac.

1617 Woodland Lane
Huntsville, Tx. 77340
936-295-0187

Enter our address at http://maps.yahoo.com/ and it will take you right to our driveway.

[brd]

I hope I don't slow anyone down=/

My tires made it in. Unfortunately, the wrong size came! So I'll be wearing these right down to the bars for sure!

Oh, what company was this with?

[Tourmeister]

Was with a local shop. I've no idea who he ordered them through. But it is not a big deal as I was not desperate for the tires, this time ;-) However, I am confident this guy would do whatever it took to make it right for me. The up side is that I have decided to try the new Michilen Pilot Road tires instead of the D220's. This is just for the rear though. He's checking on prices and will order tomorrow. SWmototires has them for $122 with free shipping. That is a little more than I would normally pay for a rear tire, but supposedly they will last a little longer... hmmph! We'll see... :roll:

[ificsR6]

The guest that posted was me, forgot to sign in :-D Ok I will see you all sat morn at 9:30am!!!

[ificsR6]

Ok I went to the map site and I think I am going to take it this way. I-45N exit Avenue S, take that straight all the way past 19th St, go right on 7th streen (or I think its 7th streen, you can only go right on it) then take first left to your street. Hope thats it=D :mrgreen:

[ificsR6]

DOH!!! Street instead of Streen :shock:

[Tourmeister]

I-45N exit Avenue S, take that straight all the way past 19th St, go right on 7th streen (or I think its 7th streen, you can only go right on it) then take first left to your street.

I don't think there is an Ave. S. Exit. Ave S is midway between two exits. Take the exit for FM 1374 (exit 114) and follow the feeder road North along I-45 for about a mile or so. Ave S will be at the top of the hill at the blinking red light. Turn right at the blinking light. This puts you on Ave S. The right turn is on 17th street NOT 7th. ;-) Then yes, up little hill first left for our street.

[Rdslvr04]

I'll be there tomorrow. See you all then.

[ificsR6]

Ok I will be there at 9:30am.

[Tourmeister]

Howdy,

Weather looks to be absolutely perfect! See everyone in the morning 8)