Annoying riding buddies
Discussion
I don t mean hitting their kill switch or putting their side stand down at lights etc but ones that have you swearing in your helmet because they re annoying you with their riding. Monday ..meet at petrol station 1030. Arrives 1045 leaving me sweltering for 15 minutes in bike gear.
Ready to go got to spend another 60 seconds resetting trip meter, riding mode , checking pockets and gloves.
Pull away ..straight onto a roundabout, I go they need to give way to the car coming from the right that will arrive at the roundabout in 10 seconds time
Through the pedestrian crossing lights on green, they re still at the roundabout waiting for the car that s arriving imminently.
500 yds up the road, no sign of them because the traffic lights on the crossing have changed to red.
Now 10 cars between us and we re only half a mile in ..
Me 33 indicated in a 30,44 in a 40 .. them 25 in a 30,35 in a 40.
Me, now travelling at 40 in a 60 waiting for them to catch up.
Now behind .. wind up to 60 or so, them 50/55. Cars now pulling out between us again.
Every roundabout more cars between us, every set of lights they miss the green and get stuck on red
Easy overtaking opportunities…. I overtake with enough time for 4 or 5 bikes to get by too…. them…. Need to check, make a decision, find a different gear, check again, car coming about half a mile away, not got time……
Aaaarrgh!!!
Anyone else?
Ready to go got to spend another 60 seconds resetting trip meter, riding mode , checking pockets and gloves.
Pull away ..straight onto a roundabout, I go they need to give way to the car coming from the right that will arrive at the roundabout in 10 seconds time
Through the pedestrian crossing lights on green, they re still at the roundabout waiting for the car that s arriving imminently.
500 yds up the road, no sign of them because the traffic lights on the crossing have changed to red.
Now 10 cars between us and we re only half a mile in ..
Me 33 indicated in a 30,44 in a 40 .. them 25 in a 30,35 in a 40.
Me, now travelling at 40 in a 60 waiting for them to catch up.
Now behind .. wind up to 60 or so, them 50/55. Cars now pulling out between us again.
Every roundabout more cars between us, every set of lights they miss the green and get stuck on red
Easy overtaking opportunities…. I overtake with enough time for 4 or 5 bikes to get by too…. them…. Need to check, make a decision, find a different gear, check again, car coming about half a mile away, not got time……
Aaaarrgh!!!
Anyone else?
Edited by scorcher on Tuesday 26th May 21:47
SpeckledJim said:
You should encourage them to ride faster than they re comfortable with.
They’re more than capable at riding at the speed limit and making perfectly safe overtakes with more than enough time even if they were driving a bus and not a bike that requires a quick flick of the wrist to do it . It’s just fannying around, not looking ahead, being prepared etc.I rarely in groups of more than three or four, and most often with just one other person. Who knows how to turn up on time with a full tank of fuel, doesn’t take forever to f
k around with glasses, gloves, satnavs, etc, at every stop, and rides close enough to follow me (and/or me follow them) on most overtakes, certain twisty mountain roads excepted.
In the past I’ve found myself in groups with a few irritating plodders and fidgeters, mostly UK-based friends of friends who’ve come out here to Switzerland/France, but they never get invited again.
There’s no point in pushing people into riding out of their comfort zone, just find people who know how to ride a bike and navigate roads/traffic in a safe and efficient manner. Or failing that, just ride on your own.
k around with glasses, gloves, satnavs, etc, at every stop, and rides close enough to follow me (and/or me follow them) on most overtakes, certain twisty mountain roads excepted.In the past I’ve found myself in groups with a few irritating plodders and fidgeters, mostly UK-based friends of friends who’ve come out here to Switzerland/France, but they never get invited again.
There’s no point in pushing people into riding out of their comfort zone, just find people who know how to ride a bike and navigate roads/traffic in a safe and efficient manner. Or failing that, just ride on your own.
It's largely why I stopped riding with others.
I can't deal with the fannying about.
I can't deal with the need for never ending smoke breaks.
I can't deal with the whinging about taking backroads rather then motorways....
To be perfectly honest, I tend to avoid any biker haunts full stop as well.
I have MAYBE 1 or 2 bike friends that still ride and I haven't ridden with them for at least 18 months.
All my actual friends aren't involved with bikes whatsoever.
I can't deal with the fannying about.
I can't deal with the need for never ending smoke breaks.
I can't deal with the whinging about taking backroads rather then motorways....
To be perfectly honest, I tend to avoid any biker haunts full stop as well.
I have MAYBE 1 or 2 bike friends that still ride and I haven't ridden with them for at least 18 months.
All my actual friends aren't involved with bikes whatsoever.
scorcher said:
SpeckledJim said:
You should encourage them to ride faster than they re comfortable with.
They re more than capable at riding at the speed limit and making perfectly safe overtakes with more than enough time even if they were driving a bus and not a bike that requires a quick flick of the wrist to do it . It s just fannying around, not looking ahead, being prepared etc.Or ask them if they would like you to coach them. Or ride with someone else.
In fairness, if they are a faffer then they are irredeemable and should be dropped like a stone from your whole life. Faffers don't know they are faffers and cannot be fixed.
I love riding with a small group of like minded, like skilled riders. There's nothing like sharing the banter after a great bit of road (the intercoms always seem to go quiet when we're actually on the great bit of road! 
), the friendly piss taking on the boring stretches of motorway/dual carriageway or the comments about the car/bike/young lady/munter we've just passed going through towns. The thing is to find riding buddies that want the same from a ride as you do. It's not always easy but it really is worth it.
When you ride with someone who doesn't ride like you there's nothing you can do but chill out, adapt to their way of riding and then be very selective about if/when you ride with them again.
All that said, I still haven't forgiven my Australian riding buddy for Spain where, 4 of us stopped to fill with petrol where there was only a single pump. It was 35 degrees in the shade, but there wasn't any shade. I filled first and Mark filled last. When he emerged from the pay kiosk he was just opening the Cornetto he'd bought for himself and proceeded to eat it while the rest of us melted onto our bikes!
), the friendly piss taking on the boring stretches of motorway/dual carriageway or the comments about the car/bike/young lady/munter we've just passed going through towns. The thing is to find riding buddies that want the same from a ride as you do. It's not always easy but it really is worth it.When you ride with someone who doesn't ride like you there's nothing you can do but chill out, adapt to their way of riding and then be very selective about if/when you ride with them again.
All that said, I still haven't forgiven my Australian riding buddy for Spain where, 4 of us stopped to fill with petrol where there was only a single pump. It was 35 degrees in the shade, but there wasn't any shade. I filled first and Mark filled last. When he emerged from the pay kiosk he was just opening the Cornetto he'd bought for himself and proceeded to eat it while the rest of us melted onto our bikes!
I Only ride with people I know, which only happened twice last year ( I fell out with my good pal in Jan this year ) and haven’t ridden with anyone else this year.
I would never do a group ride with anyone whose riding ability I don’t know & if I do come across a group i absolutely avoid them like the clap, either by getting past them or pulling over / turning off.
I’ve had Many hundreds of awesome rides on my own.
I would never do a group ride with anyone whose riding ability I don’t know & if I do come across a group i absolutely avoid them like the clap, either by getting past them or pulling over / turning off.
I’ve had Many hundreds of awesome rides on my own.
Mate of mine - total nightmare.
Euro tours - no organisation at peages, every one sits faffing around getting gloves off, wallet out etc utterly infuriating; I use my watch now but previously I kept my card in a handy pocket with zip. No need to even take gloves off.
Stopping for petrol. He’d fill up, we are waiting to go but not he - helmet off, fags out have a smoke, phone the wife…
Euro tours - no organisation at peages, every one sits faffing around getting gloves off, wallet out etc utterly infuriating; I use my watch now but previously I kept my card in a handy pocket with zip. No need to even take gloves off.
Stopping for petrol. He’d fill up, we are waiting to go but not he - helmet off, fags out have a smoke, phone the wife…
I had 4 "mates" that I used to ride with and go on Euro trips.
1 of them was so annoying, always late, always confused about something, never wanted to lead, would get short arms and slow down heading to the bar.
He needed me to ride his bike up a hill once as the "clutch was sore".
He worried about what everyone thought, once told me a Belgium driving "Looked upset" because I overtook him..
Just random st things that slowed us down, annoyed me and made the trips ALL about him.
The other 2 were annoyed as well, but when push came to shove, they stayed with him and I've left the group and don't ride with them.
I see one of them for a beer every few months and it's nothing but moaning about the others, strange people.
I'm back to riding myself, the way I want to, and go on the trips/roads I love.
1 of them was so annoying, always late, always confused about something, never wanted to lead, would get short arms and slow down heading to the bar.
He needed me to ride his bike up a hill once as the "clutch was sore".
He worried about what everyone thought, once told me a Belgium driving "Looked upset" because I overtook him..
Just random s
t things that slowed us down, annoyed me and made the trips ALL about him.The other 2 were annoyed as well, but when push came to shove, they stayed with him and I've left the group and don't ride with them.
I see one of them for a beer every few months and it's nothing but moaning about the others, strange people.
I'm back to riding myself, the way I want to, and go on the trips/roads I love.
scorcher said:
I don t mean hitting their kill switch or putting their side stand down at lights etc but ones that have you swearing in your helmet because they re annoying you with their riding. Monday ..meet at petrol station 1030. Arrives 1045 leaving me sweltering for 15 minutes in bike gear.
Ready to go got to spend another 60 seconds resetting trip meter, riding mode , checking pockets and gloves.
Pull away ..straight onto a roundabout, I go they need to give way to the car coming from the right that will arrive at the roundabout in 10 seconds time
Through the pedestrian crossing lights on green, they re still at the roundabout waiting for the car that s arriving imminently.
500 yds up the road, no sign of them because the traffic lights on the crossing have changed to red.
Now 10 cars between us and we re only half a mile in ..
Me 33 indicated in a 30,44 in a 40 .. them 25 in a 30,35 in a 40.
Me, now travelling at 40 in a 60 waiting for them to catch up.
Now behind .. wind up to 60 or so, them 50/55. Cars now pulling out between us again.
Every roundabout more cars between us, every set of lights they miss the green and get stuck on red
Easy overtaking opportunities . I overtake with enough time for 4 or 5 bikes to get by too . them . Need to check, make a decision, find a different gear, check again, car coming about half a mile away, not got time
Aaaarrgh!!!
Anyone else?
Try riding with your Mrs, they you'll know what fReady to go got to spend another 60 seconds resetting trip meter, riding mode , checking pockets and gloves.
Pull away ..straight onto a roundabout, I go they need to give way to the car coming from the right that will arrive at the roundabout in 10 seconds time
Through the pedestrian crossing lights on green, they re still at the roundabout waiting for the car that s arriving imminently.
500 yds up the road, no sign of them because the traffic lights on the crossing have changed to red.
Now 10 cars between us and we re only half a mile in ..
Me 33 indicated in a 30,44 in a 40 .. them 25 in a 30,35 in a 40.
Me, now travelling at 40 in a 60 waiting for them to catch up.
Now behind .. wind up to 60 or so, them 50/55. Cars now pulling out between us again.
Every roundabout more cars between us, every set of lights they miss the green and get stuck on red
Easy overtaking opportunities . I overtake with enough time for 4 or 5 bikes to get by too . them . Need to check, make a decision, find a different gear, check again, car coming about half a mile away, not got time
Aaaarrgh!!!
Anyone else?
Edited by scorcher on Tuesday 26th May 21:47
king about truly is. I've just got back from a 4 day trip around Scotland. Normally there are the "core" group of 5 people who go every year and I have done many tours both abroad and in the Uk, so I know how they ride and we all get along together no problems.
A few year ago, one of the lads' "mates" asked if he could come along. Seemed chipper enough, half decent rider, but turned into an absolute BELLEND once we had stopped riding each day. whether he was on the sniff, or just became an absolute whopper after a few beers is still undetermined. He wanted to fight random people, challenged who was '"the fastest" rider in the group etc. abused one of the lads to his face, just an absolute prick.
After a few days of this we actually cut ties with him and he ended up riding home from northern Scotland by himself.
I vowed that would be the last time we asked an "outsider" of the group to come along. I must have mellowed because this year we went away again and a few workmates and their friends came so total 9 riders. Although the lads were sound, there were still some annoyances:
1 rider couldn't keep up with the pace / refused to overtake at some points so constantly having to wait / hold back for him.
Another required a tyre change 2 days into the trip which cost us 3 hours riding time, the annoyance being that I specifically told everyone to make sure they had plenty of rubber as Scottish roads chew through tyres.
Trying to keep a group of 9 people together, not getting lost off etc is a massive pain when getting through built up areas.
A few year ago, one of the lads' "mates" asked if he could come along. Seemed chipper enough, half decent rider, but turned into an absolute BELLEND once we had stopped riding each day. whether he was on the sniff, or just became an absolute whopper after a few beers is still undetermined. He wanted to fight random people, challenged who was '"the fastest" rider in the group etc. abused one of the lads to his face, just an absolute prick.
After a few days of this we actually cut ties with him and he ended up riding home from northern Scotland by himself.
I vowed that would be the last time we asked an "outsider" of the group to come along. I must have mellowed because this year we went away again and a few workmates and their friends came so total 9 riders. Although the lads were sound, there were still some annoyances:
1 rider couldn't keep up with the pace / refused to overtake at some points so constantly having to wait / hold back for him.
Another required a tyre change 2 days into the trip which cost us 3 hours riding time, the annoyance being that I specifically told everyone to make sure they had plenty of rubber as Scottish roads chew through tyres.
Trying to keep a group of 9 people together, not getting lost off etc is a massive pain when getting through built up areas.
Changes by group as well doesn't it - I've a couple of mates about the same age, we do about 100 miles before a stop, no smoke breaks etc.
Ride with a slightly bigger group of their family and friends etc who are a bit older, it's a smoke break every 50 miles, some odd riding choices etc
Ride with a slightly bigger group of their family and friends etc who are a bit older, it's a smoke break every 50 miles, some odd riding choices etc
STe_rsv4 said:
Another required a tyre change 2 days into the trip which cost us 3 hours riding time, the annoyance being that I specifically told everyone to make sure they had plenty of rubber as Scottish roads chew through tyres.
That was another thing that pissed me off with my simpleton... 8 days riding in the Alps... from Scotland down, up/down the Alps and back again and that tt thought he could do it on very used tyres.. and brake pads..Just simple bloody things to allow the trip to flow better... arrrghhh
I get the rage just thinking about him and the s
t he pulled....... STe_rsv4 said:
…there were still some annoyances:
1 rider couldn't keep up with the pace / refused to overtake at some points so constantly having to wait / hold back for him.
I must admit that when it comes to keeping up that I might annoy people as especially in 30s and 40s I just will not speed whereas most others are quite happy to disappear into the distance at 38 or so. I’m not getting 3 points for that. 1 rider couldn't keep up with the pace / refused to overtake at some points so constantly having to wait / hold back for him.
This happened on a trip in Scotland several years ago - any time we came to a town - I’d just get left behind, it was a bit silly as one of my mates was on 9 points and of course in Scotland theres no SAC option.
On the last day we parted ways from our hotel near Knockhill as I was going home, I turned left and my two mates turned right and disappeared around the bend. As it turned out they made it a couple of hundred yards and got pulled. Unbelievably lucky - the copper let them off.
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