Don’t Be That Guy
In Utah on the second day of the ride.
When you start riding with a new bunch of guys it is incumbent on you to become acquainted with the ways of the group. For instance, the RMMRC is very focused on safe riding and thus, if you wish to ride with this group you need to wear a helmet and don’t plan to make any stops that include drinking.
Another thing the RMMRC is pretty serious about is that a time is set for kickstands up (KSU) and when that time comes you are expected to be geared up, on your bike, and ready to roll. On a day ride, if KSU is at 9 a.m. and you arrive at 9:05 you will probably arrive to find an empty parking lot.
On longer rides, however, such as this recent California trip, if you are signed up to come and you’re not there we’ll generally wait for you, but a late arrival will not be appreciated at all unless you have a really good reason.
So it was that KSU was set for 10 a.m. on this trip and the rest of us were ready at 10 a.m. but one guy–I won’t name names but will refer to him as HE–was not there. Alan called him and HE was at Hampden and University, which was still 20 minutes away from where we were. Not a good way to start off.
So we waited and HE finally showed up. But HE needed gas. Fine. We waited. When HE was done at the pump we hit our starter buttons but HE pulled over behind me, parked, and got off his bike, and started wandering around. That was too much, so we pulled away from our parking places and lined up ready to pull onto the road. HE was digging through one of his bags. We left. Later when we stopped in Idaho Springs, Alan called him again and HE was in Evergreen. Fine. We’ll see you in Eagle.
We regrouped in Eagle and rode on to Fruita, our stop for the night. We all gathered for dinner but HE did not join us. Your choice, but not particularly social. Nor did HE join us for breakfast but at least HE was there ready to go at the appointed hour the next morning.
HE did not join us for dinner in Loa, either, that night, and while HE did not have breakfast with the group the next morning, HE was there at the spot for KSU. Except as we all sat astride our bikes ready to roll, HE announced that he needed to go get gas. And off HE went.
This was when sickness engulfed me and I had to tell the guys to go on without me. The last thing I heard on my Cardo as I rode back to the motel was Dave telling the others that “I’m going to the gas station and glare at him while he gets gas.”
OK, he’s new to the group. If I had stayed with the group I’m sure I would have had a word with him about the significance of KSU. And perhaps Dave did later. Dave’s the sort of guy who would make a point to have that talk, perhaps in sterner terms than I might use.
But you owe it to yourself and to the others to learn the ways of the group if you want to fit in. And really, making everyone else wait is never a courteous thing to do in any circumstance. Just practice common courtesy, OK? What’s so hard about that?
Biker Quote for Today
As I turn off the pavement and onto the long stretch of dirt ahead, the rear tire spins and kicks up rocks through first and second gear. I click it into third, and that’s when she really opens up to breathe.
Tags: group dynamics, group motorcycle rides, motorcycle group courtesy, motorcycle group riding, RMMRC
