tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934741358915685354.post2433611997541711469..comments2024-02-26T05:18:55.357-08:00Comments on Motorcycle Philosophy: Changing Someone's Riding PlanSteve Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07254867681706917705noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934741358915685354.post-86014121853115462722009-01-19T18:39:00.000-08:002009-01-19T18:39:00.000-08:00Isn't it all about the journey anyway, not the des...Isn't it all about the journey anyway, not the destination? Have fun wherever you ride.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934741358915685354.post-46644993922070585722009-01-19T18:03:00.000-08:002009-01-19T18:03:00.000-08:00Joker: Yes, it's quite informal of a riding club,...Joker: Yes, it's quite informal of a riding club, with no road captain, no tailgunner, it's just whoever knows the way can lead. The fact that we're a small RC means we don't often face the factors that you get into. I probably didn't have anything to worry about by improvising over Mike's riding plan. <BR/><BR/>But thanks for the description of how things work in your chapter. I've never been in HOG, and it certainly sounds like a contrast in philosophies.Steve Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07254867681706917705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934741358915685354.post-5835787213471126742009-01-19T16:36:00.000-08:002009-01-19T16:36:00.000-08:00I on the otherhand prefer to travel without a plan...I on the otherhand prefer to travel without a plan. I like to ride to rallies and HOPE they have a room. (you can always find a place to sleep). I do planning at work so ride time is a chance for me to not plan. Just my style. <BR/><BR/>Now if I was responsible for a big group that would be different. Probably why I ride with 3-4 folks max.One Harley Riderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11182444492941268208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8934741358915685354.post-26112823185043787412009-01-19T07:59:00.000-08:002009-01-19T07:59:00.000-08:00Sounds like a great ride, and as I sit here lookin...Sounds like a great ride, and as I sit here looking out at yet another 4 to 6 inches of fresh snow (we got 6 inches <I>yesterday</I>), I find myself having a strange craving for a 6 pack of micro-brew.<BR/><BR/>You've presented yet another interesting subject. It sounds like your Riding Club is a bit less formal in comparison to how we conduct rides in my HOG Chapter. I don't mean to suggest we do it better, just differently. From one point of view, it looks like a guy getting all bullshit over his ride plan being changed is a bit childish. Then again, it depends on the circumstances. If I spent a lot of time planning a great ride, I might get a little ticked if everyone wanted to blow it off.<BR/><BR/>When I lead the Chapter as Road Captain, I plan the ride beyond an idea. I consider the logistic realities of X number of bikes traveling X number of miles, who all need to pee, smoke, get coffee, eat lunch, and perhaps even gas-up at some point. I set the start time of the ride based on when the lunch stop will be open by, and how long it will take to get there. Careful plan = no grumbling from the riders.<BR/><BR/>Being anal doesn't always work out though. One day, I showed up for a ride, and there ended up not being a Road Captain. It was a rare snafu where they never assigned an R.C. They said, "We'll figure it out the morning of the ride...someone will take it." Nobody did. Of course, I ended up being the only R.C. who showed up, so everyone's looking at me saying "Guess you're it."<BR/><BR/>Ironically, it was a ride to a brewing company! The problem: I had no clue how to get to it. This was when we all had to talk it over to figure out what to do. One guy had a GPS on his Ultra Classic, so he said he could get us there. I said fine, I'll ride Wing and YOU lead. When we got there, it wasn't opening for another hour. The ride time was too early - a result of poor planning.<BR/><BR/>Again, we did a pow-wow. The guy with the GPS knew how to get to a nice little eatery in CT that we ride to sometimes. I was all for it as the Chapter had actually done a ride there the prior month and I'd missed it. So the ride destination changed completely, and it all worked out fine in the end. All riders urged me to talk to the Activities Officer and Head Road Captain to strongly discourage allowing any more rides to be set up with no Road Captain.<BR/><BR/>Since then, that hasn't happened again. One of the great things about being a Road Captain is that the others <I>can't</I> change my ride plans. I have the final word on all aspects of the ride, and I do think that's needed to prevent arguments. On the other hand, when odd circumstances pop up, sometimes you just have to change to suit them, and it's better to do that without getting upset. <BR/><BR/>When you're riding with your friends if the plan HAS to change, it's more out of need, than out of spite. It's not a perfect world. Sorry this was a bit long."Joker"https://www.blogger.com/profile/00123102968850707085noreply@blogger.com