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Gosh Brad, your point has merits, but it's kind of sad you implied you can't stand your uncle on a public forum. Glad not to be with you.
Bill
Talking about "The Pace" is a bit of a digression, but anyway... I'll point out that it doesn't require anyone to ride any faster than they are 100% comfortable with.
Tim and I, and many others from this forum, have safely ridden many thousands of miles together, and we're rarely within shouting distance.
I go do my bending space/time thing, and I wait for the following rider(s) at each stop sign or intersection. If there's no other traffic, I also quite often will slow way down below the speed limit on the straights to bunch the group together a bit and reduce the amount of time spent waiting.
In fact, many riders will purposely allow the leading rider to get far enough ahead to be out of view so that there's no chance of distraction. Everybody has a great ride, and the lead rider is the only one who has to know where you're going.
Unfortunately, this philosophy and courtesy, seems to have been lost on some "leaders" of rallys recently. I have personally been victim of TWO (and oddly, the SAME "leader" ) instances where the leader either lost part of his group, or had a rider or TWO go down and wasnt even aware of it. I wont spit names, but THIS person wasnt a GSR, and it wasnt a GSR rally. Tho he IS/WAS the Area Director for the COG group in the SWOH area i believe.. ( know he was a COG Director, just not sure of WHERE for sure)
Recently Ive talked to a couple of GSRs and some other riders I am friends with who were, and have been pretty ticked off by some group "leaders" on a couple of GS rallys however, feeling that they'd been left or lost, and also that the leaders they were speaking of didnt seem to give a hoot who was behind them, or how many. Basicly, NOT being a good leader.
Its not my belief that a ride should be as organized as the rides ive taken with Wingers...although they have VERY SAFE rides, and its still quite entertaining, I feel that SOME would feel very constrained by such organization. I also do not believe that a ride or group leader should have to BABY SIT other riders, and ride a pace that EVERYONE is comfortable with.
HOWEVER, I DO believe that a ride or grop leader/organizer SHOULD FEEL AND BE RESPONSIBLE for his entire group! There are exceptions to the rule, as always, but if youre going to volunteer to LEAD, then you should also be volunteering to ASSURE that you keep everyone with you, no rider is LOST or LEFT BEHIND, broken down or not. You should also make your intentions on pace, distance and route CLEAR to anyone who may want to ride under your leadership. This includes CHOICE of ROAD. If you know you have some rookie or relatively NEW riders in the group, you may not want to head down a bunch of pig path, beaten up roads that may be trecherous for a newbie. On the OTHER side of the coin, if these roads are part of your route, you may want to consider suggesting that the newb take this into account and may want to ride with someone else. If he then choses to ride with you anyway, thats on him/her. ALL riders should be responsible for themselves. This includes riding at their own pace, assuring that thier bike is up for the challenge, and making the leader aware of any concerns or issues they may have prior to leaving. BUT, a leader should also take care of his peeps. Ride your own ride, but as Brian has said, when you get to a stop or a straight, count headlamps, make sure all are good to go, and everyone is feeling comfortable and having a good time.
At the 2010 Red River Rally, I will not evolve it into a regimented organized ride, as that is NOT what I want, and not what alot of the guys I enjoy riding with want. However, If you VOLUNTEER to LEAD, I WILL EXPECT you to take the decision seriously, and TAKE CARE OF YOUR GROUP....
I digress...