Laconia

[best]

Do any of you go? Have been, plan on going?
2 hours from my house (give or take) and I have never been there for bike week. I am thinking a day trip or just continue as I have done.... ahhh will do it next year.

Maybe if I was to go up there, I would try and hook up with one of the CMA groups. Would like to ride up Mt Washington on the bike as well. (opened to bikes only for one day) Thinking bike week is like a week of party (main reason I have never been I think) Hooking up with CMA and the such as I stay busy would keep me out of trouble I would think. Then again...maybe I will just go next year *LOL*

[BillJ]

I live 5 miles from the site of the biggest biker party in Texas (the Republic of Texas Rally) and I won't go. Don't like crowds of stupid drunk people, or standing around in the scorching sun and/or pouring rain. I'm glad to see it here, to see folks enjoying themselves, and to see the money they pump into our local economy :wow: but I'd rather go for a ride in the hills, myself.

That said, I think every biker ought to do a major event like Laconia or Sturgis at least once in their lives, just so they can say they've been there. It is a blast, knowing you outnumber the cars for once, and, if you're careful, there are good times to be had. However, if you're sketchy about being around hard partying, a day-trip or hooking up with a group that will support your recovery might be the way to go.

I'd like to do Laconia some year, if only because it would give me an excuse to visit my sister, who lives in Francestown.

[Gooch]

ditto ... It's a good place to have somebody to watch your back.

how's that go?

"Never underestimate the damage potential of large groups of stupid people"

[mackat]

yeh- i ride like Bill- altho it still is a major rush to run with a bunch...

mackat

[best]

"Don't like crowds of stupid drunk people," and what Gooch said *LOL*

Watching my back when I ride solo.

"the damage potential of large groups of stupid people"


Do I really want to give up 2 vacation days for this?
I know... when I get out of work on Saturday morning, I will just ride rte 93 till noon without leaving MA. Just watch all the other bikes file into NH *LOL*

[BillJ]

Originally Posted by best

Just watch all the other bikes file into NH *LOL*

For me, people-watching is the best part of most events!

[Gooch]

I agree with you Mack.. as long as by "bunch" you mean a pack that knows how to roll. Some of the first group rides I went on were with clubbers. They spoiled me by showing me the unity of purpose, how the pack gets its legs in the first couple miles, and takes on a life of its own.. makes you feel like a piece of something bigger.

I usually run with people I know can pass a signal down the line and will preserve the integrity of the group, keep the cages from sneakin in and breakin us up, peel off and road guard at intersections.. that sort of stuff..looking out for the whole, not just doing whatever the hell they want regardless of how it's gonna mess up somebody else.

There was a time the big events were a good time and not a media blitzed fashion show.

[best]

Originally Posted by Gooch

I agree with you Mack.. as long as by "bunch" you mean a pack that knows how to roll. Some of the first group rides I went on were with clubbers. They spoiled me by showing me the unity of purpose, how the pack gets its legs in the first couple miles, and takes on a life of its own.. makes you feel like a piece of something bigger.

I usually run with people I know can pass a signal down the line and will preserve the integrity of the group, keep the cages from sneakin in and breakin us up, peel off and road guard at intersections.. that sort of stuff..looking out for the whole, not just doing whatever the hell they want regardless of how it's gonna mess up somebody else.

There was a time the big events were a good time and not a media blitzed fashion show.

I attempt to do that in a way in my normal ride. When I see a solo ahead, I will pull in behind like I am a wing man. With the lights on the back that I have, it is my hopes that we get seen easier. Left side if a cage is passing on the left, ride side if a cage is passing on the right. Tight traffic, I try to position so they see us both. Have pulled in front of a cage with my cage because they were tailgating a bike. Pissed the guy off but I think he got the idea when he looked ahead at the space I made between me and the bike.
Most beautiful thing I have seen from a pack... about 50 or so coming out of capecod going to the summer location in Maine. 3 lane, they held the middle. One hand goes up, tail pulls over and like the smoothness of a snake crawl, the other 49 slide over to the left. When done right ohhhh looked so good.
2 by 2 on the ground zero run...Remember 9 11. Over 3500 bikes and it seemed not a one knew how to ride in formation. (or so I took it that way) No injuries or crashes...how I will never know *LOL* a 5 hour ride that felt like 20 hours. Needed to be on full awareness because of the lack of skill by a few. Would be nice to ride just once in a large group that knows what is what. Will continue to practice solo till such a day comes.

[BillJ]

I did a deal Sunday morning where a small group (12 or so bikes) escorted a bus-load of children on their way to a camp for kids with muscular dystrophy. We had to make two trips across town, from the original send-off site to Austin's airport, and then back to the send-off site so the bus could get on the highway out of town.

The "leader" of our pack kept changing lanes (not leaving room for the other bikes, let alone the bus), speeding up and leaving the bus behind, and just generally acting as if he were out on a solo ride, with not a care in the world. Sadder still, the rest of the pack was staying with him. At one point they even blew through a yellow light, leaving the bus behind! Me and one other guy riding at the rear of the pack would fall back, stay with the bus, hold back other traffic to create a hole in front of us for the bus to fit in, etcetera.

Can you say "clusterf*ck"?

If you're lucky, you'll find one or two other riders you can feel comfortable doing group rides with. Cherish them. Leave those large formations to the clubs (who will cheerfully beat the tar out of any member who screws up while riding en masse), and the rice-rocketeers and HOGsters, most of whom don't know squat about group ethics or discipline!

[Gooch]

HOGsters.... that one word was worth a 1000 grey hairs.

Last time I rode on a Hog sponsored run was a memorial for a guy I knew. They ended up going bar to bar.. My bud and I could see that it was getting ugly so we both tried to block intersections... Some yoyo must have not been shiny enough to figure it out or had a personal grudge against "pack courtesies". He locked em up when the light changed and caused the guy behind him to damn near go down getting around on the shoulder, which of course spooked the rest of the sunday riders into stopping and broke up what had nearly been a pack.

There are usually a couple dozen decent runs around here that are fund raisers, ABATE sponsored or even put together by some of the indie shops, that seem to run semi organized and are attended by some damn good riders. They usually have volunteer blockers, unnofficial road captains and use a fairly standardized version of hand signals to indicate conditions, appropriate speeds, and pedestrian and shoulder hazards.

I don't know what it is about the factory sponsored group that makes them so damn difficult to ride with... ego's? attitudes, inexperience? ... I hate ever lumping people into a group of "them" just because of a few rotton apples.

[tramp]

No you are right , they are them. Perhaps having never experienced group discipline from those
"who will cheerfully beat the tar out of any member who screws up while riding en masse", lol.....
is their handicap.
One of my tightest bro's is in that group of "them".
He can not ride under 70, and I have been in his wake at 127.
It aint no picnick on my rigid either. He won't ride with the gang/group/whatever / cause he don't want anyone telling him what to do or when to do it, damnit.
He's taken the safety courses, and the HD advanced riders course, but as far as I can tell he still can't ****** ride, lol. He gave up a patch over this ****. So i guess it means alot to him. But he sure is a pain in the ass sometimes. I can just imagine how he was when he was using. No wonder he spent years in a body cast and has 20% scar tissue on his brain. I don't know if it is the scar tissue or his ego that makes him think he has to run ****. Anyway. we all deal with him, cause that's what bro's do.

[best]

Originally Posted by Gooch

ditto ... It's a good place to have somebody to watch your back.

how's that go?

"Never underestimate the damage potential of large groups of stupid people"

I underestimated the damage potential of just ONE stupid person. *LOL*

Came home from work at 9:30 AM, Cloudy weather.
12 noon, sun started to shine. I said to self.. "Self why don't you take a ride"
So I did...to Laconia.
Stopped in NH for gas. Removed lid and put on cap. At 80 MPH a scully cap does not stay on a bald head *note so others won't try it*
Arrive in Laconia and start the ride towards Weirs beach. Sat in traffic for??? Who knows how long.
Along the route I was seeing and remembering all the places people had listed on the board.
Being 3 PM now and remembering that meet times were AM times... oh well.
Took 106 rather then 3. 106 would bring me around the back.... as much or maybe more traffic then rte 3 side.
Coming down the last hill before reaching Weirs ... A rice rocket with a newbie on it...Or just a plan ole dumb jerk?
Well the kid tried to show off. He was at a stop facing up hill. Tried to lift the front tire just a bit as he started off...
remember he was facing UP hill *LOL*
Well you should have seen the look on his face. the bike lifted vertical to the hill surface (he was now leaning backwards. The bike danced from side to side on one wheel. He lost his grip on the left grip (Thank You Lord) That caused him to also release the gas as well as cause the bike to pull right (away from landing ON ME) No fear as I see the wheel starting towards me... I was to busy laughing at the look on his face and wondering if he had spare whities with him *LOL*
If he had not dropped the front end as happened, He would have maybe landed on me and my bike, as well as wipe out the 2 bikes aside me and maybe 12 or more behind me. OK I am thinking Laconia is fun?
$20 for parking? 10 at another spot and 5 at another...dead tired as I have now been up for 24 hours (work 3rd shift)
Time to go home. BEAUTIFUL weather. Clear roads once out of Weirs. Restaurant and BBQ smells filling the air.
Sun just starting to set, a small cool breeze.... ahhh this is wonderful.
rte 93 south (coming home) 75 MPH, most others are doing between 65-75. I see blue lights and realize I am the fasted bike in my sight...grrr here comes a ticket. I pull over and mix in with some other bikes just as I see a crotch rocket doing about 140 MPH. come up on the left. The blue lights following at about 110 or so. Round the bend...no crotch rocket or blue lights in sight. Toll booth ahead about 1 mile...Did he run the tooth booth and get away?... we will never know unless others had seen it and have more info....Yup ended up being a great day and a great 250 mile round trip

[Gooch]

Glad you didn't mix paint chips with the rocketship pilot. Thinkin maybe that was one of those unmanned test flights lol.

Biggest challenge I had today was the downhill trek through a steep rutted gravel and slippy grass driveway down to a friends house. The dyna idles fast enough and gear ratio is such that you really want to freewheel a steep bank all the time on the way down, keeping it from gaining momentum by using the front brake as a catch and release lever. lol Topping it off was the one guy who came in his 4 x4 chevy and was in granny gear with teh front hubs unlocked.. he wound up thoroughly dispersing all the available moisture through the steepest part of the drive so that it all felt like spritzed down clay.

I've never been afraid of the hill climb part.. the descent part.. thats what always seems to get me.

[best]

Originally Posted by Gooch

...... one of those unmanned test flights ...

the descent part.. thats what always seems to get me.

Thank you

I am refocusing an idea. Mt Washington autoroad to the top. I was thinking going up and feel I could handle it well. I had forgotten... I would need come down as well *LOL* OK tar covered roads will remain what I travel on *LOL*

Mt Washington auto road... mostly dirt. No gaurd rails. 1000 foot drop on one of the turns. No control on my part as to unmanned test flights being able to ride the auto road. I went up once in a full sized van. I guess once is enough for my life time *LOL*