So I got a bit lost...

[throttle jockey]

Thanks FC, great RR, you understate you capabilities  :ricky:    :thumleft:


PS: Didn't think Father Chrismis is such a grumpy old fart, usually he is portrayed as a jolly fellow................. eepwall: ot: :lol8:

T8 thanks for the compliment and yes I can be grumpy at times :biggrin:

Putting my biggest pet hate (people not listening to instructions or conversation) aside. I think you might appreciate where my rant come from, I had last seen FC +/- 25km before the turn in question and that traversed two passes with drop offs on the side. Besides for two hours having to endure the constant vomiting of brand bashing from a fellow rider (that he finds immensely funny), I was acutely aware that FC was on her own, I know this because the 3 riders that eventually met up with her where originally with me as they where fixing a puncture. I had no contact with her (voice mail) as she had zero reception. She could have gone over the side of the road anywhere from my last sighting till the turn off and I had not noticed or a better scenario she was just lost after that turn. Lost on a satellite road in the Transkei with no way of contact or of finding her is something had in fact gone wrong. Please understand the best case scenario played out with fate playing its hand when first one rider joined her and then later the another two. This was at least a hour and a half later. A time when many scenarios where playing out in my head. I am a very calm person under pressure normally and get what has to be done, done but I challenge any WD here to put themselves in a situation like this with their wife or girlfriend MIA with no way of finding or going to her for a considerable amount of time. Trust me it was not easy.

Looking back I BLAME MYSELF for breaking one of my golden rules, I let the riding pack break up and fragment. This and a few other reasons is why I dont and will not organize trips for groups anymore. This incident casts my decision in stone. My reasoning known to a few is why I have, and will only, selfishly be solo riding or ride with one partner. I will no longer be responsible for other peoples lives, I am sorry but actions of others has caused this decision. I will still hook up at overnight stops and go to bashes but if I ride with the group it will be at the back, obviously if I am welcome. It was/is a hard decision as I really loved the planning and logistic stage coupled with the culmination of seeing it take shape in the actual ride. My greatest pleasure was seeing a rider conquer obstacles and rides that they thought impossible for them and as a result I have seen a few riders go from battling to pull off on their first ride to becoming very capable DS riders. Pushing their and my boundaries has been a pleasure over the years. See you in the dust! 

 

[subie]

Thanks FC, great RR, you understate you capabilities  :ricky:    :thumleft:


PS: Didn't think Father Chrismis is such a grumpy old fart, usually he is portrayed as a jolly fellow................. eepwall: ot: :lol8:

T8 thanks for the compliment and yes I can be grumpy at times :biggrin:

Putting my biggest pet hate (people not listening to instructions or conversation) aside. I think you might appreciate where my rant come from, I had last seen FC +/- 25km before the turn in question and that traversed two passes with drop offs on the side. Besides for two hours having to endure the constant vomiting of brand bashing from a fellow rider (that he finds immensely funny), I was acutely aware that FC was on her own, I know this because the 3 riders that eventually met up with her where originally with me as they where fixing a puncture. I had no contact with her (voice mail) as she had zero reception. She could have gone over the side of the road anywhere from my last sighting till the turn off and I had not noticed or a better scenario she was just lost after that turn. Lost on a satellite road in the Transkei with no way of contact or of finding her is something had in fact gone wrong. Please understand the best case scenario played out with fate playing its hand when first one rider joined her and then later the another two. This was at least a hour and a half later. A time when many scenarios where playing out in my head. I am a very calm person under pressure normally and get what has to be done, done but I challenge any WD here to put themselves in a situation like this with their wife or girlfriend MIA with no way of finding or going to her for a considerable amount of time. Trust me it was not easy.

Looking back I BLAME MYSELF for breaking one of my golden rules, I let the riding pack break up and fragment. This and a few other reasons is why I dont and will not organize trips for groups anymore. This incident casts my decision in stone. My reasoning known to a few is why I have, and will only, selfishly be solo riding or ride with one partner. I will no longer be responsible for other peoples lives, I am sorry but actions of others has caused this decision. I will still hook up at overnight stops and go to bashes but if I ride with the group it will be at the back, obviously if I am welcome. It was/is a hard decision as I really loved the planning and logistic stage coupled with the culmination of seeing it take shape in the actual ride. My greatest pleasure was seeing a rider conquer obstacles and rides that they thought impossible for them and as a result I have seen a few riders go from battling to pull off on their first ride to becoming very capable DS riders. Pushing their and my boundaries has been a pleasure over the years. See you in the dust! 

Yep that will instantly blow my fuse big time and put a serious damper on the rest of the  trip for me  :xxbah:

 

[Tiger8]

I hear you TJ and fully understand your feeling of helplessness, having experienced that "not in Control" feeling myself. Any of us would have been going out of our mind in your situation, very glad that all turned out well bud.

The flood of emotion felt in relief are almost worse than the angst of the situation.


PS: TJ, I cannot imagine you riding at the back of any group, having seen your riding 1st hand  :lol8:      But you are always welcome to join any ride with me, if and when we head the same way  :thumleft:

 

[throttle jockey]

I hear you TJ and fully understand your feeling of helplessness, having experienced that "not in Control" feeling myself. Any of us would have been going out of our mind in your situation, very glad that all turned out well bud.

The flood of emotion felt in relief are almost worse than the angst of the situation.


PS: TJ, I cannot imagine you riding at the back of any group, having seen your riding 1st hand  :lol8:      But you are always welcome to join any ride with me, if and when we head the same way  :thumleft:

Agreed about that flood of emotion it was not cool. Humbled by your response and thanks for the offer.  :thumleft:

 

[KaTooMatt]

Thanks FC, great RR, you understate you capabilities  :ricky:    :thumleft:


PS: Didn't think Father Chrismis is such a grumpy old fart, usually he is portrayed as a jolly fellow................. eepwall: ot: :lol8:

T8 thanks for the compliment and yes I can be grumpy at times :biggrin:

Putting my biggest pet hate (people not listening to instructions or conversation) aside. I think you might appreciate where my rant come from, I had last seen FC +/- 25km before the turn in question and that traversed two passes with drop offs on the side. Besides for two hours having to endure the constant vomiting of brand bashing from a fellow rider (that he finds immensely funny), I was acutely aware that FC was on her own, I know this because the 3 riders that eventually met up with her where originally with me as they where fixing a puncture. I had no contact with her (voice mail) as she had zero reception. She could have gone over the side of the road anywhere from my last sighting till the turn off and I had not noticed or a better scenario she was just lost after that turn. Lost on a satellite road in the Transkei with no way of contact or of finding her is something had in fact gone wrong. Please understand the best case scenario played out with fate playing its hand when first one rider joined her and then later the another two. This was at least a hour and a half later. A time when many scenarios where playing out in my head. I am a very calm person under pressure normally and get what has to be done, done but I challenge any WD here to put themselves in a situation like this with their wife or girlfriend MIA with no way of finding or going to her for a considerable amount of time. Trust me it was not easy.

Looking back I BLAME MYSELF for breaking one of my golden rules, I let the riding pack break up and fragment. This and a few other reasons is why I dont and will not organize trips for groups anymore. This incident casts my decision in stone. My reasoning known to a few is why I have, and will only, selfishly be solo riding or ride with one partner. I will no longer be responsible for other peoples lives, I am sorry but actions of others has caused this decision. I will still hook up at overnight stops and go to bashes but if I ride with the group it will be at the back, obviously if I am welcome. It was/is a hard decision as I really loved the planning and logistic stage coupled with the culmination of seeing it take shape in the actual ride. My greatest pleasure was seeing a rider conquer obstacles and rides that they thought impossible for them and as a result I have seen a few riders go from battling to pull off on their first ride to becoming very capable DS riders. Pushing their and my boundaries has been a pleasure over the years. See you in the dust! 

Not diminishing any of the points made above it seems clear to me that by learning from this and setting clear rules that need to be adhered, like waiting at intersections, or ensuring everybody has at leat one riding buddy you can manage the stress and risk and still have the pleasures you did experience of having put together a trip for a group.

I get it - I normally ride alone. But then I don't want to plan I do that too much at work. My rides generally have a destination and the route evolves as I go along. Very few people, I find, are prepared for that level of uncertainty.

 

[Ri]

Not diminishing any of the points made above it seems clear to me that by learning from this and setting clear rules that need to be adhered, like waiting at intersections, or ensuring everybody has at leat one riding buddy you can manage the stress and risk and still have the pleasures you did experience of having put together a trip for a group.

I respectfully agree. TJ, you are obviously a very caring and responsible person. You shouldn't take on the burden of responsibility for everyone's actions in the group - they are adult (usually, or mostly) grown-ups, and are responsible for themselves. I realise this can negatively impact a group ride, but as far as possible, let them carry their own responsibility. If a person rides and acts irresponsibly, stop them and explain to them why it was, and if they don't learn, exclude them from the next ride.

Don't punish everyone (including yourself) for the mistakes of a minority of riders, by stopping planning and riding with friends. I'm pretty sure FC learnt her lesson, and loves riding with you when she can.

 

[firecoast]

:-\

 

[ETS]

Nice ride report anyway!!!!! :thumleft: :thumleft: :thumleft: :thumleft: :thumleft:

 

[Ri]

:-\

Insert foot here -> :tongue9:  :

Hope you didn't think I meant you generally make irresponsible decisions? You made one mistake and took your rebuke like a man. To my mind not reason enough to shun riding with you forever

I meant those idiots guys people who get on a bike and think they're riding gods and can do as they please, even (especially?) in a group.

I enjoyed your ride report and personally think [redacted]. Kudos to you for riding that AT, I would never have the nerve :ricky:

 

[firecoast]

No issues Ri.

I know the severity of the situation if things had gone wrong, hence the light-heartedness of the thread... well it started out that way.

 

[Fuzzy Muzzy]

:happy1:

Besides the drama take some time to check out those views.. damn. Thanks FC for posting.

I haven't been in that area on a bike but I sure wouldnt mind going at all.. looks like spectacular riding especially at a bit of pace.

I small a ride out that way in the near future

 

[HB 9]

Awesome RR FC and valuable lessons learned.  :thumleft:

Thank you Visarend for your contribution that made the RR even better!  :deal:

 

[MRK Miller]

I would love to ride there. Transky is awesome. Such a pity I am so far away. Was the gate still locked when you passed there recently. The road with the cliffs on the one side and the drop off on the other is awesome. I am sure now that the rainy season had arrived, the area would green up again, and the forests would become more dens. Thank you for a awesome report

 

[2StrokeDan]

The possibility of riders taking wrong turn-offs, crashing or simply wanting to stop and smoke too often :thumleft: is always present in a group ride.

I have seen often how this make tensions boil over, and the ability to handle these is paramount.

Brand-bashing upsets you only when the basher has ammo to use. eepwall: ot:

 

[throttle jockey]

:-\

Insert foot here -> :tongue9:  :

Hope you didn't think I meant you generally make irresponsible decisions? You made one mistake and took your rebuke like a man. To my mind not reason enough to shun riding with you forever

I meant those idiots guys people who get on a bike and think they're riding gods and can do as they please, even (especially?) in a group.

I enjoyed your ride report and personally think [redacted]. Kudos to you for riding that AT, I would never have the nerve :ricky:

@ Ri & @ KaTooMatt Thanks for the replies and suggestions some of what is suggested has already been tried and some maybe in the future. For now I will continue with my taking a step back. I have not done a large group ride for a few years and I must admit the last one I made it clear what was required and ran it like a military operation and it worked. Although I never back down from a situation I also dont like being the dictator all the time but I spose thats what is required. I have to make one thing clear here though. Firecoast can ride! I have ridden behind her up Groot Revier Poort, Knysna Forrest sidetrack, sand and many other places while she was on her KTM640 and she never put a foot wrong. (She wanted to hit me once we got to the top of Groot Revier though  :lol8: )  Her mountain to climb is confidence in her own capabilities and the issue is deep rooted in her long ago fall on her Yamaha 650. I will ride with her, as I have, any day and forever. I am there to give her guidance when she needs it and asks for it but FC needs Helmet time and self boosting thoughts. As us all, I can see when she is having fun on two wheels and her speed steps up a notch. She is a happy positive person that pulled me out a hole that I would never have climbed out on my own. Thanks for the helmet time we have had and the rest that is to come with master Jack who is already making me nervous. FC made light of the situation cos thats how she deals with things after the obvious self reflection and for that I take my hat of to her. Till next ride FC  8)

 

[firecoast]

:-\

Insert foot here -> :tongue9:  :

Hope you didn't think I meant you generally make irresponsible decisions? You made one mistake and took your rebuke like a man. To my mind not reason enough to shun riding with you forever

I meant those idiots guys people who get on a bike and think they're riding gods and can do as they please, even (especially?) in a group.

I enjoyed your ride report and personally think [redacted]. Kudos to you for riding that AT, I would never have the nerve :ricky:

@ Ri & @ KaTooMatt Thanks for the replies and suggestions some of what is suggested has already been tried and some maybe in the future. For now I will continue with my taking a step back. I have not done a large group ride for a few years and I must admit the last one I made it clear what was required and ran it like a military operation and it worked. Although I never back down from a situation I also dont like being the dictator all the time but I spose thats what is required. I have to make one thing clear here though. Firecoast can ride! I have ridden behind her up Groot Revier Poort, Knysna Forrest sidetrack, sand and many other places while she was on her KTM640 and she never put a foot wrong. (She wanted to hit me once we got to the top of Groot Revier though  :lol8: )  Her mountain to climb is confidence in her own capabilities and the issue is deep rooted in her long ago fall on her Yamaha 650. I will ride with her, as I have, any day and forever. I am there to give her guidance when she needs it and asks for it but FC needs Helmet time and self boosting thoughts. As us all, I can see when she is having fun on two wheels and her speed steps up a notch. She is a happy positive person that pulled me out a hole that I would never have climbed out on my own. Thanks for the helmet time we have had and the rest that is to come with master Jack who is already making me nervous. FC made light of the situation cos thats how she deals with things after the obvious self reflection and for that I take my hat of to her. Till next ride FC   8)

See you at home 

 

[edgy]

Don’t get lost :lol8: