sidecar riding workout......

My friends on two wheels are making me work hard on some of our rides...did I mention how much I dislike switchback roads??LOL...after I get all the muscles built up I'm going to invest in a raked set of triple trees......I am having too much fun ,,,don't see me wanting to go back to two wheels anytime soon...if I do...just might have to buy another bike......

Dear new come Buddies,
stay calm. DO NOT TRY TO CATCH UP WITH YOUR 2 WHEELED FRIENDS, OR THEY WILL HAVE TO GIVE YOU YOUR LAST HONOUR SOON....
You need to practice, practice, practice....
Once you are safe monkey riders and have the right rig (like Hänschen's Porsche chaser K100/EML extra low) then you will be able to show them what a rig can do. but meanwhile ride in the front of the flock and make the column speed. Let the fastest guys always ride as last of the group.
Best wishes
Sven

I agree with Peter Pan, but we choose to ride at the very back of the group when out with our son and his friends (all with rice rockets but us). But that's OK because they just have to wait at the next stop sign or traffic light until we catch up. Beginning to think that they are just using us to run a rolling road block so they can play with out the 4 wheelers trying to race them. The ones with the need for speed take the lead and we are finding that the members of the group who would rather enjoy the scenery are hanging back with the old guy and the sidecar just "to make sure we do not get lost". Then when we stop for coffee it has to put a hole in their ego to have people walk right past their shiney new rockets on display to come go over and talk with us about the sidecar.

Peter Pan and Loon, I don't try to ride faster than my abilities, my rigs abilities, and the conditions around me (at least not on purpose). One I've already found out I break easier and I take longer to heal than I used to. Two, I don't have to prove anything to anybody. I'll stay at the back of the pack - as long as I know the destination - I'll get there, I may be a little slower than some two wheelers (or all of them) but I'm out to have fun and enjoy life. I'm not rushing for anyone! I figure to put 2-3,000 miles on the rig in the next couple of months, I practice in parking lots and sooner or later I'll really know my rigs abilities and I will see my own abilities increase. I hope to meet some of you on the road or at an event sometime. Thanks for all the advice to newbies, not only me but all the newbies that show up here. We do appreciate it.

We tend to ride in groups with 2-wheelers in one of two ways:
1. A sidecar rig takes the lead and sets the pace to keep us all together; it is best for the rig with the slowest cruising speed to set the pace, such as a Enfield or Ural rig; or
2. The sidecars take the rear, set the 2-wheelers out in front --that is, out of immediate sight-- at their own pace, and we set a meeting place, such as the courthouse square in the next town.

And I agree, experience has confirmed that sidecars in the rear trying to maintain pace with the 2-wheelers is a bad situation begging to get worse real quick. Also, some 2-wheel riders are not "geared" to riding with us -- Let 'em go.

As I participated and had made up in former times (back in Germany) quite a few group ride outs with up to 75 (300 bikes - twice arround 10.000) my experience is that the leader makes the average speed 30-40mph and the tail should to be done by a real hot shot in order to pick up the lost ones and rejoin the group. So we simply put the slowest rig in the nose. a quick rig with a rider who knows well the track in the middle and a hot shot 2 wheeler as collector in the back.
Ahh, and we said that those who have not made their maintenance should better use the time to put their bike in order!!!!
How nasty is it to have to fix bikes on the road and a big group waiting for them?
Obviously that doesn't count for vacation trips, but those you do anyhow in small groups like 2 -6bikes.
Best wishes
Sven

i stopped riding with groups many years ago.[ the last two group rides were funerals ]. i just like poking along looking for kool places for my wife and i to eat or kool muesums or such.i am no long a fast lane type of guy anymore .

I am the only sidecar pusher in Costa Rica who is on the street. There are supposed to be 12. One confessed a year ago that in 3 years he did 30km.....whow.
Group riding is nothing for me neither. Its too dangerous riding with indisciplined guys.
Sven

A well road seasoned three is a large group for me.
We smell a lot of roses, make a stop when something catches our eyes and take a lot of pix to share with others later.

Lonnie

i got tired of trying to keep up with people who just wanted to run up miles and not see the scenery that they were passing though.throw in kissing the pavement on I-90 because the group i was riding with did not know how to ride in a group put the fork in that for me.

I am glad that I am not the only one who uses the passenger floor board to hoist the right leg over the back seat. I started doing that right after my right total knee replacement. I was getting on and off within 3 weeks post surgery. 4the week I was riding around town.

Most of my riding on weekends is in group rides with my club. We are all either active duty military, retirees or government contractors her in the San Antonio TX. Because of our military experiences we are a very disaplened group. We maintain proper distances and per club rules wear protective gear. At a minimum long sleeve shirts, over ankle shoes or boots full finger gloves no cut offs helmet and eye protection. If you don't have even one of the listed protective gear you don't ride with us.

Check us out at www.fsrrrc.com

Yeah I got a real work out until I had my triple tree re worked, now like power steering.

Rick A.

For years I had to hop on the bike and lift either the right or the left arm to the handle bar (depending on which side of the vertebra was blocking the nerves)
Discipline and safety equipment like the "turtle" and good goggles saved me more then once.