 Riding with or without
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6
Worn Saddle
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OP
Worn Saddle
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6 |
Inspired by another thread. When I was a young fella, I loved to get another guy or two and ride in a group. When I was in my early twenties I had three or four relatives who rode, so that happened quite a bit. Then, over a few years, most all of them got rid of their bikes. I really missed riding with other guys but I finally got tired of asking the few I knew, they just wanted to ride to the local bar, or maybe the next town. So I ended up just riding by myself and the occasional girlfriend on the back. Little by little, I grew to like riding solo better, with the exception of my wife. Now that she can't ride anymore, it's just me. Now, some of my relatives and friends have gotten bikes again, but I find myself prefering to ride alone, with the occasional group ride at a rally. How bout youse guys. Any real preferences. Ride alone or with a group?
Fidelis et Fortis
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Re: Riding with or without
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 819
3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 819 |
I occasionally take long rides on my own, but I must admit, I enjoy riding with friends.
I would be unstoppable if not for law enforcement and physics.
2002, Cardinal Red & Silver
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Re: Riding with or without
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,393 Likes: 1
Second Wind
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Second Wind
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,393 Likes: 1 |
Sometimes I like riding with a friend or two, and I use to search for folks to ride with. I even joined a club, but dropped out. I think I like the companionship upon arrival to places but prefer to get their alone.
I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago.
Edgar Allan Poe
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Re: Riding with or without
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,068 Likes: 1
Saddle Sore
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Saddle Sore
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,068 Likes: 1 |
I'm sortofa loner. I just like to be in the wind with my reverie as my quiet companion.
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Re: Riding with or without
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,647
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,647 |
It depends on my mood. Sometimes I feel like being social, and I kind of like having a buddy or two along. Other times I just want to chill out and be off on my own. I enjoy riding with others though, especially on longer trips.
06 America 904
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Re: Riding with or without
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,995 Likes: 10
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,995 Likes: 10 |
Quote:
It depends on my mood. Sometimes I feel like being social, and I kind of like having a buddy or two along. Other times I just want to chill out and be off on my own. I enjoy riding with others though, especially on longer trips.
I reckon that pretty much sums up my riding habits too,although I live away from my friends now so it's normally a meeting somewhere after riding there alone.
sometimes it's a meeting halfway to the final destination and a group ride halfway back.
Dinosaur.
"Oh Man I only ride 'em.I don't know what makes 'em work". Donald "Oddball" Sutherland
"Don't let the bastards get you down". Kris Kristofferson
"I am only paranoid because everyone is against me". Larry [Frank Burns] Linville
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Re: Riding with or without
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,028 Likes: 8
New Tires
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New Tires
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,028 Likes: 8 |
I occasionally do a RAT ride. If I ride with a group it's family, but like in golf, if the tee time is 6:30 I'm teeing off at 6:30, you can catch up. I'm a dick, don't leave me waiting, that's the worst part of not going solo.
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
H. L. Mencken
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Re: Riding with or without
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,623 Likes: 2
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,623 Likes: 2 |
Almost always just my wife & I 2-up. On rare occasions we'll ride with another bike or three, but that's it. I don't want to conform to someone else's schedule, nor do I expect them to conform to mine. I loathe group rides. 
Kevin - Luceo Non Uro
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Re: Riding with or without
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1 |
Some of my most memorable rides have been with my brothers but generally I ride alone or with the only other Triumph owner in town. We had my America and his Scrambler out yesterday taking advantage of a nice day for 60 miles or so.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: Riding with or without
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,286 Likes: 65
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,286 Likes: 65 |
Most riding has been alone due to windows of time between or before work. Wife jumps on the back for day trips and the occasional overnight and a few RAT rides a year. We have a big fund raiser called "Ride for Dad" 3000 bikes of all kinds to raise money for prostate cancer. I send the $$ its a good cause and ride the other direction.
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Re: Riding with or without
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,174 Likes: 15
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,174 Likes: 15 |
the majority of my riding is solo. Some of that because I am able too ride to various locations for work. And some because of past experiences in riding with others. It seems highly subjective, but some poeple are easy to ride with some are not. After a while you figure out which are which and go from there. A week on the road will sort this out in a hurry. And do I have the stories 
05 speedmaster - 1100cc, 11:1 racing pistons, Carillo rods, thunderbike cams, ported and polished head, 2mm over intake and exhaust valves, Barnett kevlar clutch, scepter pipes, oversize manifolds, 45mm HSR's, TTP stage 4 firestarter
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Re: Riding with or without
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 124
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 124 |
i have a twin brother and my dad owns an independent motorcycle shop so we ride with each other all the time. I'm blessed to have two people in my life that like motorcycles just as much as i do.
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Re: Riding with or without
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 407 Likes: 2
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 407 Likes: 2 |
I use my motorcycle as "preferred" transportation. Work, errands & shopping unless cargo or weather pushes me to the car. For pleasure rides I tend to go it alone. People I know who ride have very different work & life schedules so I tend to be a lone rider. Have been on some group rides and they can be fun. But I do like to keep it down to 3 or 4 bikes, any more and the fun just isn't there. Add to that I like to decide where I'm going while on the road, or maybe I know where I'm going but like to "find" a new way to get there. You know that "where does this road go?" type thing. That works much better by myself.
09 America, some modifications
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Re: Riding with or without
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146 |
I don't even have a pillion seat anymore as the wife has her own bikes and she might not like me picking up strangers. I usually ride alone or with Ruth (on her own bike).
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Re: Riding with or without
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,225 Likes: 62
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,225 Likes: 62 |
I mostly ride alone but do enjoy riding with a couple guys.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Riding with or without
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 322
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 322 |
Solo...while it is fun to ride with friends, I move around so much and all my friends that ride are back in Florida.
So I ride to work and on the weekends I hit the twisties and push myself. When I come up on a pack of motorcycles i either hang way back to find an opportunity to leave them in the dust.
"stupid's in the water these days, they're gonna drink it anyways, until they don't know right from wrong..."
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Re: Riding with or without
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1 |
Quote:
It seems highly subjective, but some poeple are easy to ride with some are not. After a while you figure out which are which and go from there. A week on the road will sort this out in a hurry. And do I have the stories
To quote Mark Twain: "I have found out there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them."
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: Riding with or without
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,580
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,580 |
I do both.
With a group ride, I end up in places I'd have never thought of going. Solo, go where I want
Too old to die young, too ugly to leave a good looking corpse
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Re: Riding with or without
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,839 Likes: 3
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,839 Likes: 3 |
Lone wolf is me. When I want to stop , I stop when I want to go , I go. Sometimes when he is around I might ride somewhere with my old biz partner but he is rarely around these days. I enjoy my time alone without having to worry about somebody else. If I wanted to ride in a. Group I would not have bought a Triumph lol I figure the reason you always see them guys rideing hds in packs is in case they break done they aren't alone lol  
ENJOY!!!!! NEWT!!!!!
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Re: Riding with or without
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,467 Likes: 3
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,467 Likes: 3 |
Solo. On rare occasions, the wife will want to go and I have to put on the pillion and backrest.
The riders I knew in the past have either given it up or now only ride from bar to bar and bike night to bike night. I do neither.
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Re: Riding with or without
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,286 Likes: 65
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,286 Likes: 65 |
Quote:
Quote:
It seems highly subjective, but some poeple are easy to ride with some are not. After a while you figure out which are which and go from there. A week on the road will sort this out in a hurry. And do I have the stories
To quote Mark Twain: "I have found out there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them."
Truer words never spoken. Kind of goes along with that old saying about relatives and fish.
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Re: Riding with or without
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964 |
It sure is fun to share a special ride with a friend or two!
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: Riding with or without
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
Quote:
It sure is fun to share a special ride with a friend or two!
Aaaah, how that brings back fond memories of certain summer evening back in '79 when Sheila and Sharon, the Dubrowbski Twins and I.......
(...but I digress) 
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Riding with or without
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,284
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,284 |
I would never miss an opportunity to ride with my identical twin brother Kevin. I looked forward to rides we had planned like a kid does Christmas day. Since his death, I prefer to ride alone. I can almost hear his pipes in the background.
Strangler
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Re: Riding with or without
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146 |
Quote:
Quote:
It sure is fun to share a special ride with a friend or two!
Aaaah, how that brings back fond memories of certain summer evening back in '79 when Sheila and Sharon, the Dubrowbski Twins and I.......
(...but I digress)
Wait...YOU know the Dubrowbski twins??!! They said I was the only...well...never mind.
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Re: Riding with or without
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,420
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,420 |
For me, it's solo. I like to ride with friends at the rallies I go to but generally, it's alone.
When you think about it, you're basically alone even when you ride with someone. You don't/can't talk and your on your own bike so what's the diff really? I used to ride with Dave(Roadworthy) every Thursday for a couple years but that has faded away and we don't go out on the bikes much anymore. I don't mind riding with a bud or two but I just head out on my own 99% of the time. I have a 1 and a 4 year old at home too so my wife is never with me either...which is FINE by me.
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Re: Riding with or without
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 524
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 524 |
I ride alone or with a select few. It's prefered to know the riding habits of people.
Didn't buy into the hype, you can keep the change.
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Re: Riding with or without
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,883
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,883 |
I usually ride alone, but I have a few friends I like to ride with. I think it's nice to end up at a restaurant or gas station somewhere and talk about the areas you just went through. In groups I prefer to have a destination that we end up at, I rather count heads than try to stick in a group.
~Brent
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"Nothing you can be is more terrible than what I am." ~ 2007 Black Speedmaster!!
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Re: Riding with or without
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146 |
My wife's idiot friend (yes, I've mentioned her before) and her hubby got a Harley that cost more than their house a couple years back. Their lives revolve around gathering in a parking lot with 75 other...uh...rugged individualists in their complete Harley outfits. They then get a spot in line to ride to some redneck paradise, like Myrtle Beach, SC, (aka 'the world's largest ashtray') and back, paying careful attention to the odometer.
Hubby loves to brag about all the miles he's put on his whaletail, or whatever kind of tail his bike has. If I only rode the way he does I wouldn't even ride. What a crappy way to spend a day on a motorcycle.
It's not just about how many miles you ride. It's about how and where you ride those miles. Taking the Interstate to Myrtle Beach is worse than spending the day changing oil in a station wagon, IMHO. This guy lives in the heart of some of the best motorcycling on the planet and he gets in a Harley conga line headed down the Interstate.
WTF?
Give me a plain 'ol North Carolina highway and zero to one other bikes. That's pretty close to heaven for me. But, then, I'm kind of a simple guy.
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Re: Riding with or without
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 46
Greenhorn
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Greenhorn
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 46 |
+1 My triumph won't go east of Charlotte unless its time to go home.
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Re: Riding with or without
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,393 Likes: 1
Second Wind
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Second Wind
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,393 Likes: 1 |
Its not my place to judge folks for what , where, or even how they ride. I ride with those I choose , and I choose based on what ever suits me. I the thing I really like about motorcycling is the freedom. To go and be as you so choose. If its to hop on the super slab and head to the local tourist trap then shine on. I like riding the industrial area east of houston on a Sunday sometimes.
I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago.
Edgar Allan Poe
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Re: Riding with or without
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 114
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 114 |
1. Solo low speed on back roads !
2. Regular rides with a friend !
3. Occasional American Legion Rider Event !
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Re: Riding with or without
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 240
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 240 |
Quote:
I would never miss an opportunity to ride with my identical twin brother Kevin. I looked forward to rides we had planned like a kid does Christmas day. Since his death, I prefer to ride alone. I can almost hear his pipes in the background.
Every once in a while, I see a post that I have to read more than once. This was one of them. I'm pretty sure I would enjoy riding with you, Paul.
On to the question... I have no problem jumping on the bike and just going... but if a friend texts me to go for a ride, I'm an easy "yes" most of the time.
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