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I participated in a fundraiser ride for the American Cancer Society today and was reminded once again why I hate riding in these things. Usually, I just give them my money and wave as they ride off, then ride in the opposite direction.

We rode one of my favorite twisty loops rides and in 20+ years of riding those roads, I have never ridden them quite so slowly or quite so loudly. Obviously, I was not one of the loud ones. In fact, at the start, I never would have known my bike was running, except the tach needle would move when I blipped the throttle.

I got off the bike at the end, and one rider said " that was a nice pace coming down the mountain". I laughed! One woman rider on a Harley V-rod with a custom pink paint job and custom matching skid lid was actually holding up the already excruciatingly slow pace of the ride. (No offence to our women members, but if you are so unsure of your riding skills that a slow charity ride is too fast, spend the money on a riding course instead of a paint job! And don't be the slowest rider riding the most powerful Harley!) And of course, many of the male riders were only marginally better. So many crossed center lines and butchered curves! Oh the humanity!

So almost as soon as we get back, I say some goodbyes, skip the lunch and go back and ride the same road again but at my normal pace. Much better!

Thanks for supporting the American Cancer Society. The survivors appreciate the effort made by you, and many more like you. I am currently in a fight with cancer, with a great chance to ride many more miles in the future, thanks to the support many folks have made in their support for this society.
Don

I did my first and only charity ride last summer. Glad to know I'm not the only scrooge out there. Figured out pretty quickly that was just not my crowd. About a third of the ride was through residential streets and I had to think that might not be the best way to solicit donations from folks in those neighborhoods. Unless they would pay to have the ride moved the next year.

owldaddy wrote:Thanks for supporting the American Cancer Society. The survivors appreciate the effort made by you, and many more like you. I am currently in a fight with cancer, with a great chance to ride many more miles in the future, thanks to the support many folks have made in their support for this society.
Don

Here's wishing you many, many, MANY more miles of riding ahead of you!

Great cause you were supporting. Next time you should maybe think of it as more of social call. A place where you can meet people who would like to go on more "spirited" ride at a later date. The pink v-rod rider is simply probably looking just to socialize.

I think that our choice in motorcycle is indicitive of the way we would prefer to use it. RIDE, RIDE, RIDE, complain about the seat, RIDE, RIDE....

Some people don't care for the RIDING, they simply want the socialization... and well I guess motorcycles are a way of getting together. I think it's great either way.

Owldaddy, Here's hoping for many miles and smiles for you and yours.
Cheers.

Owldaddy - good luck to you and hope you see many more miles down the road.

As I said, I usually give to such causes but skip the ride. But it is always an interesting time to see how another portion of the riding population thinks.

I actually am a voluteer for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Ride for Kids and help with their rides. Of course, my job requires that I not do the ride! Doesn't break my heart. Helping the cause without the slow motion parade is fine with me.

To date I've only been on one benefit ride. a mix of about 50 bikes. The 'group' got split in half in only 10 minutes. I was last in the first pack going as slow as possible but my mirrors remained empty. After realizing the other half was gone the 'leader' and mostly HD group stops at a bar (surprise). It was good food and after a bit there were only 3 of us ready to continue. 1 yamaha sport bike, 1 Honda Nighthawk and 1 HD set out. 5 minutes later the HD quits. He thinks a coil is bad. Me and my Honda go back to the bar for help and the boys there didn't seem to care too much . HD guy makes a call to a friend with a pickup truck ,I go on my way - alone. It's a good thing they get the donations up front.

I say just send them a check and go ride where and when you want.

It's a good thing they get the donations up front.

Ain't that the truth!

I say just send them a check and go ride where and when you want.

Sometimes a much better option. At Christmas time, we have a Toys for Tots ride, admission - one toy worth $10 or more. I have ridden it a few times but usually just drop off a check or toy to their offices. Especially, since it seems many of the toys are purchased by the standard of what looks coolest on the bike. Lots of stuffed animals. We have begun asking what they need first and usually it is items for older kids and of course cash, since they buy what is not donated. Cash, the universal gift!

I did the Ride for Kids and it was excruciating. BMWs are made to be ridden and not to be crawling.

I do the Toy Ride and it's a bit better (primarily sport bikes). Alas, there are the concommitant squids out there on the damn charity ride doing wheelies and blocking traffic.

There's no win.

So I just give the money and do my thing.

Whether charity events or other, I almost never participate in group riding events. And if I have to, I always choose to be in the very back of the pack. That way I can control the distance between me and everyone else. There's nothing worse than a daydreaming, sightseeing rider crowding you from behind.

I can't really put my finger on it, but it seems that we BMW riders are kind of "lone wolf" types.

You notice that when you run into other BMW folks, they usually turn out to be much like you; friendly, interesting, thinkers with plenty of miles on their bikes.

You don't generally find a whole lot of "meat heads" on Beemers.

You've got your "bikers" and then you've got your "Motorcyclists."

You notice that when you run into other BMW folks, they usually turn out to be much like you; friendly, interesting, thinkers with plenty of miles on their bikes.

Don't forget good looking!

I must disagree ErikU. The BMW Rally drew to it some of the strangest and fugliest looking people I have ever seen! I cannot say where I fell amongst the ranking.

Conversely, squid bike fests draw HOT, I repeat, HOT girls. Harley fests now draw the few smoking hot ones, but not a majority by any means.

Interesting thread...I am a cancer nurse so anything we all can do for the cause is a good thing....however, I personally (because of my association) am really tired of fundraiser rides and walks....when I get my time off I want to be anything but an oncology nurse...one time on a tropical vacation I picked up a book to read poolside...2/3 of the way through the book the hero of the story got ovarian cancer...thud. Ruined my poolside time so much I had to increase my marguita intake significantly.

I am really sorry and embarassed for my gender when I see these Harley chicks doing the fashion show and ruining the ride. It is just not a NOVELTY any longer to be a woman who rides. She needs to get over herself.

I agree with ErikU....we are incredibly good looking in our gear with MILEAGE.

Just-Beeming,

Thank you.

From a Dad who has a young daughter fighting a 2 year battle with AML, the Oncology nurses make the difference between winning and loosing everyday!

Can I buy you a Margarita sometime?

You're Most Welcome.
My best thoughts to your Daughter.
She has one of the most essential things to win the battle.
A supportive parent.

Margurita's are good medicine sometimes!

Just-Beeming - I can asssume you, I think women on high mileage bikes wearing well worn protective gear are hot!

Vann,
When I have ridden behind you, I feel like I am riding in a Charity Ride parade.

Jeff - sorry to hold you up!

wncbmw wrote:I participated in a fundraiser ride for the American Cancer Society today and was reminded once again why I hate riding in these things. Usually, I just give them my money and wave as they ride off, then ride in the opposite direction.

We rode one of my favorite twisty loops rides and in 20+ years of riding those roads, I have never ridden them quite so slowly or quite so loudly. Obviously, I was not one of the loud ones. In fact, at the start, I never would have known my bike was running, except the tach needle would move when I blipped the throttle.

I got off the bike at the end, and one rider said " that was a nice pace coming down the mountain". I laughed! One woman rider on a Harley V-rod with a custom pink paint job and custom matching skid lid was actually holding up the already excruciatingly slow pace of the ride. (No offence to our women members, but if you are so unsure of your riding skills that a slow charity ride is too fast, spend the money on a riding course instead of a paint job! And don't be the slowest rider riding the most powerful Harley!) And of course, many of the male riders were only marginally better. So many crossed center lines and butchered curves! Oh the humanity!

So almost as soon as we get back, I say some goodbyes, skip the lunch and go back and ride the same road again but at my normal pace. Much better!

You will never want to attend the Sturgis rally. It is exactly as you described but with lots more bikes.