Monthly Maine Ride

[duc996]

I think it's about time the Maine riders got organized for some groups rides. I'm proposing a monthly ride, the 2nd Sunday of every month, starting May 11th. I know Crumar is in. Obsessed?, Darkside, Supero, HereComesTrouble, Econoliner, Kr4sh, hangin_biposto, Turbodude, MIXER, whoever else I'm forgetting, and anyone from away who's in the area... There's enough of us around to have a solid ride every month.

I've got a good route for the first ride and don't mind leading if people can keep up. > Someone else can pick the route and lead for ride #2. Two meeting places for those a little out of town. In Portland, the Back Bay parking lot by Hannaford seems to be a convenient meeting place. 10:00am. We'll meet anyone farther away at the Park and Ride in Gray around 10:30-10:45. I'm going to guess round trip from Portland will be 3 hours not including time for stops, but I can certainly modify the route to accomodate a longer or shorter ride.

Crumar, if no one shows at least it will be me and you.

[crumar]

One sunday a month. That's not a huge commitment.

and considering i ride WHENEVER POSSIBLE, you know i'll be there.

[KristofferN]

May 11th...... Not sure if I'll be able to go, I have a scheduled "guys night out" the night before so it could be tough convincing the wife with a day ride the very next day. I'll see what I can do.

You know I want to go, I have been looking forward to the 1st group ride of the season since the last one I went on at the end of last season.

[Jnaids07]

Never been on a group ride but I am comfortable with my riding skills, and live in the Portland area. Excuse my noobness....but what does a group ride normally entail? (besides the obvious) Spirited riding? Restaurant stops etc?

[duc996]

Originally Posted by Jnaids07

Never been on a group ride but I am comfortable with my riding skills, and live in the Portland area. Excuse my noobness....but what does a group ride normally entail? (besides the obvious) Spirited riding? Restaurant stops etc?

Besides the obvious, a group ride is basically doing something you love with other people who love it for the exact same reasons - which I think is especially true of Ducati and Monster owners. I'm not sure why, but its more fun for me to ride in a group of 5-6 Ducati's than it is to ride with Yamaha's and Honda's. Spirited riding, yes, when appropriate. But no one ever has to ride outside of their comfort zone. I actually find that riding in a group tends to slow me down - which is a good thing. Restaurant stops, no, not really restaurants. But we do take time out from the riding to get some food, grab some pictures, and check out any major points of interest (if they're next to the road).

Here's roughly the route I was planning: Google Map. Crumar and I did something similar to this last weekend and the roads were all in suprisingly good shape considering the winter we had. There's some great scenery, a bunch of lakeside villages that are nice to ride through and some really fun sections of road.

[Jnaids07]

Sounds like a fun time. I definitely want in if I can make it. I could use some Ducati camaraderie.

[crumar]

yeah that was a great ride. it'll be nice to meet another local rider Jnaids.

how about everyone else out there in Maineland?...

[dan900sie]

I'll do my best to make it, sounds like a good time.

[Johnny Venom]

What's up everyone - I've been out with a few of you so far this year - Obsessed and Crumar (I think), HereComesTrouble... Prob others too... b ut haven't spent much time on DML tho,.. Always looking to ride so I'll do my best to be at Back Bay at 10:00.

In the meantime, I'll do some more snooping around here to try to get my postings up to respectable numbers.....

[HereComesTrouble]

Can't make this one

For the rest of you ride safely! Looks like the weather should be just about perfect.

Hopefully next time!

Amelie