Do you participate in breakfast rides?

[DBrentMiller]

Do you participate in a group breakfast ride? How is yours organized?

I have to admit, I feel really lucky to be part of a group of riders that meet on Sunday mornings to ride out for breakfast. We have established good friendships, and can rely on each other. The mix of bikes ranges from Kawasakis, BMWs, Harleys, Hondas and Suzukis--an eclectic mix.

Because we have all spoken about the comraderie we have, our group has grown from a handful to more than dozen. Friends invite other friends. On the last ride, there were 14. We usually meet for coffee, ride out to a mom and pop restaurant on Ohio's back roads, eat breakfast and then ride home. Our rides can be anywhere from 50-100 miles round trip. We don't do the franchised places, and the restaurants are scattered around in small towns.

Unfortunately, because our group has grown, there are only a few restaurants than can handle a group of our size for a walk in for breakfast. It's the end of the season so rides will be fewer here in SW Ohio, but what will we do next season?

I'd like to have some ideas to address our size problem without hurting feelings, and making everyone feel like they belong and continue riding with us.

Brent

[DAKEZ]

We had 12

[blues]

I do some and always enjoy them. Typically someone takes a nose count before departing and calls the breakfast destination and gives them an EPA.
Apparently these have gone on for some time because we always seem to be well received when we get there.

I'd say there are maybe 25 riders give or take. I've also seen them head out in two groups but not sure why. The group is fairly BMW-centric but I also feel welcome to join in on whatever I happen to be ridding at the moment. After breakfast usually smaller groups form up and head out.

[Nomadmax]

I'd like to add to your problem. Is there a ride this Sunday? I live just north of Cincy.

[DBrentMiller]

Originally Posted by Nomadmax

I'd like to add to your problem. Is there a ride this Sunday? I live just north of Cincy.

Yes. Our rides are always weather permitting. Some of us are more willing to ride in marginal weather.

I am actually in South Lebanon. Where are you located?

Brent

[DBrentMiller]

Originally Posted by DAKEZ

We had 12

How are your breakfast gatherings and rides organized? Do you always go to the same restaurant? Do you meet at the restaurant and then ride?

Brent

[Uncle Ernie]

We have a Yahoo group and the Breakfast Czar decides on where we go.
In the summer, it's mostly the Pisga Inn. We meet at the restaurant to eat. After the tire kicking, the hot shoes take off together, a couple of leasurely types go off together, and everyone else goes where ever. Loose. It can range fron 2 guys to 20. On racing or rally weekends, it's usually a pretty small group.

[smokinpig]

Originally Posted by DBrentMiller

How are your breakfast gatherings and rides organized? Do you always go to the same restaurant? Do you meet at the restaurant and then ride?

Brent

We have a thread in Pacific Northwet called PDX meetups:

http://advrider.com/forums/showthrea...15344&page=327

We meet Thursday evenings and post up about rides on the thread. Different places every time. Last Sunday it was all paved apx 250 miles.

Other times it is all dirt.

[P B G]

Few times, I find it difficult to wake up have coffee, then ride to a diner.

There needs to be time in there for bathroom going.

[DBrentMiller]

Thanks for all the feedback. I'm beginning to see some viable options for our group. One of the reasons for meeting at our regular spot is coffee, gas and restrooms.



Sunday Morning Breakfast Riders.

[Nomadmax]

Originally Posted by DBrentMiller

Yes. We meet at the UDF, corner of SR 48 and US 22/3 in Maineville at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. Our rides are always weather permitting. Some of us are more willing to ride in marginal weather.

I am actually in South Lebanon. Where are you located?

Brent

Germantown,OH

[DBrentMiller]

Originally Posted by Nomadmax

Germantown,OH

Nice little town. Great little restaurant: (Kathy's Kafe?) one block off the main street. We have ridden there often. Food and service has been good. That has been on our list because of that area in the back for a larger group. It can accommodate a small group.

However, two weeks ago, when that photo above was taken, the breakfast was a disaster. Short a cook, the group was told the food would be an hour wait. Half got up and left.

Brent

[bostonsr]

I have a loosely organized "weekly agreed upon meetup spot" but wouldn't do a breakfast ride for the simple fact that group rides aren't as safe as solo riding.

abe

[DAKEZ]

Originally Posted by DBrentMiller

Do you meet at the restaurant and then ride?
Brent

As Smokinpig pointed out, we have a thread. As for where do we meet? I met one other rider at a gas station and we were early so we took an awesome and twisty route to one of two designated meeting placed where we picked up five more riders. Then it was off to the Blue House where we had a bite to eat and picked up five more. It was a balmy 34 degrees.

We had ADVriders coming from many different places... this worked out well.

We do not really ride in a group. We just set out our next meeting place and the only guy that needs to pay any attention to the group type of mentality is the sweep rider.

I agree with Bostonsr: Group rides are not real safe at times so spread out, have places to meet and enjoy it as an individual.

On this ride (in the above photo) we had one guy get a flat. Two riders stayed with him while he fixed it and I rode on ahead to tell the rest what the hold up was.

[DBrentMiller]

Originally Posted by DAKEZ

As Smokinpig pointed out, we have a thread. As for where do we meet? I met one other rider at a gas station and we were early so we took an awesome and twisty route to one of two designated meeting placed where we picked up five more riders. Then it was off to the Blue House where we had a bite to eat and picked up five more. It was a balmy 34 degrees.

We had ADVriders coming from many different places... this worked out well.

We do not really ride in a group. We just set out our next meeting place and the only guy that needs to pay any attention to the group type of mentality is the sweep rider.

I agree with Bostonsr: Group rides are not real safe at times so spread out, have places to meet and enjoy it as an individual.

On this ride (in the above photo) we had one guy get a flat.

Thanks. We are aware of safety issues in group riding, and as we add more riders, it becomes a concern. We usually spread out. Definitely do not ride side by side like some groups! We find two-laner back roads between our meetup and breakfast location--the kind that usually don't have paint on the roads. A couple of the others know of and read ADV Rider from time to time, but I think I am the only member of our group who is a participant in this forum. They all stood around pointing at my ADV Rider decal. "What's that? A sticker on your bike!"

Brent