NEDOC Members and Ride Complaints

[DucDave]

It has come to my attention that the President of NEDOC has made some very negative comments about the Seacoast and NESR Rides. Since I lead all the Seacoast rides and a few other NESR rides during the season this concerns me greatly.

I would urge anyone that has attended any of my rides to please feel free to pass any complaints or suggestions to me either here...(I'm pretty active in NESR)..., via PM, or to my email at dave.michaud@comcast.net.

I take leading these rides very seriously and from what I've seen, the comments on NEDOC reflect some peculiar complaints. One observation was "...the horror story of someone getting a flat tire!" Well, it's true. We have had 3 flat tires on my rides. And in every case we got the tire plugged, inflated, and the rider got home with no issues! Another complaint had to do with losing riders. I don't think we've lost a rider in 3 years...but, I could be wrong!

I always try and lead an entertaining ride and never set out without a riders meeting and making sure that folks are properly geared up. THe last two years we have always had comm gear between myself, the sweep, and at least two other riders in the pack. And unlike some ride leaders, there is never any drinking on the Seacoast rides or NESR Rides I lead!

I did a little rough math and calculated that over the past 5 years I've led over 350,000 man miles of rides. With that many rides, that many people, and that many miles I'm sure I've dissapointed some.

If you're one of them, please let me know how I can make the rides better! I am always looking for ways to improve!!!

[Garandman]

Had to look up what NEDOC was - New England Desmo Owners Club.

I did the Covered Bridges ride with you last year and thought it was run very well, in fact the best I've ever been on.

Some other group rides I've been on:

- Group ride over dirt roads in NH. A rider joined the group, they miscounted, changed the route and left two riders on their own for the rest of the day. They didn't realize they'd lost two riders for several hours.

- Another Fall group ride in NH. GPS route posted in advance. Everyone was asked if they needed gas - no. Two miles into the ride, a rider stopped for gas, breaking off a group of six who had to be led back on route by the sweep (me).

- Same group ride. A group of KTM owners decided to split off after a fuel stop because the pace was too slow. Some of the group were not aware this was a splinter and followed. As one put it "When we passed the same church for the third time, I knew I'd made a mistake." They straggled in, separately, to the designated lunch stop more than an hour late.

Folks take for granted it's easy to lead a group ride - with more than 10 bikes or so the degree of difficulty increases exponentially. It's a lot more difficult than it looks to plan a good route, keep the group together, and deal with the inevitable breakdowns, potty stops, low fuel, etc.

In summary, as large group rides go, you have done the best job of any I have been on. It's a completely thankless task, and I don't know why you bother, but you've done a great job.

"No good deed goes unpunished."

[Bkilm]

I've only been on one ride with you dave, The Ride to the races in loudon, (Showed up a little late caught you guys after breakfast) Ive done many other rides whether they be fun/charity etc and i have to admit it was short but i had a great time on the ride. it seemed to be the safest and most "professional" ride ive been on, considering the communication and actually having a sweep.
Just remember people will alwys be cynical, From what ive seen your doing a great job, and Hell, just remember as long as your having fun and the people we are riding with stay safe who cares what anyone else thinks.
Looking forward to more rides next season with you guys (maybe ill be priviliged to find this infamous "t-road")

[slammp]

I know i speak for Rob and Terry when I say "More Pee Breaks"

Serously, Dave anyone complaining about one of your ride's has to be a pampered brat. You a overwhelmingly organized and methodical in the process. I say dont worry about people will be people - your rides are top in my book.

[trider143]

DD lead group rides are top shelf!

[scottfromboston]

Hi Dave,

We (I've been two-up each time) only made it out with you once last year, but several times in the years preceding. I've always felt welcome and safe on your rides. They're organized and fun. I know from experience that leading (or even assisting in leading) groups of any size is challenging. My first thought - anyone complaining about your ride leadership has never personally led a group ride, and has no basis for their unreasonable expectations.

Whoever is complaining is a snotty assclown. Perhaps there weren't enough machiatto breaks?

[ThisBitch]

I love DucDave rides, ferreals.

Want me to beat that guy up?

[Marc R]

Can't please all the people all the time.

I thought the biggest problem was word got around and too many people are showing up for the rides?

[ff36buell]

Dave, all the things said above are true about how great ur rides are, but I realize the problem. DESMO club, not to knock NESR Ducati owners bc I think all of you are great, but much different than the rest. That said, outside our little NESR community I have been less than impressed with other Duc owners. Most come accross as people who have more money than skills and love insulting "lesser" riders on "inferior" steeds. Keep doing what you do, we all appreciate your dedication and the love of our sport that you show with every ride.

Nick

[Degsy]

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I actually find this funny. Tell them to go fuck themselves. Your rides are very well organized. Sorry to say I have very little time for certain elitists who always seem to infect the Ducati and BMW crowd. They are usually temporary born agains who disappear after a year or two anyway after they find out they are safer taking up fishing.

[Eric Baker]

I don't know who could say that about our rides, but they need not be listened to. Your rides are nothing but great, though they could end a little closer to where they started.

[NHBusa]

I have been on many DucDave rides and have found EVERY one of them to be outstanding in every way. I have seen the unfortunate “get off” on a ride or two, and have seen the way Dave ensures the rider is properly taken care of. This means a lot to me, knowing that if I ever need, that assistance, Dave and others are there! Another point to bring out is that Dave ensures that no one is left behind. I have seen him stop the group and go and get the person that inadvertently got separated from the group (rumor has it that he even got a ticket doing so). Dave stresses fun and safety in all rides. I am disappointed to hear that anyone would have a negative comment on a DucDave ride. Well… maybe a comment about the occasional dirt road! Dave, keep doing exactly what you are doing !!!!

[FirstDuc-1098]

Dave, being a Duc owner and even thou I haven't been on any of your rides, NEDOC does not speak for me. Everything Ive heard of your rides is organized, controlled and safe. Just ignore them.

[NobodySpecific]

They complained about people getting a flat tire? That instantly discredits them and makes their other complaints invalid (IMO). Would they bitch if it started to rain? Or a car cut somebody off? Or if an animal ran into the road? Or there was some gravel in a corner? If they complain about things that you can't control, there is no reason to worry.

[R1]

Dave,

There have been a few things that i can recall that stand out...

1) Some asshole always doing wheelies :sing:
2) They start waaaayy to early in the morning
3) The people on the ride are all way too nice
4) Definitely more pee breaks
5) Not enough dirt roads
6) The spot to meet at is too far away for me

Aside from that yeah i can recall a few incidents, but they are at no fault of you or the group.

The idea of a lrage group of motorcyclists all riding together is inherently a game of numbers. the fact you did the math and shown that amount of miles proves that within that there are a number of things that WILL go wrong regardless of who is leading what group to where...

Dave, all the things said above are true about how great ur rides are, but I realize the problem. DESMO club, not to knock NESR Ducati owners bc I think all of you are great, but much different than the rest. That said, outside our little NESR community I have been less than impressed with other Duc owners. Most come accross as people who have more money than skills and love insulting "lesser" riders on "inferior" steeds. Keep doing what you do, we all appreciate your dedication and the love of our sport that you show with every ride.

Nick

^^^ This. although my Ducati is better than your Buell

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I actually find this funny. Tell them to go fuck themselves. Your rides are very well organized. Sorry to say I have very little time for certain elitist who always seem to infect the Ducati and BMW crowd. They are usually temporary born agains who disappear after a year or two anyway fate they find out they are safer taking up fishing.

What are you trying to say? Jerk...
You never did get me that autograph....

[The Snowman]

6) The spot to meet at is too far away for me

my only complaint about Seacoast/DucDave NESR rides, but that's a given, owing to the location where they reside.

That being said, I love DD-lead rides. They're well-organized, safety minded, and fun as hell.

[jc.cyberdemon]

i dont go on nedoc very often but i havent heard anything said about nesr posted on there at all....its not the most active site and the last posts were at least a week ago, they all seem like good folks over there but what do i know....

[Stoneman]

So someone's said to someone who's said to someone that someone had negative feedback about your rides? Two things immediately come to mind:

-By the time the comments reach you, they're most likely way too convoluted to make much sense and/or really matter...

-If what you heard IS really what was said but the complainer isn't stand up enough to take it up with you directly, then it wouldn't hold much water with me...

[Wanderer]

Had to look up what NEDOC was - New England Desmo Owners Club.

I did the Covered Bridges ride with you last year and thought it was run very well, in fact the best I've ever been on.

Some other group rides I've been on:

- Group ride over dirt roads in NH. A rider joined the group, they miscounted, changed the route and left two riders on their own for the rest of the day. They didn't realize they'd lost two riders for several hours.

- Another Fall group ride in NH. GPS route posted in advance. Everyone was asked if they needed gas - no. Two miles into the ride, a rider stopped for gas, breaking off a group of six who had to be led back on route by the sweep (me).

- Same group ride. A group of KTM owners decided to split off after a fuel stop because the pace was too slow. Some of the group were not aware this was a splinter and followed. As one put it "When we passed the same church for the third time, I knew I'd made a mistake." They straggled in, separately, to the designated lunch stop more than an hour late.

Folks take for granted it's easy to lead a group ride - with more than 10 bikes or so the degree of difficulty increases exponentially. It's a lot more difficult than it looks to plan a good route, keep the group together, and deal with the inevitable breakdowns, potty stops, low fuel, etc.

In summary, as large group rides go, you have done the best job of any I have been on. It's a completely thankless task, and I don't know why you bother, but you've done a great job.

"No good deed goes unpunished."

Heh - was one of those a autumn ride, from ADV - left from a gas station near Lowell? BostonGS, Beez and a few others were on it if memory serves - as some of the above seems VERY familiar!
(went over sandwitch notch, tripoli road, then east across the kanc and bear notch, etc)

[OreoGaborio]

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I actually find this funny. Tell them to go fuck themselves. Your rides are very well organized. Sorry to say I have very little time for certain elitist who always seem to infect the Ducati and BMW crowd. They are usually temporary born agains who disappear after a year or two anyway fate they find out they are safer taking up fishing.

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8C148 Safari/6533.18.5)

I actually find this funny. Tell them to go fuck themselves. Your rides are very well organized. Sorry to say I have very little time for certain elitists who always seem to infect the Ducati and BMW crowd. They are usually temporary born agains who disappear after a year or two anyway after they find out they are safer taking up fishing.

So good it had to be posted twice.... and quoted!

[solgirl]

I went on my first Seacoast /Dave ride in the fall of 07 Curtis Ribs ride. I had been told that I couldn't hang with the big boys they were out of my league. This person doesn't exist in my life anymore.

I had just switched to a sportbike from a tiny cruiser. I had not been on any bikes for two years because my dad became ill and then passed. I had only one year under my belt before that.

Dave told me that I would be just fine and to ride my own ride. I showed up and met a few NESR members.
He began with his list of rider rules. Sounds harsh but they work!
He then talks about gas stops, food time , p brakes, his intended route, the terrain (always says there might be dirt) . He does this on every ride. Then off we went....
A rider went down in front of me wearing a helmet, sweatshirt, jeans and sneakers. He and his friend headed home at that point.
I had been keeping a safe distance just as Dave spoke of. Kudos!

That was the best ride ever for being a somewhat newbie!

I would not change anything about the way Seacoast/Dave runs their rides.
I would ask that if you have not ridden with the group before to let Dave know your experience. It could mean a bad day if your not around riders of your own level.
If your not use to a faster pace then position yourself somewhere towards the back. Then move up or let people go by at stops to where your are comfortable.

Don't ride over your head.
Most of all have fun!

[R7]

Had to look up what NEDOC was - New England Desmo Owners Club.

And i thought this was gonna be another thread about Doc

[duey]

I haven't been on any rides with you (or any of the NESR rides in a few years now) but I'm sure you lead a good ride. But yeah take what the Ducati guys say with a grain of salt. It's not worth your time trying to figure out why/what they're complaining about.

[LiterR1]

DD Rides = No Complains.
Quite the opposite, Well organized and the probably the best way to get used to riding in a group format, there is a lot to learn from riding dirt in a 1000cc sports bike but on a serious note it is a great place to meet other folks who share the same passion of riding motorcycles and enjoying New England on two wheels, riding etiquette, ATGATT and much more. Mount Washington, Lars Anderson and the list goes on.

[ThisBitch]

I went on my first Seacoast /Dave ride in the fall of 07 Curtis Ribs ride. I had been told that I couldn't hang with the big boys they were out of my league. This person doesn't exist in my life anymore.

I had just switched to a sportbike from a tiny cruiser. I had not been on any bikes for two years because my dad became ill and then passed. I had only one year under my belt before that.

Dave told me that I would be just fine and to ride my own ride. I showed up and met a few NESR members.
He began with his list of rider rules. Sounds harsh but they work!
He then talks about gas stops, food time , p brakes, his intended route, the terrain (always says there might be dirt) . He does this on every ride. Then off we went....
A rider went down in front of me wearing a helmet, sweatshirt, jeans and sneakers. He and his friend headed home at that point.
I had been keeping a safe distance just as Dave spoke of. Kudos!

That was the best ride ever for being a somewhat newbie!

I would not change anything about the way Seacoast/Dave runs their rides.
I would ask that if you have not ridden with the group before to let Dave know your experience. It could mean a bad day if your not around riders of your own level.
If your not use to a faster pace then position yourself somewhere towards the back. Then move up or let people go by at stops to where your are comfortable.

Don't ride over your head.
Most of all have fun!

That was a great ride, my ass hurt for DAYS. Lots of miles, a few wrong turns and some dirt roads, but all in all I had a blast.

I do remember having indigestion from the ribs so bad when we left Curtis' that I thought I was going to barf in my helmet though.