Went on one of Chris Scott's tours...stayed for a few days, then parted ways.

Geecee68

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I'm just back from one of Chris Scotts group tours which start off in Marrakesh, do a circuit south of the High Atlas, then head back in. It started off well, but I left after a couple of days.

Group riding isn't for everyone. All lovely folks of course, but I soon realised I was the kid who'd be the last to get picked for the team. I spent a morning trying to keep up...then thought...fuck it, this is no fun, I'll end up dead off the side of a cliff. Morning of Day 3 I headed back to Marrakesh. Enjoyed that day by myself more that the first two. Learned a lesson...go by myself or with somene whose riding I'm compatible with.

Chris is wonderful by the way. Knowledgeable, supportive, calm and patient.

 
Good video report and an honest summation. Always best to quit when you are ahead. Have a look at Richie’s pretty gentle solo tour for inspiration and / or have a look at the forum’s open invitation jaunts; not all of them will be hardcore or they’d be idiots for them to lie to you.
 
Oh that's interesting, I have been regretting not knowing about his book before I got here. I have never felt like signing up for trips. I am plodding along quite nicely and have done some proper hardcore stuff. By my own standards admittedly. Actually I've seen groups of guys identically dressed riding identical GS or nordens ( i think they are called ) and they wouldn't even wave at me. But sure I am on Irish plates and got here all on my own so fek you with your Moroccan hire bike..

The road from Marrakech to Taroudent or whatever it's called is magic, managed to find that on my own too.

About 12 days left or so. Enjoy
 
I agree with what's already been written, you definitely did the right thing.
I went on an organised trip a few years ago. I won't bore everyone with the details but a lot of the group regularly went on these tours and knew each other, a few of us were 1st timers. The main group rode very quickly, I felt trying to outdo one another and they were certainly too quick for me. There were 3 old boys who'd never ridden abroad before and were very nervous and they had no idea how to upload GPX routes so hadn't bothered, assuming the tour leader would make sure they were okay - he didn't. I had uploaded the routes and was happy to to plod along at the pace of the old chaps. At the end of the tour the old men thanked me for my help and looking after them, not required but very much appreciated by me. I was also approached by the tour leader who told me that if I was going on a guided tour again I should 'Try to keep up with everyone else' otherwise there was no point in him organising them. I've not been back on any more of his trips.
 
richie said:
Oh that's interesting, I have been regretting not knowing about his book before I got here. I have never felt like signing up for trips. I am plodding along quite nicely and have done some proper hardcore stuff. By my own standards admittedly. Actually I've seen groups of guys identically dressed riding identical GS or nordens ( i think they are called ) and they wouldn't even wave at me. But sure I am on Irish plates and got here all on my own so fek you with your Moroccan hire bike..

The road from Marrakech to Taroudent or whatever it's called is magic, managed to find that on my own too.

About 12 days left or so. Enjoy
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I think I'll come back to you and get your experience of the solo trip when you get back. I found that we were whizzing through places and spots and I'd have been happy to pull up and have a nose. Apparently going in via Tangier or Tangier Med is a doddle now. No crowd of hangers on...certainly looked that way when I came in by foot at Tangier.

Best of luck with your trip.
 
Ex-Call Centre Chimp said:
I agree with what's already been written, you definitely did the right thing.
I went on an organised trip a few years ago. I won't bore everyone with the details but a lot of the group regularly went on these tours and knew each other, a few of us were 1st timers. The main group rode very quickly, I felt trying to outdo one another and they were certainly too quick for me. There were 3 old boys who'd never ridden abroad before and were very nervous and they had no idea how to upload GPX routes so hadn't bothered, assuming the tour leader would make sure they were okay - he didn't. I had uploaded the routes and was happy to to plod along at the pace of the old chaps. At the end of the tour the old men thanked me for my help and looking after them, not required but very much appreciated by me. I was also approached by the tour leader who told me that if I was going on a guided tour again I should 'Try to keep up with everyone else' otherwise there was no point in him organising them. I've not been back on any more of his trips.
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Thank you....reassuring that a few others think I did the right thing.
 
Reminds me of my first trail ride in North Yorkshire. In that I was a complete novice and was riding with experienced lads. About a third of the way into the ride I realised I was nowhere near as skilled as the others and had already tired myself out making the extra effort just to keep with them. Had a chat, explained myself, thanked them all and headed for home knowing I’d done the right thing.

I think you did the right thing.
 
I would like to say that the ability to keep up is not just linked to age - I’ve always been a slower rider off road.

Never been into group riding, especially in the traditional ‘follow the leader’ sense in unfamiliar surroundings. I think any tour leader who tells you you need to keep up should be named and shamed.
 
I fully understand this, I’m in the “ I know what I like and I like what I know”brigade. Pretty much every time I have had occasion to ride with strangers, it has caused me concern that they were ’over riding’ or simply too slow. Either way, no fun.
There have been times when it’s been ok, admittedly on rides of limited duration-it may be that in those cases, I was the slow one in comparison …
I’ve got perhaps three or four buddies who have similar pace expectations and abilities and I’m happy with that.
 
Geecee68 said:
I think I'll come back to you and get your experience of the solo trip when you get back. I found that we were whizzing through places and spots and I'd have been happy to pull up and have a nose. Apparently going in via Tangier or Tangier Med is a doddle now. No crowd of hangers on...certainly looked that way when I came in by foot at Tangier.

Best of luck with your trip.
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Sure thing do. I just started with a list of twelve things to do in order. By the time I got to number five, I started to change the plan. I nearly alway stop two nights, so I can bimble around without bags and take my camera. It's working for me. I have enjoyed everything apart from maybe, having 250 euro stolen in Fez. And possibly half the ride from here to Essaouira and back. But I did enjoy my evening In Essaouira so I guess about 120 K of not nice roads out of all that I have done so far is ok. Tomorrow I do what you did on your own in the other direction, except I am not starting from Marrakech as I have avoided that altogether😄
Booking dot com is working for me, I was told to just turn up and discuss, but I find it convenient to choose a place by it's reviews and price rather than faffing about.
 
ChasF said:
I would like to say that the ability to keep up is not just linked to age - I’ve always been a slower rider off road.

Never been into group riding, especially in the traditional ‘follow the leader’ sense in unfamiliar surroundings. I think any tour leader who tells you you need to keep up should be named and shamed.
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I'm a slow rider off road and on it, but I'm happy and I love my bike and plodding around. The folks in the group were older than me, just better riders! To be fair Chris said he could slow it down, but I couldn't see how that would have worked in practice.
 
Geecee68 said:
I'm a slow rider off road and on it, but I'm happy and I love my bike and plodding around. The folks in the group were older than me, just better riders! To be fair Chris said he could slow it down, but I couldn't see how that would have worked in practice.
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I think in practice it would’ve ended up with an acrimonious division. The other guys would say it’s ok, don’t worry but in reality at the end of the day they would be chatting among themselves about how much they would’ve liked to have done whichever section of the ride faster than they had to. Again, I think you did just the right thing, and importantly, the best thing for you.
 
Think you did the right thing, no point chasing their tails and missing the sights you went there for.

I ride in a regular group of 5 of which I’m the slowest. Over the years we’ve learnt I’m happy bringing up the rear and they’re happy at their own pace. We all catch up eventually. Benefits of knowing your riding mates I guess
 
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting people on group rides when I’ve been solo. Sometimes they tell me they feel they’re just racing to get from point to point and missing the views, culture and cuisine. I heard one couple say they were chastised by the guide for being too slow and that this was a “biking holiday, the operative word being bike and if they wanted to go on a sight seeing holiday, they should have gone elsewhere”.

You did the right thing. Do what you enjoy (y)
 
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Good call to do your own thing . I have done many tours all over the world as a tour medic . I was often the sweep at the end , so always last in unless needed for a fall / illness . That way we accommodated even the slowest rider or just those that wanted to take it in in their own time. Less easy with a small group. I recently went to the Dolomites with friends and I took my time whilst they nailed it every day .We met in the evening for a meal and a few cheeky beers . It worked well and no pressure on anyone . That’s how I will do it next year in Spain / Portugal . Thanks for posting
 
KMD said:
Reminds me of my first trail ride in North Yorkshire. In that I was a complete novice and was riding with experienced lads. About a third of the way into the ride I realised I was nowhere near as skilled as the others and had already tired myself out making the extra effort just to keep with them. Had a chat, explained myself, thanked them all and headed for home knowing I’d done the right thing.

I think you did the right thing.
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Best way
I try to adjust to the pace of others when I lead a trail ride or if I ride with others and they’re leading (and quicker, more experienced etc) I just ride at my pace and usually we catch up at a gateway or some such
 
I started my tour on my own and have met many good guys and lasses that have wanted to ride with me, only snag is I love my photography, and going at break neck speed means you can miss out on quite a lot. I always say I'll meet them at point B so this keeps them happy. Pushing your luck on two wheels will catch up with you eventually.
 
Geecee68 said:
Thank you....reassuring that a few others think I did the right thing.
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the reason I don’t do group rides is that they invariably end up as a race, if you’re not riding at your own pace you’re dangerous, and in a group ride nobody is riding at their own pace

I have a couple of good friends I’ll ride with as we have nothing to prove to each other
 
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