It's a tricky thing. Over the last 12 years or so, our group has only had two leaders. It's a big job so the guy that does it has to be: 1. really GOOD AT IT
2. Really like it ... and everyone has to like and RESPECT him.

We started out as a merging of 3 clubs kind of into one. 50 guys or so to start, but really only about 25 active riders with typically about 6 to 12 guys on each ride. We do about 10 rides a year. Most are 3 to 4 day rides, with a couple week long rides. Some years, a two/three week "vacation" ride. Some multi state or to Mexico. One small group of our guys flew to Chile and rented bikes. A total disaster, one guy nearly died when he hit a Huanaco at 60 mph.

I led one of the "big" Rides, 21 days, leading 16 members from San Francisco to Copper Canyon via Baja and all over Mexico and back. Since the group was SO BIG ... we split it in two. 8 in each group, on a slightly staggered schedule. We all met up in Mexico.

If 16 guys were to show up at a little Cafe in Mexico, it would take you 3 hours to get lunch. Motels, same thing. NO way can one small place handle that many. Small is best. We barely squeezed in my group of 8 and got them fed in reasonable time. No one is in a hurry in Mexico. Hotels must be chosen carefully. Some real flea bag joints.

Returning to the USA, the two groups broke into smaller sub groups and all headed home in different directions, some via dirt, some highway. Some got lost. That was the small group of 3 I led!

But the ride down with my 8 riders went really well. We all knew each other as we ride ALL YEAR together, doing thousands of miles. Years and years of this.

But most of our California rides are small groups, 6 to 10 guys, 3-4 day weekend, 250 to 400 mile days. Very fast paced. Experts only. Dirt, Street and everything in between. I don't lead the monthly rides. Too hard. You have to be a really good navigator/route planner .. I'm not. But I know Mexico and speak Espanol, so was recruited for that one only. No one died.

Getting along is sometimes tough. Things come up. Usually around Motel or Restaurant choices or splitting checks. Money.

But mostly it goes OK. Some members come on poorly prepared bikes which can slow things down. Sometimes Police are involved ... but we have two cops in the group ... so sometimes they bail us out of trouble. (but not always).

Group dynamics are tough. With strong personalities it's truly a challenge to keep focused on the ride and keep everyone happy. But overall, we've done pretty well and are mostly still friends but not everyone is still around. Our group is fading but lasted nearly 15 years. A good run, I'd say.

In foreign countries I CANNOT recommend group travel. When with your group, you take in little of surroundings and have only superficial interaction with locals. We fall into our own world. Blocking out everyone else.

But our guys did pretty good in Mexico, breaking into small one to three man groups to explore or take a tour or just walk around. But once the big group is together ... we all become self absorbed ugly Americans. Sad but true.
Tends to happen with most groups, regardless of nationalities.

But we do try to be good ambassadors for riders and for our fellow countrymen when abroad. I've seen worse.