i ate it on hwy9 and got real well acquainted with the road

Status
Not open for further replies.
shrimants

shrimants

Well-known member
Lunch Box said:
I actually don't think you are an idiot at all. You appear to be learning something from this experience, which is a very good thing. We disagree on a few details, but that's fine. As danate said, my interest in this is to have folks think about the potential consequences of their actions before a much worse incident happens.

As far as I know, my wife would still rather have me around than collect the life insurance because some moron blows a corner and takes me out. The real message here is to think about how and where you are riding, and to make good decisions.
Click to expand...

keep that life insurance payout amount low or she might change her mind :laughing

also, which details? you know a lot more than me, id like to see what your viewpoint is because chances are, mine are wrong/misinformed.
 
Last edited:
Lunch Box

Lunch Box

Useful idiot
The only reason he was included in the discussion is that he was leading/towing the OP during the ride in question. As such, his decisions/pace/riding are also relevant to the discussion. I would argue that if a more skilled/mature rider were towing the OP, the crash would have been much less likely to occur.

Per your request, I will refrain from further comment along those lines.
 
shrimants

shrimants

Well-known member
I'd say he was going at a pace comfortable to him. It's entirely my fault for attempting to keep up. I told him to ride at his usual pace and I was told repeatedly by him and the other in my group to not push myself, not try to keep up, I will be left behind and can catch up at the next stop sign, etc. I was told they would wait for me.

Just so we're all clear, this is 100% my fault for being cocky and writing checks my ass couldn't cash.
 
Last edited:
Lunch Box

Lunch Box

Useful idiot
Roger that. I have nothing further to add to the discussion. I wish you luck in your future moto endeavors, and I have no doubt that you will emerge a better rider as a result of this incident.
 
E

EEL

Well-known member
When (very rarely) I ride with others, the person with the least experience / slowest leads. That way the urge to keep up is mitigated. Personally, I dont like looking back every other turn to see where everyone is at pace wise.
 
bpowa

bpowa

Well-known member
Moral of the story dont make multiple passes on a road you dont really know. I ridden 9 for years and downed my bike on the front and back side. I know every turn and bump like the back of my hand. However this road/construction/tar-snakes changes alot. I learned to stay away from 9 mainly in the summer due to too many cars and motos. Last time I been up there a couple months ago there was a stoplight added after the big s turn. The one in my avatar. I had to break and swerve from hitting traffic... What I should have dont was maybe like you make sure I know the road conditions and changes.
 
GAJ

GAJ

Well-known member
bpowa said:
Last time I been up there a couple months ago there was a stoplight added after the big s turn. The one in my avatar. I had to break and swerve from hitting traffic... What I should have dont was maybe like you make sure I know the road conditions and changes.
Click to expand...

Or slowed down.

Road conditions on a road "you know like that back of your hand" are rarely identical to the last time you were there...even if it was just hours ago.
 
stevidx

stevidx

Old and In the Way
shrimants said:
definitely was trying to keep up. i felt like i had something to prove by keeping up, and i was managing to keep up. there were numerous times when something in my head said "dude, you're not feeling comfortable" and i stupidly ignored it and wrote it off as adrenalin or excitement or w/e.
Click to expand...

Adrenalin, for me, is one of the indicators that I'm in over my head (hate that feeling when I'm riding :thumbdown)... glad you're OK :thumbup
 
tzrider

tzrider

Write Only User
Staff member
shrimants, you've gotten a lot of input so far on a wide range of topics. advice on the areas in which you might improve as a rider is fine, but all of that takes time. If you had a bike tomorrow and decided to go ride the same road, you'd want something to do that would prevent the same kind of thing from happening with the equipment and skill set you have right now. How about this:

As you contemplate a pass, ask yourself, "Can I see far enough ahead to know for sure that I can complete this pass safely without any abrupt control inputs?"

Could you have confidently answered "Yes" to that on the day you crashed?
 
shrimants

shrimants

Well-known member
no, most certainly not.

for one thing i could only barely see around the SUV itself. for another thing, when the SUV moved over, i could only see up till the turn itself, not around the turn.
 
tzrider

tzrider

Write Only User
Staff member
shrimants said:
no, most certainly not.
Click to expand...

OK, good. Could using that question as a criterion for a "go/no-go" decision improve your safety in the future?

The point of these threads is to help you find something you can use that would help you avoid having a similar accident again.
 
shrimants

shrimants

Well-known member
tzrider said:
OK, good. Could using that question as a criterion for a "go/no-go" decision improve your safety in the future?

The point of these threads is to help you find something you can use that would help you avoid having a similar accident again.
Click to expand...

definitely. i think the biggest take away here is "play stupid games, win stupid prizes". i was riding to go fast rather than to enjoy the scenery and the ride itself. need to be more careful/less reckless (IE not reckless at all)
 
tzrider

tzrider

Write Only User
Staff member
shrimants said:
definitely. i think the biggest take away here is "play stupid games, win stupid prizes". i was riding to go fast rather than to enjoy the scenery and the ride itself. need to be more careful/less reckless (IE not reckless at all)
Click to expand...

There's no need to let the experience take the fun out of riding. If you enjoy rolling around corners quickly, you can do it pretty safely.

When thinking through these things, it's easy to fall into a trap of thinking of all the things one "shouldn't" do. That's a pretty long, ever changing list and it takes the focus off the relatively few things that, if you do them, will really help your safety. Having simple criteria for making a safe pass is something repeatable that you can use every single time you make a pass.
 
FXCLM5

FXCLM5

bombaclaud
interesting your group leader posted he was riding at a high pace

i think he shoulda taken different actions to lead newer riders on group rides

ive had a individual crash on a group ride i led, i felt really really bad - like it was my fault.

some things to note when i lead a group with unknown skill levels, i only pass cars when its extremely safe with high visibility just for the unknown if the others would try to make the same pass in the same area.

i really try to only pass 1 car at a time, unless its a really long straight, i find it really spooks the 1st car that doesnt even see you in their rearview when you flyby them passing, along with a entire group flying by

once i pass, i slow my pace down to make sure at least 50% if not 100% of the group has passed (really according to the pace of the group) and ill help signal riders to pass when traffic is clear and its relatively straight and safe

group ride leaders with new riders must know you are their mentor, your bad habits will transfer down to those who are following you
 
budman

budman

General Menace
Staff member
The front brake provides most of the stopping power!!

The back can help adjust speed a bit mid corner and can help aid more in slowing down, but in a straight line panic situation the front is the deal!!

Getting off it and going for the turn in is what I would try to do. Guarantee the back would barely be touching the ground when I let off to turn in.

The front brake rules the stop on tarmac.
 
TVC15

TVC15

Not a Rookie
budman said:
The front brake provides most of the stopping power!!

The back can help adjust speed a bit mid corner and can help aid more in slowing down, but in a straight line panic situation the front is the deal!!

Getting off it and going for the turn in is what I would try to do. Guarantee the back would barely be touching the ground when I let off to turn in.

The front brake rules the stop on tarmac.
Click to expand...

Of course the front brake provides most of the stopping power!! But using only the front brake during cornering is not the best way to utilize your brakes in this situation.

However in a cornering situation you get the best results when tapping the rear brake. I have met so many riders who say they never use their back brakes.... that makes zero sense in a cornering situation.
 
Last edited:
Enchanter

Enchanter

Ghost in The Machine
Staff member
Using only the rear brake when in a situation like this (in too hot and subsequent panic) is not a good technique at all. The weight transfer off of the rear wheel will make it much easier to loose traction. Add that to the propensity of riders to apply too much rear brake, would likely result in a lowside fall in this case.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top