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/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> it's a sad day in moses lake /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1119401283 Message started by sluggo on 06/21/05 at 17:48:03 |
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Title: it's a sad day in moses lake Post by sluggo on 06/21/05 at 17:48:03 on sunday morning a 28 year old women lost her life on a ride, she had dropped her child off at day care and was less than 30 minutes into the ride before her death. here's the facts as i've been able to ascertain. she was new to riding and riding with a group who had vastly more experience than her. at the end of a twenty two mile straight line there are set of "S" curves on a down hill slope. (i've scared the crap out of my self on them) she went in too hot. got in touble, this is where eyewitness accounts vary, one guy said she slid off, others say she stood it up and ran off. either way the results were the same. she lost her life. this now brings me to my point. there are alot of new riders here on the board, many women, (and yes i love that) who have completed the motorcycle safety course. for that i congratulate you, yet please understand that is the equivilent to passing drivers ed. the only way to hone you skills is riding, i've logged over 150,000 miles on two wheels and still don't feel i have it down pat. yes i do get wild and crazy as has been documented, i've also been down more times than i have fingers on one hand. my wild and crazy time is alway alone never in a group. givin that experience i offer these tips when group riding. first and formost, get together before hand and have a safety meeting which should include inspections of all safety equip. you should discuss destination and route along with a desired traveling speed. for the ride you break it up into smaller groups experienced in front, intermideate in middle and novice in the rear. following the rear pack should be the most experienced rider. this way he/she serves a nanny. he/she then can advise the novice group of potential mistakes when stopped for fuel. leave the showboaters at home. if you are a novice and this isnt happening,make it happen or just follow along at your own pace, you will catch up to them at fuel stops. RIDE AT YOUR EXPERIENCE LEVEL. i firmly believe that the groups should ride at the least experienced level, but i know that doesnt often happen. on many occasions i've been the nanny and happy to do it.. i'll get off my soap box now, i hope it wasn't to abrasive for some of you. But knowledge is power and i love you guys and gals like family, all of you,regardless if you post or just read. i can't bear the thought of losing any one of you. ok got a little sappy there, but it's from the heart. |
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Title: Re: it's a sad day in moses lake Post by Karen627 on 06/21/05 at 18:21:00 Thanks for the heads up. It's not a fun thing to discuss, but it's a good reality check. And by talking about someone else's tragedy, perhaps we can learn something and avoid having it happen to us. The only thing I would add is that for smaller group rides (2 or 3 riders or thereabouts) that are less organized, let the novice ride in front and set the pace. This way the novice isn't trying to keep up with more experienced rider(s), and the more experienced rider(s) can more easily keep an eye on the novice. (I know my husband, who's been riding for over 15 years, hates riding in front when we're out together -- he prefers to be able to see what I'm doing.) You're right about the MSF class -- it's a good starting point, and I'm glad I took it. But although it gives you a great foundation to build on as you get comfortable riding, most people who first come out of the class are only ready to keep practicing in a parking lot. (Myself included -- it took a while to get up the courage to go out on the roads. :) ) And I don't think you were abrasive at all. |
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Title: Re: it's a sad day in moses lake Post by Susan on 06/21/05 at 19:33:57 Good thoughts Sluggo. We all need to remember that we are not invincible and to ride our own ride. P.S. The soapbox is yours anytime you want it. |
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Title: Re: it's a sad day in moses lake Post by Suzuki_Sam on 06/21/05 at 19:48:19 Sluggo, No worries - I'm not going anywhere too far from home any time soon. Even at my husband's suggestion (He's been riding over a year now and wants to do day trips - I have yet to leave my neighborhood! :-/) I have a deep and healthy respect for motorcycles. I want to keep it that way. Thanks for your concern. |
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Title: Re: it's a sad day in moses lake Post by WD on 06/21/05 at 22:20:41 I've been riding for 18 years. Am I an expert? Nope, not even close. I'm probably the slowest rider on any group ride I try to suffer through. By choice, I tend to slide back and take over the "tail gunner" position. Don't like having other bikes behind me. (Or in front of me for that matter) MSF teaches the bare essentials. ERC expands on them. As Sluggo so often mentions, you HAVE to ride to improve/maintain your skills. Having been off the scoot for almost 4 years, I know exactly HOW bad my control has degraded. I wobble. I "lurch" a bit taking off or stopping or shifting. Biking, though fun, IS work. Getting tired? STOP and have some coffe, a soda, a snack, a smoke, whatever. Or all. Group "outclassing" you in the twisties? So what. Let THEM showboat. Let THEM speed. You can laugh as you ride by them getting tickets. Pack riding making you "spooky"? Drop back, signal the tailgunner that you are wiped out. If he/she takes the position seriously the pack will stop for awhile, or let you peel off (don't expect an escort though). I commute roughly 21 miles each way to work daily. I stop on the way in. I stop on the way home. I stick to the back/frontage roads. There are pull outs for a reason, so, I swing in, shake out the cobwebs (the Savage droning encourages sleep), and then continue on. Try it, it helps. -WD |
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Title: Re: it's a sad day in moses lake Post by Savage_Rob on 06/22/05 at 06:28:19 And don't be embarrassed to tell folks if you are inexperienced or uncomfortable. Otherwise they may assume you are more proficient and comfortable. For guys this may not always be your favorite thing in the world but embarrased is better than flayed or dead. Personally, I'm not sure how many miles I've logged but I know it's been nearly all solo time (except for the odd occasion with one or two friends and never in a formation). I've ridden in heavy winds, rain, ice and even a little snow. However, I would be the first to say that I am a n00b at group riding and am less experienced in rain riding than I'd like to be. Ice and snow, well... I only did that because I had to and took it very slow. If I had my druthers I'd rarely attempt it anyway. One last thing: a different bike can change everything. They handle differently. For me, the biggest thing to get used to on the Savage has been it's weight (or lack thereof). In high winds, you really feel it more than on a heavier bike. |
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Title: Re: it's a sad day in moses lake Post by vroom1776 on 06/22/05 at 10:32:58 Sluggo, WD, and Savage_Rob are completely correct. It can be your pride or your life. I've got 30,000 miles or so under my belt, and when I ride with my friends, I am by far the most experienced rider (we're youngish, ~25), so I do take the tail position... and I always insist that the next most experienced rider lead. The only problem is that many time's the guy is a knucklehead (so maybe I/we shouldn't be riding with him). So what do you guys think... Should I lead or follow? I'd also like to point out that the tailgunner has other responsibilities, too, such as initiating lane changes (being the first to change lanes when it is safe for the group to do so... after the leader's signal). ks |
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Title: Re: it's a sad day in moses lake Post by freerider23 on 06/22/05 at 12:50:11 you guys all got me beat. i got like 1000 max on my savage, and i know my experience level. my brother-in-law always rides faster than me, and gives me alot of crap for it, but, to quote whoever said it--your pride or your life. those were wise words everyone and props to sluggo for starting this subject, even though nobody likes to talk about it. |
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Title: Re: it's a sad day in moses lake Post by GITARZAN on 06/22/05 at 12:56:59 Sorry to hear about that young mother losing her life. While not always the case, I tend to ride as if I am in no hurry anymore. There are some very good ideas posted in this sad thread. New and experienced riders would do well to read it and contemplate what it is to ride within your limits and to be aware that others in your group are not riding at your level, whether they be more or less experienced. |
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Title: Re: it's a sad day in moses lake Post by Greg_650 on 06/23/05 at 05:16:06 Good topic, Sluggo. |
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Title: Re: it's a sad day in moses lake Post by slavy on 06/23/05 at 10:41:19 Yes, It is sad ! And before anyone of us goes for a ride we have to think how many lifes depend on us and have a little more responcibility. And what about the group that let this happen? Don't You think they should have beem riding accordingly, so this would not happen?! |
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Title: Re: it's a sad day in moses lake Post by Savage_Rob on 06/23/05 at 11:00:05 That's the primary argument my wife has for not getting on a bike - that one of us needs to live to raise our daughter. For some reason, she seems convinced that riding a bike is an act of utter lunacy and is commensurate to a death sentence. |
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Title: Re: it's a sad day in moses lake Post by Deb on 06/23/05 at 12:02:36 Hi all I was reading all you all have wrote on this subject and as you know I am just beginning to ride and I agree withwhat you all said about the msf classes a good class to take but you don't know how to ride that much when you come out of it so I am taking it easy, short trips and my husband is always behind me he starting riding last year and said he still learning a lot so thank you all for the information you put on this site as as I have said before I love this site. So everbody take care and keep writing so I can learn. 8) |
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Title: Re: it's a sad day in moses lake Post by TBeck2000 on 06/23/05 at 12:46:52 Savage_Rob wrote:
The man that helped me at the DMV had the same attitude. When he asked if I wanted to be an organ donor, he quipped that I might as well if I'm going to get my motorcycle permit. I took it to mean that he considered death to be a certainty when one operates a motorcycle. I was very happy that the transaction was shortly over and I could go on my merry way without sharing a piece of my mind. I figure he just grouped me into the seemingly endless pack of squids in this area. http://pic16.picturetrail.com/VOL695/2445127/5020102/96197296.jpg If you like riding, do it safely, so that you can do it for long time.... I look forward to being able to tell grandchildren about when I used to ride this dinosaur of a Savage (assuming that we have flying cars by the time I have grandchildren). Tim |
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Title: Re: it's a sad day in moses lake Post by Red_Wine on 06/23/05 at 13:00:22 Sorry to read about this. I`ll make sure I learn from this very sad experience. Please, Sluggo, express my condolences to the rider's family from a Chilean fellow rider. RW |
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Title: Re: it's a sad day in moses lake Post by sluggo on 06/23/05 at 13:52:48 Red_Wine wrote:
the memorial is tommorrow at the grange hall i manage. |
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Title: Re: it's a sad day in moses lake Post by Suzuki_Sam on 06/24/05 at 12:23:21 To those who might be spooked by this - tragedy comes in all forms. I'm also on a bicycle forum (Love to ride my Schwinn!) and not long ago a bicyclist was also killed during a ride going through an intersection too fast without looking. The moral of this story, as you all have pointed out - be careful and don't do what you're not skilled to do! |
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Title: Re: it's a sad day in moses lake Post by sluggo on 06/24/05 at 18:07:16 my final words on the subject. as a strange twist of fate would have it, i played an instrumental part in the memorial service. as program director of the grange it's my job to rent the hall, and monitor it's activities. several hundred family members and friends attended, along with the representitives of several of the areas m/c clubs, none of which knew in person the young women involved, they led the prosession (sp) to the internment site. the family was deeply moved by the gesture. on behave of the members, at red wines suggestion, i offered our condolences. i had placed the flag at half staff in honor of the memorial. my biggest task was to get the 100 car pack across a busy highway at 1715hrs in the afternoon. no small task i might add.. i then switched the hall from all chairs, to chairs and tables, before they returned from the internment site. i spent a few minutes with her grandfather before they returned, and quietly slipped away (we have a firm no booze policy and i didn't want to be around to enforce it). i think the thing that touched me the most was all the bikers who showed up without knowing her, a show of brotherhood. a brotherhood i'm proud to belong to, along with all you fine members. enough of my serious side, back to the smart arsed sluggo you all know and most love. ::) ride safe, be well, sluggo |
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Title: Re: it's a sad day in moses lake Post by Red_Wine on 06/27/05 at 12:47:51 sluggo wrote:
Thank you, Sluggo. RW |
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