So 2 friends crashed on our ride today - some perspective

[CharliesAngel]

A group of us decided to take Panoramic down to Pt. Reyes for brunch today (some of you might remember that we didn't fare that well the last time we took that way...).  En route taking an off-camber blind right turn, 2 riders went down on the wet, gravelly crap on the road.  The ironic thing is that I had just signalled for them all to pass me since I wasn't feeling that great this morning (yeah...just a tad hung over from last night) so I decided to take it easy and go slower than my usual pace.  Anyway, I make the turn and freaked out as I see a Duc on the ground in the middle of the two yellow lines and Rider A on the ground.   Swearing the entire time, I pull over and only then realize that my other friend, Rider B, was also laying on the ground with his bike (I had just assumed he was pulled over).   He had skidded quite efficiently off the road and into the mountain side.  Rider A had full gear on but my buddy (hell, I could just slap him to bits after I got over my shock that is), Rider B just had on jeans!!!  Rider B lowsided going about 25 miles an hour but he had to be taken to the Emergency Room for x-rays and stitches to his knee.  It could have been a lot worse but the lesson learned is that a) gear is FABULOUS and b) it's not about the skill of the rider but about the random CRAP that is on the road that this weather creates.   So if you're riding out there, please be careful these days, especially after we've had rain! 

Anyway, I picked him up from the Hospital a few hours ago and he was remorseful and told me that he actually was trying to find his leather pants this morning but his recent move caused him not to find them... I'm just glad that he's not worse off. 

There were some AWESOME folks that helped out today!  As a another friend said today, "it was a garage sale out there with mirrors, turn signals, plastic, etc. all over the place".  Big THANKS  go to the Sheriff, Fire Dept. guys, Medics, CHP Officer Dave, and Bill the AAA Tow guy from Corte Madera who were all super professional, skilled and just caring and nice (most of these guys actually own motorcycles as well)!   I was in shock and wasn't much help so I'm just thankful that we had a couple of other guys present that were able to figure things out and to tell me what to do!  This might totally suck to say, but at least I know what to do now if there is a crash.... 

[desmoquattro]

Ouch! Sucks to hear about a double crash. But you guys came out of it relatively well. It could have been much worse.

[somegirl]

Sorry to hear about the crashes, glad it wasn't worse.

Warren posted some great info on Accident Scene Management, well worth a read.

He also started a thread on riding on wet/mucky roads.

[Juan]

  Sorry to hear this. I am glad that it was not worse however. My best wishes for all..

[duckwrench13]

I was mountain biking with Maria and some friends on Mt. Tam today, just above Muir Beach/Woods, and heard a bunch of emergency vehicles heading somewhere in a hurry. I'm guessing they were heading out to you guys.

Glad to hear everyone's alright...all things considered.

[Spidey]

That sucks.  I'm glad to hear that the incident wasn't as bad as it coulda been.  Right hand turns have the potential for all kinds of gruesome results.  Jeans, eh?  That's too bad.  Best wishes to the riders and their steeds. 

I'm really wary about riding in conditions like today -->  dry/drying roads after a recent rain.  I find that it's best to ride as if the roads are still wet.  If I approach 'em like dry roads, I tend to ride faster and then am surprised when there is suddenly muck right in the middle of my line.  It sounds like this the backside of Tam?  That's absolutely no place to be a hero (unless you're Michael Moore, on a tard, or one of the Sunday Morning ride crew).  I absolutely creep down that hill especially in the wet.

Do you know why both bikes went down?  Were they following closely or did they both just happen to get bit by a really bad piece of road?

[Labbedds]

I talked to Alex today and he told me about what happened.  I'm glad their ok, fack, I took my bike in for service yesterday, otherwise I would have been out there with ya [moto] .  Get well soon riders.

[CharliesAngel]

Do you know why both bikes went down?  Were they following closely or did they both just happen to get bit by a really bad piece of road?

Wet slick stuff and gravel in the middle of the road.  Both riders hit the same spot.  The second rider probably also hit the brakes and then also hit the same crappy stuff.   

We didn't make it to the back, downhill section of Panoramic - we were still in the woods where it's still slippery 

[Michael Moore]

Sorry to hear of the mishap. 

Yeah, when we've had the first big rain or two, a lot of crap gets carried off the hillsides and deposited in the road. Like Spidey says, ride like it's wet outside. Even if the road is dry, it's not uncommon to find little streams running across the road a day or two after a good rain.

Hope everyone gets better quickly.

[Desmostro]

Hope everyone is ok.

Sorry to hear of the mishap. 

Yeah, when we've had the first big rain or two, a lot of crap gets carried off the hillsides and deposited in the road. Like Spidey says, ride like it's wet outside. Even if the road is dry, it's not uncommon to find little streams running across the road a day or two after a good rain.

Hope everyone gets better quickly.

+12

Reality is, Mt. Tam is often like that for the entire Winter. Little trickles of water coming down from high up on the mountain keep many spots wet for months at a time. Especially in the woods. Expect sticks and leaves and gravel, green slime, what-ev there through Spring.

[Jammen]

Ack! Hoping everyone is still doing ok!

After the last couple rains, it's definitely time to tone it down for the winter.   

[petemg]

<-- Rider A

It was the right hand turn, just after the parking lot, about 90% of the way up Panoramic: http://tinyurl.com/5m6jwv

I really thought my speed was slow enough - as we headed back down the hill an hour later I guessed that I couldn't have been going more than 30. I knew I was rusty on panoramic, and the unpredictability of the scattered wetness was clear. Anyway, I got into the right hander and felt my rear tire slip out. The bike bucked a couple times - at least three - and then threw me. I came off, landed on the pavement, and was ok save for a stubbed right big toe. I was able to look back and see Rider B go down behind me even as I was sliding along the road... grim.

When I went back to look at the pavement, there was a patch of wetness and general mess right where my line would have been, surrounded by drier areas.  Best I can say is that the rear slipped enough to make it bad when it gripped again on the dry.

Today I'm just generally sore all over, though nowhere near as bad as when I came off at Thunderhill The bike runs well, certainly well enough to get back home, but there are lots of bits on the right side that will need to get replaced. I'm debating the cost/benefit on going insurance or not - will probably take it down to desmoto and get a list of work needed.

Moral of the story: full leathers can't be beat.

[Labbedds]

Heal up soon Pete, glad you're ok buddy.

[ducnymph]

So sorry to hear about this accident and hopefully both bikes and riders will get a speedy recovery! 

It's such a grim reminder of how easily a rider can go down. I've ridden on Highway 1 twice this past week and have been approaching the roads with caution because of the fallen gravel and potential slippery spots. It's become instinct that when the weather's cold I tend to ride slower and easier because I know there's muck in the road -especially in the trees.

It sounds like Charlie's Angel and the other members of the group handled it well considering- it could've been so much worse. I'm just glad nothing critical happened.

[CharliesAngel]

So sorry to hear about this accident and hopefully both bikes and riders will get a speedy recovery! 

It's such a grim reminder of how easily a rider can go down. I've ridden on Highway 1 twice this past week and have been approaching the roads with caution because of the fallen gravel and potential slippery spots. It's become instinct that when the weather's cold I tend to ride slower and easier because I know there's muck in the road -especially in the trees.

It sounds like Charlie's Angel and the other members of the group handled it well considering- it could've been so much worse. I'm just glad nothing critical happened.

Hey DucNymph! (I like the dropped "Yelo"!)
Thanks for the great ride today...I really was a bit trepidatious going on our ride this morning but since I don't believe in reneging on a commitment, I think the ride was good for me after seeing the two fallen friends yesterday.   Awesome pace and fun riding with another Gal!  I gotta get me one of those cool looking and very hot track suits!