All Is Not Quiet on New Years' Day: Ride Anyone?

[desmoquattro]

The ride was so-so. Between the low temps and fog, we froze on the way to Los Gatos (note to self: stay off the peninsula in winter).

sfarchie, Alfonso and I met up at Zeitgeist...Then we met up with my friend Eric (R1200 GS) at Peet's, then went up 9. A few turns out of Saratoga, Eric low-sided on a double-apex left hander. I was right behind him, and felt it was slippery so I slowed way down. Eric's rear wheel had been sliding (he didn't notice, but I had been watching it), and he picked up the pace way too soon...on a wet road with cold tires. He slid off the road, into some gravel, and his bike hit the guard rail. Eric was fine, but his GS was hurting. As far as we could tell:

• Scraped cylinder head guard
• Broken windshield and mount
• Missing front brake reservior
• Broken handguard
• Broken GPS
• Bruised German ego

Eric's bike still had brakes (I think the GS has a shutoff or one-way valve between the reservoir and the master cylinder), so he decided to limp it home to San Bruno. The rest of us, including a dirt biker on an XR650, continued to Alice's...dogging it the entire way because of the slippery roads.

There was actually sun on top of parts of the ridgeline, but by the time we got to Alice's it was still pea soup...maybe 50 feet of visibility. We had lunch, let it clear up a bit, then eased it back down 84 to 101.

Glad to at least get out today.

[sfarchie]

I lost my virginity twice today! First one is I can finally say I participated in a MOB ride! Second, today was my first time going over 100 mph! Thanks to Joe and Alfonso for being there to help me lose both virginities. 

The morning was cold, wet, and foggy. Perhaps a sign we shouldn't go riding? Then, unfortunately, Eric low sided within a few minutes of leaving Peet's. Good news is he's fine. His BMW got a little bruising, but the cage did it's job protecting his bike from major damage. A second sign we shouldn't go riding?  Okay, for my first real ride, I was wondering if I should just turn back and go home. But I stuck it out and we just went down to Alice's from Los Gatos. We briefly enjoyed the blue skies, but that turned into thick fog. After lunch and some rest, we headed home.

Thanks, Joe & Alfonso for making me feel welcomed! And thanks for waiting up for me on the way to Alice's. I'm no where near the level of experience you guys are at so I'm greatful you guys still made me feel welcomed.

Let's stick to the north bay next time.

[Michael Moore]

I think that's got to be some kind of record for the crash ticker. 

[somegirl]

I hate to say I told you so, but....

Sorry about the crash, glad Eric wasn't hurt.

If it's as foggy tomorrow morning as it was this morning, I'd recommend against your ride.

The ride was so-so. Between the low temps and fog, we froze on the way to Los Gatos (note to self: stay off the peninsula in winter).

<snip>

There was actually sun on top of parts of the ridgeline, but by the time we got to Alice's it was still pea soup...maybe 50 feet of visibility. We had lunch, let it clear up a bit, then eased it back down 84 to 101.

The morning was cold, wet, and foggy. Perhaps a sign we shouldn't go riding? Then, unfortunately, Eric low sided within a few minutes of leaving Peet's. Good news is he's fine. His BMW got a little bruising, but the cage did it's job protecting his bike from major damage. A second sign we shouldn't go riding?  Okay, for my first real ride, I was wondering if I should just turn back and go home. But I stuck it out and we just went down to Alice's from Los Gatos. We briefly enjoyed the blue skies, but that turned into thick fog. After lunch and some rest, we headed home.

[desmoquattro]

Notice me keeping the cops at bay

[desmoquattro]

I hate to say I told you so, but....

It had more to do with dumb riding than anything else.

[somegirl]

It had more to do with dumb riding than anything else.

I wasn't referring to the crash, just you guys being cold and miserable in the fog.

[DarkStaR]

I think that's got to be some kind of record for the crash ticker. 

Shouldn't affect the MOB ticker.

The local BMW Forum's ticker is off to a bad start though.

Jokes aside, I'm glad Eric is OK.  

[desmoquattro]

Shouldn't affect the MOB ticker.

The local BMW Forum's ticker is off to a bad start though.

Jokes aside, I'm glad Eric is OK.  

Actually, I tend to agree....Belle: what's your legalistic interpretation of this?

[Spidey]

It's a MOB-organized ride, advertised on the forum, open to all MOBsters and has meet-up points and everything.  It counts.  You meet up with a coupla random friends for a weekend ride and one of 'em goes down?  Doesn't count.

Glad to hear he's ok.

Oh, and sfarchie, if you get that "should I just go home" feeling, that's a sign to turn around.  Many of us have done exactly that when we got a sense that all might not be ok.  It screws up your ride, but there are always other rides.

[mostrobelle]

Actually, I tend to agree....Belle: what's your legalistic interpretation of this?

Sucks that the first ride y'all went on ended up with someone on the side of the road btw.  As Shakespeare might have said in his day, "That doth bloweth." 

I guess Spidey has a point:  it's a MOB ride; it's a MOB crash. 

Sadly, this isn't a record, Michael.  A couple of years ago a gal that works at Motojava (Maria?) crashed on New Years Day.

[DarkStaR]

So,...let's say that this incident DOES go on the "Local BMW Forum Ticker", that means both their and our forums get hit? 

Sorry, just being a PITA. 

[mostrobelle]

So,...let's say that this incident DOES go on the "Local BMW Forum Ticker", that means both their and our forums get hit? 

Sorry, just being a PITA. 

Yeah.  The idea is that you make folks aware and culpable for their actions.  If  I didn't do the crash ticker, you probably wouldn't know about most of the accidents that go on in our little group.  We have a lot of crashes for how small we are.  It's not to shame anyone, hence its anonymity. 

[sfarchie]

It's a MOB-organized ride, advertised on the forum, open to all MOBsters and has meet-up points and everything.  It counts.  You meet up with a coupla random friends for a weekend ride and one of 'em goes down?  Doesn't count.

Glad to hear he's ok.

Oh, and sfarchie, if you get that "should I just go home" feeling, that's a sign to turn around.  Many of us have done exactly that when we got a sense that all might not be ok.  It screws up your ride, but there are always other rides.

I hear ya. When I feel that 6th sense kick in, I won't ride. Funny, with the weather report from somegirl, then johnc having bike problems, I began wondering if I should cancel. Even after Eric went down, I wondered, but I didn't feel that 6th sense so I went on. Believe me, I become the biggest pansy when I get this funk. BTW, the first time I had this was the night I got hit by the limo. I didn't listen to it then...

[desmoquattro]

Sucks that the first ride y'all went on ended up with someone on the side of the road btw.  As Shakespeare might have said in his day, "That doth bloweth." 

I guess Spidey has a point:  it's a MOB ride; it's a MOB crash. 

Sadly, this isn't a record, Michael.  A couple of years ago a gal that works at Motojava (Maria?) crashed on New Years Day.

I thought it was Marija's boyfriend Chris? I'll have to ask her today.