Never Cross that Line.

[silentbob]

it's really hard to judge from those pics alone if he was riding irresponsibly or just made a mistake

If it wasn't a mistake then it was one hell of a bad plan.


The bike was leaned less than 5 degrees.  I'm pretty sure the bike and the tires were able to handle more lean than that and his body was actually leaning the wrong way for the turn. 

Not knowing how to turn a bike and riding the dragon = irresponsible.

Doing it while not wearing proper gear = squid.

[DLSGAP]

I don't think they were too harsh on him... I know that road like the back of my hand and I know EXACTLY the corner this photo was taken in... it isn't a bad corner.. there are definitely more difficult ones on that road. Many of which he already passed at the point that the photo was taken. Some of you are asking "how can one be sure he was riding irresponsibly?"

Well I think that the answer to that is pretty evident. I mean he did go rather far into the oncoming lane and hit a passing vehicle. Wouldnt you say that riding over ones abilities and over shooting a nice smooth easy corner is riding irresponsibly? I do. More than likely he didn't have alot of experience on Deals Gap.. which is all the more reason to be a responsible rider and slow it down to be safe. Obviously, this is an example of a riding FAIL.

[ducatiz]

How about investing in quality riding boots....i.e. not timberlands.....

Timberland made some great riding boots (Downshifters)

[BastrdHK]

They have to have high ankle support and shin protection to count in my book......those are better than tennis shoes, but not much.

[superjohn]

I didn't see anyone else comment on this, but how bad would it suck to be the truck driver and have your window shattering in your face like that?

I hope that person didn't get hurt too bad either.

[erkishhorde]

They have to have high ankle support and shin protection to count in my book......those are better than tennis shoes, but not much.

I used to cheap out and wear Redwing work boots when I rode but after almost catching my foot in a wheel well when a car pull out next to me I started looking for full on riding boots.

How far is that photographer from the corner? Good thing the SUV driver didn't freak out and go straight off the road.

[Slide Panda]

How far is that photographer from the corner? Good thing the SUV driver didn't freak out and go straight off the road.

Maybe 5-6' off the edge of the pavement.  There's a number of small pull offs at the gap that are wide enough for a single car/small truck to pull off, but that's it.  So yeah, if the driver who got hit freaked and ran off the road they could well have run into the photog, or at least the photogs car.

[Privateer]

showing off for the camera maybe?

[Grampa]

cameras have a way of doing that

[silentbob]

showing off for the camera maybe?

Showing off his ability to go straight on a curvy road?

Nah, the guys showing off for the camera would be trying to get more lean to show off their mad skillz.

[ducatiz]

cameras have a way of doing that

case in point:  Girls Gone Wild

[il d00d]

Jerry the owner, temporarily distracted by all that gear he was finally compelled to wear, makes an unfortunate mental mistake...

[silentbob]

case in point:  Girls Gone Wild

[NAKID]

Ewwwwwwwwww
Ewwwwwwwwww
Ewwwwwwwwww

[lauramonster]

Sport Riding Techniques: How To Develop Real World Skills for Speed, Safety, and Confidence on the Street and Track by Nick Ienatsch and Kenny Roberts

This book was full of information and so much easier for me to understand than 'Twist of the Wrist'. 

Read the book before going to Deal's Gap (for the first time), took the book with me and paged through it at night.  It's not enough to know the information, it has to be instinctive.