WHEN YOUR HERO GOES DOWN

[psycledelic]

I know most of you know one.  If you have ridden for a while, you just have to.  You know, that one guy whose bike is better, bike brand is better, skills are better, storys are better, gear is better, ...on and on and on... and he is never is short on time to explain all of this to you and anyone around you over and over.  But the guy never seems to ride his bike and always has an excuse for not riding (an excuse that he feels obligated to give you - even when you didn't ask).  The guy that always has a smart ass comment about you riding in the rain, cold, etc. (usually followed by that excuse of why he didn't that I was just talking about).  Anyway, you get the picture. 

Well, my Hero or  "that guy" went down (and went down hard - broken collarbone, multiple broken ribs, broken leg & foot, and some rash) this week.  We work together and I found out the other day when I went in.  Trying to be a nice guy, I called to see if he was OK, see what happened, and offer up any assistance he might need until he is up and around again.  I guess I assumed that something like this would be a humbling experience and he would lightenup a little.  Nope.  The entire time I was being concerned and offering help, his only concern was what was being said at work and wanting all the guys to know what really happened.  Well, the story I got from work, he was trying to catch up on a straight, went into a corner hot and paniced.  Tried to straighten up and brake as he left the road and entered a field.  Went into a ditch and went flying head first over the bars (How else would Superman finish off a crash).  Little did I know, I had been misinformed.  What really happened was he had fallen back in the previous series of curves because of one of the other guys in front of him didn't know how to ride and slowed him down.  He was really on the throttle making up the gap on the following straight, but shouldn't have been because (my favorite part) "his bike has had a horrible wobble in the rear tire for a couple of weeks".  He went into the curve and (of course) the "wobble" returned causing his bike to shutter and in reaction he "brought the back upright" on the outside of the curve ( - his words ) He tried to ride it out, but crashed.   

Such misfortune for such an incredible rider.   I wanted to call bullshit so bad, but didn't.  He is in a pretty sucky situation.  I figured it was best to just let him revel in his own thoughts of greatness.
He has a couple of weeks to heal and then he will be back to work.  I can't wait to hear the story then. 

[He Man]

Sounds like he just made up that part about the bike having a wobble to make it sound like it wasnt his "skill". But then again, only he would know, if it wasn't his skill that was lacking, it must of been his common sense riding with an unstable rear, though who knows if the rear was really wobbling or not. There arent that many things to cause the rear to shake unless you tinkered with the bike.

[Grampa]

knowing ones equipment/bike limits and problems is a skill

[booger]

Does (or did) this person ride a Ducati? If so RIP poor bike, not only did you have a douchebag owner but he totaled you in the end.

There will always be blowhards like this guy, and sooner or later they always get owned. Catastrophe is never their fault, yet triumph is always to their credit. He'll probably get a promotion!

Wonder how this douche feels about motorcycling in general now. He'll probably get another bike to look at as soon as he gets out of the wheelchair

[trenner]

Some of the people I respect the very most are those who (in spite of perhaps knowing an awful lot about a subject, or being very capable at doing something) are quick to say

"I don't know"
"I'm not sure"
"I messed up"

Sounds like this guy could take some pointers in that area.

[corndog67]

It isn't ever the bikes fault.   If it was "wobbling" for the past few weeks, Mr. Hotshoe should have fixed it.   Besides, if it was just another guy, not Giacomo Agostini, or  Nicky Hayden or Rossi, no hero worship is warranted.  Even then, I'm sure once you get to know one or more  of the really fast guys, they are just regular guys that practice a lot, and ride real well. 

[trenner]

the guy never seems to ride his bike and always has an excuse [and] always has a smart ass comment about you
[...]
my Hero

Consider locating a new hero.

[mrs minnesotamonster]

I like to call those people 1-uppers.

[DCXCV]

Consider locating a new hero.

Apparently this thread needed a sarcasm alert.   

[Howie]

Sorry to hear your hero went down and suffered injury.  The truth behind the accident may never be known, but what is more important?  That your hero went down or your buddy went down?

[Pedro-bot]

Poor Bastard.

[monster monkey]

 Definite SARCASM alert needed. I have a douche at work like that. Always talks alot of mess but declines the invite to the canyons.
In fact, I expressed concern about riding home in the rain two days ago and got the' "don't be a pussy" response. Of course he lives 5 minutes away and took the streets while I rode 17 miles through the storm on the freeway...

Yeah, your "hero" panicked like a rookie

[psycledelic]

Apparently this thread needed a sarcasm alert.   

Finally

I was getting concerned that no one was gonna pick up on it.  This guy is (and I hate to poke fun at the fallen) a real wiener.  All the way down to his mullet, handlebar mustache, and motorcycle gang vest, oh, excuse me, I mean club.  REAL gangs refer to themselves as clubs.  Anyway, against my better judgement, I am gonna go be polite and visit with a couple other guys from work in a little bit.  I think that it has been long enough that poking a little fun at him is appropriate.  Should make for an interesting post later today.  I hope I don't end up in a rumble with the club.  I am sure that Lucky, TicTac, Ziploc, and Tampon are some bad dudes. 

[psycledelic]

Definite SARCASM alert needed. I have a douche at work like that. Always talks alot of mess but declines the invite to the canyons.
In fact, I expressed concern about riding home in the rain two days ago and got the' "don't be a pussy" response. Of course he lives 5 minutes away and took the streets while I rode 17 miles through the storm on the freeway...

Yeah, your "hero" panicked like a rookie

Yep, you have one too. 
This guy was harping on me for riding in on a particularly cold day last winter.  When I told him that it wasn't my fault that Harleys won't crank under 60 degrees, you would have thought that I went to his house and kicked his wife.  His response was, "Boy, you are trying to hard to impress me.  You know, ridin' your bike don't make you a biker."  - Ultimate words of wisdom from My Hero !

Oh yea, he panicked.  Uh, I mean his wheel had a wobble.  Maybe riding faulty equipment makes you a real rider. 

[hunduc]

  You know, ridin' your bike don't make you a biker."  - Ultimate words of wisdom from My Hero !

Now that's a great quote. I will use it... 

And it is good karma to be nice to him now.