xxlr8
09-26-2005, 07:59 PM
WE WILL BE RIDING ALONE TODAY
Several weeks ago my wife, a friend and myself were going on a ride. I was leading. The ride was going well and we had ridden maybe 50 or 60 miles. We stopped on top of Sugarloaf Mountain (north of Clermont) for a break. There were maybe 5 or 6 bikes and riders there. We talked, joked and hung out for a little while.
A guy from across the road came over to us and started talking. He was friendly and seemed knowledgeable about bikes. He told us he was on a 2006 Harley and that he rents them all the time because he travels so much and he likes to ride. He rented them in Vegas, New York, California, all over. He talked about how his favorite bike was the V-Rod because he liked the horsepower. He said he knew it didnt have the horsepower our bikes did but he liked Harleys. Im thinking, thats cool, I like anyone who rides and here was a Harley rider that actually knew his bike wasnt the fastest. To me, thats cool because I like Harley Road Kings, for what they are.
He asked where we were going. I told him around to the other side of the lake, that there were some good roads over there. He asked if he could ride along. This was the key point. I said, Sure, thats fine. We got suited up and ready to go. Before we saddled up, he came over to me and said, if we get separated, dont worry about me, Ill go my own way. We started riding and the roads were fairly decent through the first part and we were running about 75 to 80. I was watching my mirrors, the group was close and all was well. We went through a little town all the bicycles go to (some of you reading this will know it, others wont, it doesnt matter). Again, a check in the mirror and all was well.
Then, we were closing in on a place where it gets a little tight, nothing difficult for a street racer or a typical sportbike rider, for that matter. I know the road, another key point, he didnt know the road and I knew that. When I ride, I think everyone rides their own bike and its not my responsibility for what they do. As what happened continues to grow on me, Im thinking about this differently.
The turn is an uphill left. At the top, you continue to turn left, then start downhill, still turning left and then it continues into a decreasing radius, left with a small right at the bottom; maybe 40 in a car, 70 on a bike. I knew the turn, as it had almost bitten me several times. We made it through and went on to the gas station across the intersection. We pulled in and parked the bikes. When I got off, I realized the Harley rider wasnt with us. I asked my wife and the other rider where he was and they didnt know. At that point, I turned around and looked up at that turn and I could see cars stopping. I knew what had happened (yes, riders reading this know that sickness you feel). I told my riding partners I was going back.
I arrived on the scene and he was lying in the road, maybe 70 feet from the bike, face down, arms under him, feet together. Several cars had stopped and when I pulled up next to him, he was alone; no one had gone over to him. I thought he was dead, and then when I got closer, I could see he was breathing but not conscious. Shortly thereafter, an ambulance, fire trucks, and police cars arrived, typical accident scene. He was alive and they were starting IVs, cutting off his clothes and trying to help him. They airlifted him to the closest trauma center. All was well and we went home thinking he was ok after the officer called and reported back that he was stable.
A week later, I got a phone call and it was the mans daughter. I was thinking, she had gotten my name from the police report and they (the family) were going after the Harley rental place, but that wasnt the case. She was very polite. She then informed me that he had passed away as a result of the accident. She asked if I knew, but I didnt. He was a colonel in the Green Beret, a decorated Vietnam War hero, owner of his own oil company, a father, a husband, gone.
Every day since then, I have thought about the accident.
What could I have done? Slowed down for that turn? No. Yes. Told him there were some bad turns in the road? No. Yes.
I dont know what I could have done differently. I just know the world is short one motorcycle rider, one father, one husband, one human being.
Choose carefully who you ride with.
Decide when to say, No, we choose to ride by ourselves.
Several weeks ago my wife, a friend and myself were going on a ride. I was leading. The ride was going well and we had ridden maybe 50 or 60 miles. We stopped on top of Sugarloaf Mountain (north of Clermont) for a break. There were maybe 5 or 6 bikes and riders there. We talked, joked and hung out for a little while.
A guy from across the road came over to us and started talking. He was friendly and seemed knowledgeable about bikes. He told us he was on a 2006 Harley and that he rents them all the time because he travels so much and he likes to ride. He rented them in Vegas, New York, California, all over. He talked about how his favorite bike was the V-Rod because he liked the horsepower. He said he knew it didnt have the horsepower our bikes did but he liked Harleys. Im thinking, thats cool, I like anyone who rides and here was a Harley rider that actually knew his bike wasnt the fastest. To me, thats cool because I like Harley Road Kings, for what they are.
He asked where we were going. I told him around to the other side of the lake, that there were some good roads over there. He asked if he could ride along. This was the key point. I said, Sure, thats fine. We got suited up and ready to go. Before we saddled up, he came over to me and said, if we get separated, dont worry about me, Ill go my own way. We started riding and the roads were fairly decent through the first part and we were running about 75 to 80. I was watching my mirrors, the group was close and all was well. We went through a little town all the bicycles go to (some of you reading this will know it, others wont, it doesnt matter). Again, a check in the mirror and all was well.
Then, we were closing in on a place where it gets a little tight, nothing difficult for a street racer or a typical sportbike rider, for that matter. I know the road, another key point, he didnt know the road and I knew that. When I ride, I think everyone rides their own bike and its not my responsibility for what they do. As what happened continues to grow on me, Im thinking about this differently.
The turn is an uphill left. At the top, you continue to turn left, then start downhill, still turning left and then it continues into a decreasing radius, left with a small right at the bottom; maybe 40 in a car, 70 on a bike. I knew the turn, as it had almost bitten me several times. We made it through and went on to the gas station across the intersection. We pulled in and parked the bikes. When I got off, I realized the Harley rider wasnt with us. I asked my wife and the other rider where he was and they didnt know. At that point, I turned around and looked up at that turn and I could see cars stopping. I knew what had happened (yes, riders reading this know that sickness you feel). I told my riding partners I was going back.
I arrived on the scene and he was lying in the road, maybe 70 feet from the bike, face down, arms under him, feet together. Several cars had stopped and when I pulled up next to him, he was alone; no one had gone over to him. I thought he was dead, and then when I got closer, I could see he was breathing but not conscious. Shortly thereafter, an ambulance, fire trucks, and police cars arrived, typical accident scene. He was alive and they were starting IVs, cutting off his clothes and trying to help him. They airlifted him to the closest trauma center. All was well and we went home thinking he was ok after the officer called and reported back that he was stable.
A week later, I got a phone call and it was the mans daughter. I was thinking, she had gotten my name from the police report and they (the family) were going after the Harley rental place, but that wasnt the case. She was very polite. She then informed me that he had passed away as a result of the accident. She asked if I knew, but I didnt. He was a colonel in the Green Beret, a decorated Vietnam War hero, owner of his own oil company, a father, a husband, gone.
Every day since then, I have thought about the accident.
What could I have done? Slowed down for that turn? No. Yes. Told him there were some bad turns in the road? No. Yes.
I dont know what I could have done differently. I just know the world is short one motorcycle rider, one father, one husband, one human being.
Choose carefully who you ride with.
Decide when to say, No, we choose to ride by ourselves.