Quote:
I don't ride in large event groups anymore. In our small weekend groups, I try to end up at the tail end.
Exactly. I pretty much avoid them lately.
On the last one, an older guy was riding behind me on a Honda cruiser and had on a bright red jacket. My wife was on back. He kept riding way too close so I finally told him to back off a bit.
He complied and we entered a very narrow, winding country road (with 100+ riders - who chose this route??). The road made a sharp left going under an old railroad bridge, just the two trestles remaining. I make the 10 mph turn and continue but no longer see the red jacket, or any other riders behind me. I motion for the guys in front to stop and we back track to the bridge. Mr. Red jacket went straight at the turn, down into a water filled gully. The bike was engine deep in mud. He appeared shaken, but uninjured. Bike had one saddlebag ripped off and some damage to his windshield, turnsignals etc. Plus, covered with mud. Everyone stood around uncomfortably for a few minutes and finally two solo riding guys went into the gully and were able to pull the bike out. He decided his ride was over and with an escort, headed home. He remarked he was just enjoying the scenery and didn't see the turn or the mammoth bridge trestle signaling no more road. Given that it was ****** lucky the mud/water stopped him before hitting the bridge trestle, that would have been much worse. He was literally stopped a few feet from the trestle. Glad he didn't run into us before/after.
Last edited by ssjones; 02/24/2009 7:00 PM.
