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This past Sunday my friend Pete and I decided to do a little ride up Old San Jose so he could give the DRZ a try... (Always test ride before you think of buying!)
Anyhow, around 11:00AM we a took a left hand turn off the Bay St. exit and were confronted by a GAGGLE of sport bikes (Crotch Rockets, Rice Burners, yatta yatta yatta). There were at least 50 bikes, both solo and 2-up, in the group along with someone driving chase in a red import with a video camera man hanging out the passenger window.
As we passed the Ugly Mug at Soquel Ave and up to Soquel High we did our best to get around them... yeah right. By the time we got up to Casalegno's everyone of the, um... squidiots had passed by us. I'll say however in their defense that nobody buzzed us, giving wide berth in passing. At this point we're riding our own ride and not theirs, which was fine by us. Not more than two minutes past "Lonny Curve" we were met by the too familiar view of bikes pulled over with riders giving the slow down wave of their arms. Something/Someone went down. Was a car involved or just lone rider error, who knows? I didn't rubber neck and I wasn't about to stop and ask in a group of this magnitude. At this point there was no first responder on scene.
In hindsight, as we first came upon this group at the exit off 101, I knew someone was going down before they reached Summit. It was inevitable.
I forgot to mention in the beginning that in this entire group I didn't see a single rider in full leathers, or ballistics for that matter? There were plenty of tight jeans and exposed midriffs which I’m sure were eye candy for the other riders in the group. I’m sure that after that first visit to the E.R. and the nurse with the scrub brush, their views on safety gear will change.
It’s too bad that’s what it takes most of the time.
Anyhow, around 11:00AM we a took a left hand turn off the Bay St. exit and were confronted by a GAGGLE of sport bikes (Crotch Rockets, Rice Burners, yatta yatta yatta). There were at least 50 bikes, both solo and 2-up, in the group along with someone driving chase in a red import with a video camera man hanging out the passenger window.
As we passed the Ugly Mug at Soquel Ave and up to Soquel High we did our best to get around them... yeah right. By the time we got up to Casalegno's everyone of the, um... squidiots had passed by us. I'll say however in their defense that nobody buzzed us, giving wide berth in passing. At this point we're riding our own ride and not theirs, which was fine by us. Not more than two minutes past "Lonny Curve" we were met by the too familiar view of bikes pulled over with riders giving the slow down wave of their arms. Something/Someone went down. Was a car involved or just lone rider error, who knows? I didn't rubber neck and I wasn't about to stop and ask in a group of this magnitude. At this point there was no first responder on scene.
In hindsight, as we first came upon this group at the exit off 101, I knew someone was going down before they reached Summit. It was inevitable.
I forgot to mention in the beginning that in this entire group I didn't see a single rider in full leathers, or ballistics for that matter? There were plenty of tight jeans and exposed midriffs which I’m sure were eye candy for the other riders in the group. I’m sure that after that first visit to the E.R. and the nurse with the scrub brush, their views on safety gear will change.
It’s too bad that’s what it takes most of the time.
A daredevil surely, a squid probably, what do you want to do Jason.. this is indeed inevitable.. I do my best convincing people around me to wear full leathers and know their limits! .. One exception though: Those exposed midriffs ur talking about.. too yummy to say no!... :P
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