Went wide in decreasing radius turn - group ride

[scan]

On Sunday I got up early and rode to Columbus to meet up with some guys with a group from that area. We were to meet at 9am, so I had to get up early to make it to this run. When I arrived at around 10 to 9, two guys were there. We met at a gas station, so I filled up and went to talk to the two guys. By just after 9 the remaining people showed up and we were a total of 6 rider. Me on the ZRX, a CBR600rr, a CBR954rr, a R1, a BMW R1150GS, and a ZX-7.

The first problem of the day... Not much talking about the skill level and placement of riders. I'd heard the rumor that this group rode staggered, but this was not confirmed. I have seen groups that ride side by side and single file as well. I was the only fully unknown rider off the group. There was no conversation about safety, riding style, or rules. I guess with me being an unknown they might have asked.

Now I think this was really is an informal riding group and since two guys knew each other well, and one of those guys seemed to know the other three pretty well, I guessed it was assumed everyone was cool with what to do. We got underway.

The order was not determined so I ended up dropping into 4th of 6. Behind me was the other Kawasaki and the BMW. We were working our way from suburbs to the curvy roads south of where we started. The leading three guys were moving at a 5 to 10 MPH over clip, until we got into the more country road area. At the start of the first rural road, the lead three were off at full throttle. I chased them down and kept up pretty good. I was not nearly as close to the lead three as the two guys behind me were to me.

Pressure to get moving is a self-motivated issue. I could have said to myself, I'm out of my class, and these guys are going to fast. I really wanted to try. I began to realize I needed to take up the rear, but wanted to wait until the first stop. I could feel the guys behind me constantly hanging on me. The curvys got more and more tight and the hills popping up and down. The BMW behind me went up a couple hills and came down with one wheel airborne. I started badly losing the guys in front of me. I couldn't keep the pace and kept running a little wide, crossing into the wrong lane sometimes, just missing the shoulder by luck, and giving the guys behind me a real show with my brake light.

We came to a no passing lane and I got to catch up again when a car showed up in our direction of travel and kept to the speed limit. As soon as there was a little hole the first three guys took off - still in the no passing lane. I ran up to the car and stopped at a reasonable distance. The two guys behind me thought I was going to go, but I didn't want to pass at all in a no passing lane. The two guys behind me passed me, in the no passing lane. I crawled along a bit relieved they had all gotten past me. I didn't have to worry about being in someone's way.

A short distance later one of the guys (the other Kaw) slowed up to watch for me and bring me back up. It was cool he did this, and after this he told me to ride at my pace, and they would make sure to wait for me if they got too far ahead. I thought that was very cool. I rode the rest of the day in the back.

We stopped for lunch and let everyone know that I was getting my schooling today and I'll be taking up the back of the pack for the day. I think I'm not exactly cut from the same fabric as these guys. I think they are willing to push harder and harder to get better. I'm more concerned about not hurting myself or anyone else.

At lunch one of them mentioned track days together and they have all ridden in groups at least a few times. We talked to some Ducati riders that were leaving from lunch and noticed us in our bike garb. They mentioned the road we were heading for next was much more technical and more gravel in the road in spots. I paid attention to that fact.

We headed back out after lunch and got moving quickly. I stayed behind the other Kaw rider who tried to keep an eye on me. Right away we got to some really tight long blind corners and they were leaned way over and accelerating. I could not and slowed. A really tight turn had gravel and I almost came to a crawl to make sure I was safe. They were well gone at this point. I figured I'd see them in a while when I caught up.

This is the part I will never forget. I headed up over a crest and could see I had a wide right hand turn into a decreasing left going down a hill. I could not see where the radius ended, or if it kept going down, so I slowed quite a bit. I could see now at the end of the decreasing radius was another up hill and noticed a rider pulled over just a little up the hill. Closer examination revealed another motorcycle in the drainage ditch at the side of the road upside down. Even more careful examination determined the rider was standing in front of the bike, in the ditch, mud from head to toe. I passed him since I was going sort of fast and leaned when I saw him. I could tell he must have been surprised by the corner tightening up. I pulled up behind the other green Kaw. The CBR954 was down.

Walking down road we called down to him to see if he was alright, and he said he was. A telephone pole was just to the right of the ditch and he said he had it with his shoulder only. He said it wasn't sore. The bike was steaming from the water in the ditch. Another minute later the other three guys came back, and we all worked the bike back upright and out of the ditch. Almost no broken plastic. The left mirror broke off, the forks looked to be bent, and the left front rotor got bent so the wheel had a hard time rolling. I think the left go hosed by slamming into the left side of the drainage ditch. You could hear the dirt and mud in everything as we moved the bike down to the big washout spot at the bottom of the hill, the outside of the decreasing left.

Apparently he came down the hill too hot and couldn't get it left enough to stay off the dirt on the shoulder. At the last minute he tried to straighten it and then saw the telephone pole. He was then off the road and over the bars and into the pole and mud. You could see in the mud where his head and shoulder ended up. He was lucky to be walking or even talking. We kept checking with him to see if he was really OK, and after about 30 minutes it seemed he must have been OK. His bike was not OK; at least not OK to ride home. The brakes were holding the front rotor from turning unless it was forced very hard.

One of the guys volunteered his dad's truck to come back and pick the bike up. We rolled it off into the woods for security and he rode back on one of the other sports bikes. The remaining 4 of us finished a less spirited ride. The ride leader has said he felt bad about the incident, but even the guy who went down recognized that you can control how hard you push yourself, and how well you know a road. Everyone thought they should have a decreasing radius sign for areas like this, since it seemed like these turns eat a lot of bikes. We found broken bike parts all over this turn as we stood around. All of them from other bikers in the past. Still there was a speed sign for the corner, and no one, not even I, was going near that speed posted.

Anyway, I learned a lot this day. First, ride in the back. You can always adjust up from there. Next, don't let someone else pressure you, chances are they would be glad to move ahead and give you more relax room. If you go at full clip, you are likely to go down at some point. It seems for these guys it is part of the thrill. The thrill for me is riding and not getting hurt or breaking my bike. The way I ride is thrilling enough for now, and as time goes on I may be willing to do more. I also saw when things go wrong, only luck will get you out of a serious injury or death. I'm glad that wasn't the case this time and luck was on this guy’s side. I was also glad to hear of his sense of responsibility in what happened.

Sorry if I scared anyone with the title, but I wanted to get you through the story. It happened to me, but only as I was part of the group. Pushing the limits is something people do to progress, and I guess it is only natural these things will happen. If anyone hasn't ridden with a group and you get a chance talk to the other riders about your inexperience and your need to keep a slower pace. That way you won't push yourself too hard and get hurt, and you will be able to see just how organized the group is and if they have any special instructions. I missed doing this when I started riding this day.

[mattf]

Good post, and a valuable lesson that most of us have to learn several times over. Had you not made the choice to ease up earlier in the day, that could have been you in the ditch.

[ZooTech]

Glad to hear the guy was all right. I have done more than my share of group riding, including some groups of several hundred bikes. The number one thing to remember in this situation is, "Ride your own ride". Yes, you are part of a group...however, that group is not responsible for you, your family, your bike, or your mistakes...and as such you need to put all the other riders out of your mind when navigating turns and take everything at your own pace. Letting more experienced or more aggressive riders pass you is not a bad idea, as this will alleviate feelings of "guilt" for holding up everyone's fun. If you happen to be one of the more experienced or aggressive riders, perhaps you can save your enthusiasm for another time...maybe a solo ride or you and just one other riding buddy. I always end up slowing way down for the folks I ride with...nobody I know cares to hit triple digit speeds on farm roads...but I get plenty of solo riding in, so it's no big deal for me to relax a bit with friends and just enjoy the ride.

[scan]

Good post, and a valuable lesson that most of us have to learn several times over. Had you not made the choice to ease up earlier in the day, that could have been you in the ditch.

Funny you should say that. One of the guys who had gone ahead (of the first three that didn't even see the wreck) noticed they didn't have the three guys (or at least two, with one lagging) behind them they were used to seeing. He was thinking "Oh God, we lost the new guy in the group". I was pretty glad to be helping heft that bike out of the mud, and not be worrying how to get mine home or waiting for an emergancy vehicle if it had been worse. Yeah I felt bad for him, but I felt good for me. I hope that didn't show too much, because I didn't want to make him feel worse.

[9000white]

group rides suck.

[cb360]

Great post. I'd have been where you were... in the back. I love the thrill of being in the wind on my bike. And I want to become a more skilled rider... at the same time though, going really fast isn't my cup of tea. I don't know what it is, but that's not where the thrill comes from for me. I love a twisty mountain highway as much as the next guy, but if I've never ridden a blind curve before, I'm definitely going to be slowing down quite a bit until I know the area. Glad it worked out good for you and I hope your friend heals up quick. Certainly could have been much worse if his head had hit the pole instead of his shoulder. Zootech has the right idea - if you happen to be one of the more experienced riders, maybe save the enthusiasm for a little later - nobody likes getting left behind. If you ask someone to ride with you... you ought to ride WITH them. At least that's how I see it. There's other ways to get thrills and work on riding skills other than going as fast as you can.

[Sev]

When I read the title, I thought for sure that it was you who took a dive off the road. I'm glad to hear that it wasn't you.
It's also good to hear that the guy who did end up off the road is okay, though I'm sure he would have rather banged himself up then bent his forks.

[nyrblue35]

group rides suck.

no they only suck when stuff like this happens. ive only ridden with other riders a few times and i enjoyed it quite a bit. glad to hear the dude was ok but i try to ride at my own pace as well. id rather live.
even though i ride a cruiser there still are guys the same who just ride too fast for my taste.

[stock28]

The more I hear about group rides, the more I want to avoid them. I'm not into speed either. I ride a cruiser and that's what I like to do. I do want and like to get better, but not at the expense of crashing my ride. I take it slow and easy and learn at my own pace. Glad it wasn't you.

[Wizzard]

That was very well written . Thanx for sharing Scan .
Kind regards, Wizzard