The thing that makes me happier than anything right now is taking my bike through the hills and back roads of Rensselaer Co, NY. I'm still very new to this and loving every minute.
So anyways, I came up with a route that I follow each night about an hour or two before sunset. Winding country roads. Hills and even some short stretches of 55 mph highway. A little of everything. A lot of fun!
Yesterday it rained like a *itch. Didn't ride then, but today was beautiful and sunny. I noticed a lot more gravel on the roads from the rain.
One spot in particular was a nightmare. There is a steep downhill stretch with a sharp curve to the left. The rain was so heavy it washed out a culvert and there was sand, gravel and stones the size of your fist for a good 100 feet. I saw it just in time and crawled through the mess.
When I got home it really bothered me that the road was like that. People going down hill like I was had a chance to see what was coming. Riders coming the other way would not and God knows what would happen.
So many times we tell ourselves that someone will take care of it. Tonight, I chose to be the someone else. I threw a snow shovel and push broom in the landlady's pickup and headed back.
I'm shoveling the lane where you would come upon the hazard from the curve when I hear at least two bikes off in the distance, screaming along. I was near the bottom at the beginning of the curve and had just finished shoveling off the bigger rocks when two Suzukis coming roaring up. I was able to get their attention with a slow down hand gesture. They made it through okay.
I sweat my butt off and have a sore back, but I think I may have kept two riders from getting hurt or killed. Feeling pretty good about myself.
Remember, sometimes you gotta be the one to step up!
Mike
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slowair
- Regular
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Tue May 30, 2006 8:28 am
- Sex: Male
- Location: Nassau. NY
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