Stats for today -
543 miles door to door
max speed - 98 mph (ain't trying to more tickets
average speed - 49 (mostly back roads)
Well, I'm home. Left at 8am, and as I sit and type this, it's 1am. Homegirl's heated cause I didn't call and she wasn't trying to hear about having no reception. I mumbled something to the effect of her building a bridge and getting over it...
The day started with a little drama... Mike and I are on our to the Brooklyn bridge on Adams Street when I see another rider on a Monster up ahead, no gear except for a ff helmet. They were riding sort of erratic, trying to do head checks (there was no reason to check at the time), and just being overall sketchy so I passed them asap so that we would be in front of them before the bridge. We get off for the FDR and whilst on the ramp I see the rider go still on bridge heading into the city and think nothing of it other than good luck, you'll need it riding the way you are. We get to the weastide hwy, up to javits to check if any forum folks are there to meet us for the ride, which there weren't, we get to the 40's somewhere when all of a sudden the traffic is stopped because there's a police car parked perpendicular to traffic, blocking 2 lanes. Why? Yup, the same ride is down and not moving, the bike smashed to pieces (was new by the looks of it). When we passed I didn't see any damaged cars and there was another guy on the ground knocked out too so I figured that the rider hit the guy who was a pedestrian. Seeing that gave me a queazy feeling cause it's too close too close to home (not literally), especially since we were leaving for a ride. The freaky queazy feeling was bad enough to make me pull over on the highway and take a few breaths. Once we were on our way again I asked the universe to keep me safe today.
I just got home and found out the rider we saw was a woman, and she didn't get hurt, she got killed.
So that was the start of our day. Had I known she died, I would've turned right around and gone home back to bed where it's safe and warm most of the time. But since we didn't know we went about our day which turned out great. I really hate to say it but... I think today was by far the most gangsterest ride I've ever been on... and nobody from the crew to share it with, sumptin ain't right about that. Why was it so gangster? First, for 16 hours there were only gas stops. That's where we chugged coffee and smoked our cigarettes (healthy, I know) and went to the bathroom. No lunch or dinner breaks. Today was also the day I think I took my bike well up to and over 100% of it's potential, and I still needed/wanted more. And no, I'm not talking about speed, twisiting a throttle ain't nothing, I'm talking about torque, I need more! I also need better/stronger brakes cause I finally found out today that if I do brake for a turn, I'll brake really late. I don't know why, it's like my brain and my fingers have nothing to do with "me", or on conscious self.
The roads were so twisty and intense, that it makes Kanawauke look straight as an arrow. There were uphill corners, downhill corners, up and downhill in the same corner corners, tons of blind corners, chicanes, and sweepers too. There were roller coaster type hills, and hairpins galore! It got to the point where if and when I had a chance to take a quick peek at the zumo and I saw nothing but more twists and turns up ahead all I could say was "fuck". There was a point where I just wanted them to be over with and just wanting to be on a nice straight road. Picture me saying shit like that, who would've thought, but PA ain't no joke. I dragged my feet and pegs a bunch, even skimmed my knee slider. I lost the rear wheel twice (again), where are those pilot powers? And I lost the front wheel once, that's the first time that happened to me. It was a bit freaky but I knew what was happening and was able to control the bike (more throttle), glad I spent all those years mountain biking... mind you, this was all happening on clean dry and warm pavement. I think I need a real sport bike, seriously. I love my bike but I don't think it was truly meant to be ridden that hard like a sport bike. Unless my tires are too worn or too booty, I'll find out soon enough.
Wish you guys were there today, but at the same time I'm sorta of glad you weren't cause I didn't have to worry about you behind me. And yes, I do worry about you guys whilst riding. I'm not dissing, I know you all have crazy skills, I know you guys don't ride over your head or make stupid decisions but let's face it, riding is dangerous and sometimes I find myself saying (to myself), "I hope they make that turn". But beyond that, I still wish all of us could've been there today.
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7 comments:
Yeah that sounds like it would have been over my head. I would have stopped and checked to see how bad I would have pissed myself...
But your ride sounds hot! One day I will be at that level.
I called you last night cause on the forum there was mentioned of a red s*r going down and another ducati... and I was afraid it might have been Klink.... good to know it was not you guys. But it sucks to hear that someone died... man, that fucking sucks.
Once again, be safe out there. I got cut off about 3 times yesterday and I was taking it easy.... saw all of them coming before it happened, but never the less made me think about being out there.
wow...that's some crazy shit! i can't believe that the lady died trying to avoid a pedestrian...fucked up.
i really wish i could have gone e, but my chain is just a little too stretched & that's the last thing i want to be thinking about when i'm in a twistie. i've just read too many things on the forum about thrown chains.
in terms of your ride, i'd wait to make a decision (like ur thinking) until you get some new rubber on their. i think you'll know within a ride of whether or not you want to upgrade. my only advice is that if you decide to upgrade, do it ASAP before you further depeciate your bike anymore . also, put it back as stock as possible & sell the accessories (you always make more that way).
glad to hear you guys had fun & came back unscathed...just wish i were there instead of hanging out in prospect park, wishing my chain & sprockets had come in.
oh, you start at BMW today?
damn man, i hate to hear shit like that, Carol was watching the news when it came on yesterday and she told me about it. made me think some more about really doing a bike blessing, and we could have had a mini one last night with both D2 and my mom at the crib and three bikes here. hopefully we can do it again soon, i'm gonna ask my mom if she will do it through the spirits anyway, so we don't all have to be in the same place.
sounds like a great ride, too bad the crew couldn't make it, but we have the rest of our lives, with any luck.
wow E! hearing about the rider killed really bums me out. your description of how erratically she was riding when you saw her makes me wonder. of course, we never know what our future holds.
i've been really thinking about what we decide to do everyday (as commuters) being out there, and really just trying to listen to my inner voice (whatever you want to call that). lately it has been saying take it easy out there but i also realize how much my mood/emotions really play a role in how i ride. my mood, which is usually (almost always) pretty calm, has been in a more stressed than usual with all that has been going on, probably why i have been taking it easy.
it always impresses me how we all ride differently, really experienced that slabbing it for 3100+ miles with D2 on our Miami trip. and it was funny seeing how Jinx and I rode to the city the other day, picked up E and rode back in a completely different manner. No complaints, all good, and believe me I have no problem switching up the tempo, IF I WANT TO! I think that is the most important thing...
after reading your ride report i am glad i didn't go. not because of the level but because i still have my continental road/dirt tires and that would've only helped me if i over shot the road and there were dirt shoulders....(no, i take that back that wouldn't be pretty)
anyway, glad you had a great ride and you made it back safe.
as far as a "bike blessing," thats cool and moms probably has hooked that up already. i have little or no desire to attend the ones i used to, unless ya'll are just curious one day. mainly, any excuse to hang with ya'll and kick it skdmrks style, is excuse enough for me.
E, we gotta plan an overnight ride where we end up in Pa. and spend the night at my peeps crib. aight, back to work!
Yeah, after getting my ya-ya's all the way out yesterday, I decided to tone it down a bit. The way I was riding, though on point, just isn't appropriate for the street, anything can happen out there. If I'm pushing my bike hard enough to be already familiar with what losing both the front and rear wheels feels like, then I need to save "it" for the track where I won't be killed if I crash.
Sultan, I'm down 100% to do an over night to PA. There's more roads that I want to hit but they're too far for a 1 day venture.
I started BMW today, and thought I'm tired like a motherfucker, it was very very dope. I started welding already and using all types of tools I never have before... can't wait to go back on Friday!
glad to hear BMW is still the business. i have to think that even though you were pushing it enough to make your tires give a little, thiking back on how bad ur back tire is, part of it is certainly that. still, ur right in thinking that pushing it that far is probably better for the track.
I wanted to say this earlier, but was in a rush this morning.
I would have gone given on that ride had my crazy ass month worked out differently and you can bet your lifesavers I would have taken it so easy on those turns you might still be out there waiting for me. Cause I enjoy coming home as much as going out.
I have been thinking about the rider that lost her life. It is messed up and has made me look twice more. I went up the West Side Highway today and could not shake that feeling. It is an unfortunate reminder to stay focused. And as soon as I got too defensive, had to become a bit more aggressive cause cabs will come into your lane and think it is cool...
so in short, I do not want ya'll thinking I am not down for some crazy ass twisties... it will just be a barry white kind of affair!
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