Well, I'll try for an explanation.Originally Posted by MadDuck
An experienced rider knows his limits and his bike's.
If HE crashes, it's either Act of God, or because he, knowingly, decided to push outside his limits. As several posters have said , for those riders "you are responsible for riding within your limits. If you push outside them and crash, on your head be it". So if an experienced rider crashes his fellows shake their heads, point jeering fingers (provided it's not tragic) and say "f**ked up, didn't you"
But it's different when a new rider crashes. He doesn't crash because he knowingly and voluntarily decided to push outside the limit of his skills.
He doesn't know what those limits are. He doesn't know how to recover if it all goes lavender. His crash is the result of inexperience and lack of road craft.
The experienced rider makes a call that he knows may end up him crashing . The novice has absolutely no intention of crashing. I don't for a moment believe that in any of those novice crashes, the rider envisaged it turning out as it did.
So the more experienced riders feel a responsibility to help and guide the beginners (they feel no such responsibility toward their experienced collegues - they should be able to look out for themselves) . They feel bad because if one crashes they feel that their guidance has failed. Hence the anger directed at some of the experienced guys .
I don't think anyone has trashed the novices (those who crashed or those who did not). People are alarmed and upset that young riders have been placed in a situation where their lack of experience could easily have killed them (especially with the recent tragedy so fresh in mind)
They point out (perhaps harshly, but these are bikers not Sunday School teachers) that the behaviour that led to the crash was stupid .
Where anyone has gone beyond that to actually bag the person involved, I think in every case they have apologised.
This is a community. Like all communities there is a collegiate acceptance of responsibility to look out for the vulnerable. That the new riders had licences is quite irrelevant, that is only of interest to the police. Presumably they didn't have full licences ? So their licence class itself indicates that they are inexperienced and deserve assistance guidance and protection. That's what the community is about. If anyone feels that is somehow demeaning (I can't see why because everyone starts some time, and I know personally that I am always keen for advice from more experienced or skilled riders), then they don't have to belong to the community.
I hope this helps.
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