Riders down all OK. Video (Dec 2011)

**Ender EnZed** · 18th December 2011, 11:59

ROAD SURFACE ~~SHOCKING~~ TYPICAL

**Ender EnZed** · 18th December 2011, 12:02

Originally Posted by jrandom

One can only conclude that they were attempting to ride wheel-to-wheel like they saw on Sons of Anarchy, and that there was fail.

Fail? Let's not jump to any unsubstantiated conclusions. You don't know they were trying to stay on the road.

**jrandom** · 18th December 2011, 12:03

I did a Scorpio roll-on video a while back, just nowhere in particular on a nothing road out on the edge of town, and got comments from Indonesia on YouTube about how they wished they had such nice roads to ride their Scorpios on.

People who moan about the state of NZ roads need to take a fucking concrete pill.

**paturoa** · 18th December 2011, 12:03

Originally Posted by jrandom

One can only conclude that they were attempting to ride wheel-to-wheel like they saw on Sons of Anarchy, and that there was fail.

Yeah I, stopped going on large organised group rides several years ago as that happens all of the time. I'd keep a reasonable distance in front of me and some retard would be only a few meters behind me. Any reaction from me to anything in front and I'd be down.

I then started riding TEC and ended up having shit rides as the binners, were all in front, and I never got to have clean rides.

**Katman** · 18th December 2011, 12:09

Originally Posted by paturoa

but why did they crash? Why did 3 go down?

Take one group ride, add a video camera for everyone to play up to and nine times out of ten you'll have the recipe for an accident waiting to happen.

**Bikemad** · 18th December 2011, 12:09

bubba bikers..........bwahahahahahahaha....love it

**breakaway** · 18th December 2011, 12:14

Can someone explain to me why the road surface is considered to be "SHOCKING"? I'm not seeing it.

**SMOKEU** · 18th December 2011, 12:19

I'm just guessing here, but maybe they locked their wheels on a slippery surface (possibly diesel).

**Laava** · 18th December 2011, 12:32

Originally Posted by SMOKEU

slippery surface (possibly diesel).

The ONLY viable excuse.
ATTN NZ moyorcyclists!!! The roads in NZ are not all like black marzipan! There will be irregularities! There will be potholes, esp after rain! There will be pea shingle in places where it may not be glaringly obvious and /or signposted!
If you are riding to the edge of your personal limits and a changing road surface causes you to crash, THIS IS YOUR FAULT!!!!!!!
To blame the road surface is quite frankly an embarrasment!
Not to say I have no sympathy as of course we all make mistakes. Own up to them!
Hope these guys are OK now.

**bluebird** · 18th December 2011, 12:32

I rode through there just ahead of those riders, if you had touched the front brakes you would of high-sided, lent over too far to compensate for the cross-wind or opened up the gas your rear wheel would have lost traction, the surface was like the Hampton Downs skid pan when wet. I coasted through it with the speed I had on and kept it straight with the bars not with a lean because of the wind, I saw it coming. A common problem with group riding is looking at the riders in front not the road. But this group who I ride with regularly are experienced, safe, organized and as you can see look out for each other, especially the new riders who are always going to make one small mistake(as you all should know), just this time it was the ultimate wrong place to make it, so unless you were there don't make a judgement.

**Bikemad** · 18th December 2011, 12:38

where is this stretch and how long is the slippery bit of road Bluebird?....... and you dont think maybe they were riding a bit close together for the conditions?

**motorbyclist** · 18th December 2011, 12:48

it does look pretty slick, but how on earth did so many riders go down? A bit more traction-awareness might have prevented the first domino in this one....

any more details forthcoming?

**motorbyclist** · 18th December 2011, 12:51

another thought - did every rider down get injured? you old boys don't bounce like us young'uns do ya? the income replacement on ACC probably made that more expensive that the sum total of every uni accident I've witnessed! (titanium elbows and repeat surgeries included)

**bluebird** · 18th December 2011, 12:53

Mangatawhiri, some where...the stretch goes for about 400 metres, you can see it if you know what to look for, there was a lot of surface reflection from the rain, the slippery bit is just a bit more shiney than the rest. I ride this road a bit and that spot is getting worse, in February it will be oozing sticky tar, I was in front of these guys so I didn't see how they were riding, any sudden action with brakes, lean angle or gas would give even a good rider a serious fright in that spot. The regular group of guys all ride with space awareness and consideration, I have never had to ride beyond my abilities to keep up. I think the first rider down would have made a mistake that put them all over the road with no where for the riders behind to go.