Riders down all OK. Video (Dec 2011)

**Laava** · 18th December 2011, 21:11

Originally Posted by munster

But for work I would've been on that ride. All the best to those down. The video doesn't show how or what happended so I think we should keep our opinions to ourselves and wait for it to come from the horses mouth.

Did you miss the point then? The video appears to have been posted as a complaint about the state of our roads. It has the underline, NZ CRAP ROADS and then has captions in the video stating that the roads surface is unacceptable! Not being judgemental, but if it had been a diesel, or similar, spill I am sure that would have been mentioned. Nobody likes to see a fellow biker get hurt and they look like a good bunch of guys but were they riding to the conditions?

**Grantman_** · 18th December 2011, 21:13

Originally Posted by jrandom

Personally, I blame the giggling group of elves and garden gnomes that materialised beside the road and poked sticks through the front wheels of three passing bikes before disappearing.

Yes, yes of course. No other explanation would really make much sense. Looks like all the sense has been used up with this one.

**Old Steve** · 18th December 2011, 21:13

Wasn't it a wonderful sight when that rescue helicopter appeared as a dot in the sky.

I'll ride on every helicopter fund raiser that I can. All of those rescue guys walk on water. I wish we never have to have their services, but I'm thankful that they're there when any of us do need them.

**jrandom** · 18th December 2011, 21:14

Originally Posted by Grantman_

Yes, yes of course. No other explanation would really make much sense.

Well, there's always the possibility that the riders were incompetent.

**Madness** · 18th December 2011, 21:16

There's supposed to be a Taniwha living somewhere near Mangatawhiri...

**Oakie** · 18th December 2011, 21:23

Holy hell! I'd swap that piece of road for what we've been riding on in Christchurch for the last 15 months any time.

**Grantman_** · 18th December 2011, 21:27

Originally Posted by jrandom

Well, there's always the possibility that the riders were incompetent.

Possibly, but one glaring difference between you and I is that I haven't made my mind up.

**short-circuit** · 18th December 2011, 21:31

Originally Posted by jrandom

Well, there's always the possibility that the riders were incompetent.

Nah. Definitely elves (skiving off their Christmas duties)

**Brian407** · 18th December 2011, 21:33

Crap Roads.... Hmmmm.... Only a bad tradesman blames his tools for the fuckups. I ride on gravel roads on an XJR quite regularly , and they dont come much more Crap than that, and dont have any accidents. Ride to the conditions, and dont climb anybodys exhaust pipe and you'll be fine.

Glad to see the riders are okay but i think it's a cop out to blame the roads.

**riffer** · 18th December 2011, 21:49

I'll add my voice to the throng declaring road conditions not to be a major factor here.

This video is a glaring example of why a lot of us simply won't go on group rides unless it's a charity ride well marshalled and at a guaranteed pace.

Sympathies to the riders hurt but I honestly can't see a lot here other than simple rider error.

**KiWiP** · 18th December 2011, 22:16

Really glad everyone is ok but....

If it's a country road slow down, if you don't know the road slow down, if it's wet slow down, if it's a variable surface slow down, if you've got a pillion slow down, if your in a group ride slow down, if you don't want to get helicoptered home slow down.

The accident was not due to the surface it was down to how the surface was ridden.

**jasonu** · 19th December 2011, 05:14

Originally Posted by Madness

There's supposed to be a Taniwha living somewhere near Mangatawhiri...

Yeah I knew the maoris had sommat to do with it!
After all they were here first.

**cheshirecat** · 19th December 2011, 08:55

Originally Posted by riffer

I'll add my voice to the throng declaring road conditions not to be a major factor here.

This video is a glaring example of why a lot of us simply won't go on group rides unless it's a charity ride well marshalled and at a guaranteed pace.

Sympathies to the riders hurt but I honestly can't see a lot here other than simple rider error.

Plus one, I too avoid group rides. Time and time again some riders express surprise at the unexpected when this is the norm for riding on public roads. One other factor is todays motorcycles are really very good espescially compared to ones of the 70's, 80's and perhaps even 90's. To those not of these vintages todays bikes may give a false sense of security and even on my vintage '94 I'm constantly reminding myself the wedge of safety is really very thin despite the bike and tyres telling me otherwise.