Spring's here, time to die

[pritch]

Sorry, folks, when I see you getting off the bike with sweat pouring down your face on a cool day, massaging the cramp in your hands from death-gripping the throttle - I know you weren't having fun.

Don't confuse arthritis with a death grip.

The five dead motorcyclists this weekend may be a statistical blip but each will have a major impact on those near to them.
As well as themselves.

On the Normanby crash, an eye witness says the rider of the leading bike didn't even have time to blink.

You don't know what's around the corner all you can do is try to stay as safe as possible.

[jrandom]

Don't confuse arthritis with a death grip.

Arthritis in the hands is kinda rare amongst people under 40. I'm sticking with the death grip theory.

an eye witness says the leading bike didn't even have time to blink

Really? 'Not even time to blink'? Based on the photo I saw, that bend ain't no 35kph blind corner, and the van would've taken at least 2 or 3 seconds to pull out of the traffic and take up most of the other lane.

Dunno about you, but I've seen a few group rides and I have a real clear mental picture of how that bunch would've come around the corner. All tight formation and brrmm-brrmm-look-at-us-on-our-motorbikes, doing everything but thinking about what hazards might pop out of the stopped traffic on the other side of the road.

[PrincessBandit]

I noticed that one of the riders on camera the other night commented (toy run) that it was the first time they hadn't had a police presence on the route, due apparently to cost cutting, I think he said.
Generally I avoid large group rides simply because of the potential unpredictability of who else might be in the group, and I maintain my bubble as much as possible. When there are a large number of riders though the logistics of that become significantly more difficult. However, the last big group ride I did was the ladies Rolling Thunder one and we all got on just fine together.

[Maha]

I noticed that one of the riders on camera the other night commented (toy run) that it was the first time they hadn't had a police presence on the route, due apparently to cost cutting, I think he said.
Generally I avoid large group rides simply because of the potential unpredictability of who else might be in the group, and I maintain my bubble as much as possible. When there are a large number of riders though the logistics of that become significantly more difficult. However, the last big group ride I did was the ladies Rolling Thunder one and we all got on just fine together.

A massive group of patched dudes rode through Warkworth perhaps Saturday?...there were so many, it took ages for them to not be heard, I could still here them (from our place) as they headed for the Dome Valley some 5-6 Ks away. They had two cops cars (that Anne could see from looking out the window) with them.

[SPman]

People who are invested in their self-image as a motorcyclist and who stubbornly ignore the fact that they suck at it - those people tend to die.

Hmmm - note from son #1 yesterday - BTW.. there was a couple of fat crass good' ol' HD boys on the day, one was so busy being a stereotype he pulled out straight into another biker! Poor other guy, nice old geezer went home after that. Meanwhile 'HD Man' started being a jerk, until Em showed him the footage she had on her iphone, then he accepted responsibility and has to pay for two repairs...... y-ouch!

perhaps Pete could enlighten us?

[caspernz]

Some may find this topic is approached in bad taste...oh well, tough!

I'd love to know how many of the recent spate of deaths on bikes were year-round riders? Now I'm no expert, but in the last few years of my dad riding he only rode in the summer months, and it showed. Both my brother and myself asked the old fella if it wasn't about time he sold the bike...and to give him credit he did that soon thereafter.

Group rides...not for me.

Riding with riders of an unknown ability...not for me.

Now I don't know jrandom myself, but hey, he's got a valid point

[meteor]

Really? 'Not even time to blink'? Based on the photo I saw, that bend ain't no 35kph blind corner, and the van would've taken at least 2 or 3 seconds to pull out of the traffic and take up most of the other lane.

I heard car 1 was stationary in the middle of the road waiting to turn right and giving way to the 50 or so bikes. Car 2 approaching car 1 from behind reacts late and swerves left, van travelling behind cars 2 also reacts late and swerves right... into the bikers. So probably no time at all for the bikers. Sad, very very sad. A terrible weekend on the roads.

Three of us had just gone through that stretch of road heading north about an hour before the crash. Rode with and waved [yes waved] to many riders out and about who were possibly going to that ride. Sobering stuff.

[Drew]

I wish I was a Volvo salesman, the number of people on here who seem ready to give up the bike for a nice safe cage.

[jrandom]

I wish I was a Toyota salesman

Glad you've finally seen the light.

[onearmedbandit]

I wish I was a Volvo salesman, the number of people on here who seem ready to give up the bike for a nice safe cage.

With the number of comebacks, no you don't.

[MrKiwi]

...



Really? 'Not even time to blink'? Based on the photo I saw, that bend ain't no 35kph blind corner, and the van would've taken at least 2 or 3 seconds to pull out of the traffic and take up most of the other lane.

Dunno about you, but I've seen a few group rides and I have a real clear mental picture of how that bunch would've come around the corner. All tight formation and brrmm-brrmm-look-at-us-on-our-motorbikes, doing everything but thinking about what hazards might pop out of the stopped traffic on the other side of the road.

Until you know the facts quite frankly you should stop surmising. It was a tragic weekend and personally I am waiting for the outcome of the accident investigations before randomly and insensitively surmising on cause and effect.

[frogfeaturesFZR]

A massive group of patched dudes rode through Warkworth perhaps Saturday?...there were so many, it took ages for them to not be heard, I could still here them (from our place) as they headed for the Dome Valley some 5-6 Ks away. They had two cops cars (that Anne could see from looking out the window) with them.

Saw them at Silverdale. The cops changed the traffic lights to remain red so they could all turn off
East Coast Rd and onto the road that takes you to Orewa.

[Motu]

Wouldn't surprise me if the Lindis Pass bin came under the same heading. Oncoming cars are easy enough to swerve around, so long as you're not off in a daydream at the time and you're not going so goddamn fast that you have no time or space to maneuver. Stay sharp and ride only within what you can see, or die.

Lindis Pass was a tourist in the right hand lane - to her the bikes were in the wrong lane. Trying to predict the reactions of a driver used to driving on the right and thinking they are a normal drive on the left driver is not going to work. To take out two bikes they were obviously too close together, but I bet her evasive actions and their evasive actions resulted in a meeting of metal.

[Zamiam]

The bikes in Warkworth and Silverdale will have been on the Hells Angels poker run for charity. Very well organized apparently although I was out of town so didn't participate

[pritch]

Arthritis in the hands is kinda rare amongst people under 40. I'm sticking with the death grip theory.

I can barely remember when I was under 40, but I don't think arthritis bothered me then.